Chandler chasing elusive Downs title

CEDAR RAPIDS - Brad Chandler's goal from the outset has been an asphalt track championship.

After just missing in four previous seasons, he seems to be in position to achieve it. Chandler leads the hornets division at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and will attempt to claim his fourth feature win tonight.

The Cedar Rapids driver has a six-point lead over Derek Parrott with a little more than a month left in the season. Chandler's best finish was second to Parrott in 2008. Since then, he's watched his brothers, Dallas and Nathan, win hornets titles. Chandler, whose father, Merv, and youngest brother, Adam, also raced at Hawkeye Downs, contended in both seasons, placing third and fourth.

Each time, mechanical problems or an accident wrecked his championship chances late in the season.

“The season is going pretty good,” said Chandler, 22. “(I) finally think this year is the year I'm finally going to win it.”

A track championship would be the pinnacle for Chandler's young racing career.

“To me, it would be like I finally accomplished the highest goal racing there,” Chandler said. “That's the main reason why I keep going back every year.

“Once I do I'll feel like I've done what I had to do.”