Auto Racing

For Derek Parrott, the 2024 auto racing season promises to be just like old times. After winning a season points championship in the Hobby Stocks Division last year at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, the Marion resident has returned to a division he knows well — Hornets.

Austin Slabaugh among winners on opening night at race track in Cedar Rapids

Six days after inclement weather postponed what was originally scheduled to be opening day at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, drivers will start their engines for competition Friday night, officially kicking off HD’s 99th season.

Former NASCAR driver and Iowa Speedway designer Rusty Wallace, along with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, announced the first-ever NASCAR cup series race in the state.

Newton, next June. The best stock cars and the best drivers. Who’d have guessed? We don’t know if the NASCAR Cup Series is about to start a long love affair with Iowa, or if it’s a one-night stand.

At the conclusion of racing Friday, six drivers were crowned champions, wrapping up the 2023 weekly racing season at the speedway — its first as a NASCAR affiliate.

The sophomore season has been a huge success for high school sophomore Reggie Mitchell, who sits in second place at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in the Hobby Stocks division.

Five individuals were inducted into Wall of Fame last Friday at Hawkeye Downs.

Kacey Korsmo is among the leaders in two divisions at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and got engaged this summer.

It takes north of three hours and 200 miles to drive from Bryce Miller’s hometown of Columbus, Wis., to Cedar Rapids. For Miller, in his first year racing Late Models at Hawkeye Downs, the fuel expense and drive time has been worth it.

Seven students from Iowa BIG worked in collaboration with the Hawkeye Downs staff to coordinate the Teen Race, serving as an opportunity for teenagers to experience racing on an asphalt track.

Over the last decade, Jim Hanson has been the winningest driver in Hawkeye Downs Speedway’s weekly racing series. While Hanson’s been a significant part of the past and present, he hopes a bright future is ahead for racing at Hawkeye Downs, whether he’s competing or not.

See photos from weekly auto racing at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids.

Despite the nearly two-hour delay, feature races were completed for all five weekly classes (Legends, Hornets, Hobby Stocks, Sportsmans and Sportsmods), and the Vintage Series — a mid-season win for Hawkeye Downs.

Patrick Flannagan leads the Hawkeye Downs SportsMod division and races against his son, Beckett, every Friday.