Feller honored by Hawkeye Downs before, during races

CEDAR RAPIDS - There were races Friday night at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Who won and lost wasn't of much concern.

A group of racers gathered at the same asphalt oval the same as they have nearly every Friday night, but this time with a little different purpose and a lot more emotion. Racers and race fans honored INEX Legends racer Joan Feller, who died Wednesday from injuries sustained in a last-lap crash one week before.

Through an all-car, four-wide salute, an invocation, a song played over the PA system recorded by Feller herself and a moment of silence, those in attendance did their best to pay tribute to a racer who came to mean a lot to those she raced with and against in her short time on the track.

'It's been an extremely difficult week,” said INEX Legends dealer and friend to Feller Warren Ropp. 'I'm hoping to show that racers are a family. It's a big group. We're all competitors, we get upset with each other, but when it's all said and done, we care about each other.”

Feller's two brothers, Jeff and Joel, and sister Julie were in attendance Friday night, largely stayed removed from the festivities and took in the event out of the view of most fans.

Hawkeye Downs officials gave the family the dash panel from Feller's car, which had a photo of her parents and a note on it expressing pride in her brother's military service. They respectfully declined to address the night, but appeared very moved by the offerings of support.

'We were blessed to meet her siblings - very honored,” Ropp said. 'Joel accepted (the dash panel) gracefully.”

It was hard for some to come back to the races, with a few drivers saying it was the most difficult trip to the track they've ever had. A very emotional Sportsmen winner Dave McCalla said in his winner's interview he didn't want to come out Friday night, but did so for his friend. He, like everyone else Friday night, dedicated his win to her.

Late Model racer Brian Gibson won the first of two Late Model main events - the first a makeup from last week - and he said getting back to the track is the only medicine in a situation like this.

'What happened last Friday night was a tragedy; Joan was a great person,” Gibson said. 'It was a sad night at Hawkeye Downs.

'To get everybody back out here, get everybody to talk and get everybody to tell stories, it's a way to heal. It's a way to make things in a tragic situation a little better.”

The entire week was rough for anyone close to Feller or Hawkeye Downs, which plays host to a very tight-knit group of racers - especially in the INEX Legends division.

Being able to honor a person who was chasing her dream at age 53 was important to those closest to her. Getting that much accomplished was far more important to the racers in attendance than who won.

'It's been a real test,” Ropp said. 'Joan's touched a lot of lives in a short time. We're all glad we were able to have her as a part of our racing family.

'You've got to get back at it. You've got to move on. That's what Joan would've wanted. She had more spirit and more drive than anybody I knew. I wish I could've had half of what she had. She was inspirational to all of us.”

Proceeds from the 50/50 raffle and a collection from drivers walking the stands with their helmets were given to Feller's family. The total from the helmets wasn't known at press time, but the 50/50 portion was $540. Additionally, several drivers - including Jim Hanson in the first Sportsmen race, Nathan Ballard and McCalla - donated their race winnings to the Joan Feller Memorial Fund.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com