Early rainout doesn’t dampen excitement at Hawkeye Downs

CEDAR RAPIDS – Some rain is to be expected during April in Iowa, so Mike Becker isn't too concerned.

The Hawkeye Downs Speedway Race Promoter said he would like to have races from mid-March to the beginning of December, but he knows weather can be an issue in early spring.

“Anytime you lose one it's frustrating, but anytime you plan one at the end of April  you don't allow yourself to be too frustrated because you know what weather can do to you,” Becker said. “I can come and bite you and that's just how it is.”

After watching the scheduled opening night postponed due to rain last week for the second straight year, weekly points races will begin the 2011 season Friday. Gates open at 6 p.m. with pre-race ceremonies starting at 7:15. Races begin at 7:30.

Unfortunately for the track, once a date is rained out it is lost. The schedule is locked in at the start of the season and isn't flexible for makeup dates.

“We're a Friday night event here,” Becker said. “That's just how it is. When we are limited with Friday nights from the 1st of May to the end of August there's just so many and that's it.”

Track officials have the common sense to avoid scheduling sponsor nights during the opening weeks, because of possible weather postponements. The opening two weeks this year are not sponsored. Becker said five nights without sponsors, leaving three open for rescheduled events in case of postponements,

“That was kind of done intentionally, because of a weather threat,” said Becker, in his second year as the track's race promoter. “That's why we have those openings.”

Becker is excited for the drivers to take the asphalt track in southwest Cedar Rapids. The track will have six divisions, consisting of late models and modifieds on the half-mile oval and hornets, hobby stocks, sportsman and legend cars on the quarter-mile.

The Sportsman class has been restructured, which includes to moving the smaller track.

“It's a bit of a different car to come in line with the (American Speed Association) and other types of sportsman cars that are out there in today's world,” Becker said. “It's a more economical car to own, build and maintain, I think.

“I think racing will be better because we're going to put them on the quarter-mile. There will definitely be more excitement there.”

Sportsman competition had low participation levels in recent years. Becker said he hopes to have six to eight in the changed class for opening night, including sportsman season points champion Andy Duggan and 2010 regular Ben Glascock, as well as former stock car drivers Cory Houdek and Dave Ballstaedt. He expects the entrants to grow as the season progresses.

“We've received a lot of phone calls here with interest in what we're doing with this class,” Becker said. “We expect to see it build fairly decent over the summertime. Anytime you try something new there's a break-in period.”

The legend cars will be running their first full season at Hawkeye Downs. The legends returned last year running part-time after years away from the track. Becker expects at least 12 to 15 legend cars to start and said a driver as far away as Kansas City, Kan., has practiced at the track with plans on making appearances here. It will also take effort to build car counts.

“It's a bit more of an established class because legends have been racing around the area for a few years,” Becker said. “It's something we're going to have to get them interested in coming.”

The track also welcomes back the Lil Racer Car Club for fans under 14 years old. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors. Students 12 and older are $5 with children under 12 admitted for free.

On the track at Hawkeye Downs

On tap: Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids will attempt to start the season Friday after last week's show was rained out. All six divisions scheduled to run in the Papa Johns/I-Wireless Championship Series.

Schedule: Grandstand opens at 6 p.m., hot laps at 6:35, heat races at 7:30 followed by features.

Tickets: $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 students 13 and older, free for 12 and younger

On the air: KGYM-AM (1600), 7:30

On the Web: www.hawkeyedownsspeedway.com