Adam Petrzelka now 3-for-3 in Hawkeye Downs Hobby Stocks wins in 2024

CEDAR RAPIDS — Adam Petrzelka grew weary from a lack of victories.

Yes, the 28-year-old Norway racecar driver won three feature races in the Hobby Stocks Division last summer at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. But deep down, he knew he was capable of more.

Three weeks into the 2024 season, Petrzelka already has matched last year’s win total.

“Nathan Ballard has been a big help getting this car all set up,” Petrzelka said after winning the Hobby Stocks feature for the third week in a row at the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Friday night at Downs. “I’d like to give a big thanks to him. … Setup, shocks, springs, just helping me out.”

Ballard was the Hobby Stocks points champion at Downs in 2014 and 2015 before winning the Hornets season championship in 2018. Petrzelka brought Ballard the same hobby stock car he drove last season and other than the engine and transmission, the pair overhauled everything else.

“Totally different,” Petrzelka said. “Everything. … I wish this car was all set up with Nathan to start with.”

For the second week in a row, the Hobby Stock car count reached double digits. After beginning the feature race in the fourth position, Petrzelka dropped back to sixth before charging ahead and absorbing a pair of restarts, including one before the final lap.

“I had to be pretty patient to start with,” Petrzelka said. “Letting all of them figure their stuff out. Just watched them all go high and just ducked underneath all of them and set sail.”

Three feature wins match Petrzelka’s career high since he returned to Downs in 2021. The best chance to derail his win streak might just come from within his family. Adam’s older brother, Matt Petrzelka, won the Hobby Stocks season title at Downs in 2013 and may return May 24 to drive his own hobby stock car.

“Hopefully I come out and kick his butt,” Adam said with a laugh.

Four-time defending Sport Mods points champion Patrick Flannagan had a chance to duplicate Petrzelka’s feat by winning his third feature in a row, but the Cedar Rapids resident was upended by 14-year-old Tallan Chandler of Norway, who is in his second year in the division after winning three features in 2023.

Drew Nickell of Blairstown (Hawkeye Downs Dawgs) and Cedar Rapids’ Chad Vozenilek (Hornets) earned their second win this season, while 2010 Hawkeye Downs Wall of Famer Kevin Korsmo (Legends) and Greg Hentrich of Hiawatha (Sportsman) found Victory Lane for the first time in 2024.