Hawkeye Downs set for 100th season

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nostalgia meets now.

Hawkeye Downs staff and board members cut the yellow ribbon at a public celebration Saturday, officially giving the green flag to the speedway’s 100th season — a milestone year marked by returning traditions and a renewed focus on the road ahead.

“It’s an honor to be the sitting race director at our 100 years,” HD race director Brian Gibson said. “Working with this board over the last three years and hearing about the people who’ve poured their heart and soul into keeping this place going … we stood in Victory Lane today and said, ‘you guys made it.’”

Saturday’s celebration, which also included a car show and a meet-and-greet with local racers, was the first of several special events scheduled for the track’s milestone season. Among the highlights for 2025 are a “swap meet,” the Miller 100 and Dirt at the Downs.

“The swap meet has been a highly demanded event,” Gibson said. “We’ve gotten a lot of phone calls about it in my time here. We’re excited to be bringing it back (May 17).”

On July 12, the Miller 100, a 100-lap ASA Midwest Tour race, returns to Hawkeye Downs for the first time since 2011.

  Buy Photo

“That was always a big one — it packed the stands every year,” HD Wall of Fame committee member and track historian Roy Parker said. “I hope we can fill the place and have everybody enjoy the history.”

“I’m truly looking forward to the Miller 100,” Gibson said. “I enjoyed it from when it was dirt all the way to when it was asphalt. It’s been an iconic event in my history.”

As a throwback, dirt will resurface on the track starting Sept. 20 for “Dirt at the Downs.” In partnership with Benton County Speedway, the series will include events like a demolition derby, weekly dirt-track racing, enduro racing and more.

Hawkeye Downs transitioned from a dirt track to asphalt in 1989.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the dirt community right now for the guys to come out here,” HD board president Gordon Parker said. “We’ve done a ton of work to this facility, and I’m excited for people who haven’t been here for 20 years to see the place and how much work has gone into it.”

Following Saturday’s celebration, many drivers stayed to take practice laps in preparation for Opening Day next Sunday.

“I think our car count is going to be better,” Gibson said. “There are a couple of new cars here today that will be joining us, so our field hopefully continues to grow.”

Stacy Olson, a Cedar Rapids resident and Sports Mod driver entering her ninth year of racing at HD, is thrilled to be part of the centennial season.

“I’m proud to be here racing in this milestone year,” Olson said. “My family raced here for many, many years, so this became my home track. It will always be my home track.”

Weekly racing at Hawkeye Downs begins May 2.

“We’ve got a ton of stuff planned for the fans every single night,” Parker said. “I think we’ve given it a real refresher out here. I invite people to come and check the place out.”

Wall of Fame Night is scheduled for July 25. Championship night fpr the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts weekly racing series is set for Aug. 15.

“A hundred years, it’s just crazy,” Olson said. “I’m super excited for the season to start.”