Hawkeye Downs Speedway opens Friday

CEDAR RAPIDS — The new staff at Hawkeye Downs Speedway has one goal for 2022 racing season.

Make the drivers happy.

"We got the rules and schedule out in December so drivers have time to prepare," said Jay Crabill, assistant race director and media manager for the historic Cedar Rapids track. "Tire, fuel and steel prices have gone up. Everything has gone up."

That means tracks have to be easy to work with to keep car counts high and Hawkeye Downs is addressing that in many ways headed into the season opener, scheduled for Friday night.

"We communicated with a lot of drivers about their concerns and number one was the confusion with our lineups," Crabill said. "We are simplifying and switching to the IMCA model that is used everywhere in Eastern Iowa."

They also are bypassing registration fees, which allows part-time and dirt-track racers to join the field last minute without an added cost.

"It's just another way to save drivers money," Crabill said.

A local business also donated time to fill in the cracks around the track and the team is finalizing other general maintenance during the final hours before race day.

A major factor in helping to fill the financial coffers has been former driver/new race director Brian Gibson, who has sold several new billboard sponsorships that will be featured at the track thanks in large part to his years in the community as a trustworthy leader.

"He has 30 years worth of relationships," Crabill said. "It's a lot easier for him than it is for you or I to walk into a place and be trusted."

All of these changes are being made by the HD team in hopes of drawing healthier car counts and crowds, something Crabill has already seen in the Hornet division.

"We are looking at jumping from seven to nine cars each week to 15-20 with four or five rookies," Crabill said.

Several of those rookies are the children of local drivers, which continues the family tradition.

A new scoreboard on a train somewhere in the U.S. bound for Cedar Rapids is expected to arrive and be installed at some point this summer and could be the cherry on top of a great season at Hawkeye Downs.

"I just want our drivers to be happy," Crabill said. "If they say this is the best year in 10 years, that'll be something I can hang my hat on."

Pits open at 5:30 p.m. Friday, spectator gates at 6. Hot laps are at 6:40, qualifying at 7 and racing at 7:30.

All of this, of course, depends on the weather, which has been an issue for many Eastern Iowa tracks. Benton County Speedway, for instance, has had its opener rained out the past two Sundays. BCS will try again this Sunday.