Hawkeye Downs inducts 10 members to Wall of Fame

CEDAR RAPIDS - More contributors to Hawkeye Downs Speedway's auto racing tradition will be recognized Friday.

Ten men and women will be honored during the track's 12th Annual Keith Fleck Memorial Wall of Fame Night. A ceremony will be held during the intermission of weekly points races of six regular divisions. Gates open at 6 p.m. with hot laps at 6:45 and heat races at 7:30.

Former drivers Bill Barthelmes, Walt and Judy Hickey, John Schlemmer, Keith Siefken, sponsor and driver Bill Stepanek, race official Ed Otten, late spectators Merle and Evy Gardemann and former journalist Al Miller make up the 2013 induction class.

“It's a great group of people,” Hawkeye Downs Promoter Mike Becker said. “They all had some kind of an impact at Hawkeye Downs. This is the reason we do this to remember those people.”

Barthelmes, of Central City, was a consistent top-10 competitor in the late model division at Hawkeye Downs from 1968 to 1981.

Walt Hickey began as a novice driver at the track in 1963, competing in the modified class until the late 1970's. Judy Hickey was one of the first women to race in the “Women on Wheels” program in the 1970's, beginning her career in demolition derbies at Hawkeye Downs in the previous decade.

“The Women on Wheels program back then was a unique endeavor,” Becker said. “It was a special group.

“Back in that day it was a cool deal. The women who competed in that and had succeeded were proud of their accomplishments. They should have been.”

Schlemmer, of Grundy Center, started driving modifieds at the track in 1956. He also ran in the IMCA stock car division from 1960-71.

Siefken competed in modified and late model cars from 1991-2005. He served as a promoter of the track's “Modified Challenge” from 1992-1993.

Stepanek sponsored drivers before and after a short career (1990-1994) behind the wheel of a modified race car. He switched back to his previous role, sponsoring Dave Naylor's modified track championship effort in 1997.

Otten, of Coralville, was an official and flagman at the track in the 1970's, becoming the chief pit steward in 1983.

Miller, currently of Flushing, Mich., covered auto racing for The Gazette, starting in 1963. He wrote a weekly column called, “Al Miller on racing” until 1975.

The track will posthumously honor the Gardemann's as the first fans selected to the Wall of Fame. Becker said they could be sighted at race tracks across Iowa, supporting auto racing and its competitors.

“It's what they did,” Becker said. “They were a farming family and their hobby was to follow racing. They loved it more than anything.”

Harris wins at Farley

Brian Harris captured the victory that seemed elusive in 2013.

The Davenport race car driver won the Deery Brothers Summer Series 50-lap late model feature Tuesday night at Farley Speedway. Harris finally improved the third-place finishes he achieved in each of the first three events of this season.

Harris, the tour's point leader, ran out front for about the final 25 laps, claiming his sixth career victory in the series. He went three-wide to pass eventual runner-up Justin Kay, of Wheatland, and Nick Marolf, of Moscow, who placed third, winning by five car lengths.

Andy Eckrich, of Oxford, and Denny Eckrich, of Tiffin, were seventh and 11th, respectively. Decorah's Tyler Bruening was 14th and Doug Yates, of Monticello, finished 17th.

Harris edged Denny Eckrich to win the second of four heat races. Andy Eckrich won the B-Feature.

The Deery Brothers Series continues with a Memorial Day race at Boone.

West Liberty Raceway will host a Deery Brothers Summer Series late model special Tuesday, June 18.

Sprint cars invade Indee

For the first time in about 20 years, Independence Motor Speedway will host a sprint car event when the Brockway Mechanical & Roofing Sprint Invaders Series run Friday during the Open Wheel Shootout.

The Sprint Invaders Series will compete in its third race of the season, including a 30-car field that ran at West Burlington's 34 Raceway in March and 29-car contest at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson April 6. Modifieds and Sportmods will compete as well.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday with hot laps starting at 6:45. Admission is $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and students. Children 11 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.

Weekly races at the track will continue on Saturday, beginning with hot laps at 6 p.m. Admission for the weekly racing series is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students 12 to 17. Children 11 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.