Korsmo among eight to join Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kevin Korsmo has held various positions at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Korsmo is a decorated race car driver, who has worked in the broadcast booth, providing analysis and on-track interviews, and even sits on the Hawkeye Downs Board of Directors. He will add one more to his resume this week.

Korsmo will be one of eight inducted to the Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame during the weekly points races Friday night. Races begin at 7:30 with Wall of Fame ceremonies held during an intermission after heat races for all seven regular divisions.

A letter arrived last week, informing Korsmo of his induction. It came as a shock to the 46-year-old from Atkins. He said it was special to be acknowledged for his time dedicated to racing, and praised his entire family and crew.

"It's quite an honor and I guess the biggest thing is your in with some of the people that I looked up to and were my mentors," Korsmo said. "I never thought it would happen."

Success at Hawkeye Downs came early. In 1991, Korsmo began racing at the track in the hobby stock class. His sophomore campaign concluded with his first track championship, including 13 feature wins.

Korsmo, of Atkins, moved to the sportsman division in 1993 and experienced deja vu. In his second racing sportsman cars, Korsmo captured another track championship. He then switched to the late model division, running among the top drivers in that class.

Korsmo took some time off, but finished fifth in the Sportsman division in 2003, winning four features. He claimed his second Sportsman track championship, and third overall, in 2005. He won eight features that season.

At one time, Korsmo was the only driver with feature victories in each division at the track, including wins in the hobby stock, modified, sportsman and late model divisions. He owns more than 70 wins in 15 seasons racing on Hawkeye Downs asphalt track and added to the total two weeks ago with a win in the INEX Legend feature.

"So, that's why it was kind of nice to jump into the Legend car and get that one done," said Korsmo, adding with a laugh, "I haven't driven a hornet yet, so that's something down the road to have some fun with."

He was joined by his wife of 13 years, Amy, and twin 11-year-old sons, Kamron and Kacey, in victory lane after that race. Amy has yet to miss one of his races, arriving right before the race after working at Watermelon Days, a festival held in Atkins.

"It's always special when you involve family," said Korsmo, noting his dad, Fred, always helped obtain sponsors during his racing years. "It's the most important part of racing."

Now he's experiencing another side of racing, serving on the Board of Directors and holding the position of Race Committee Chairman. It's been an interesting experience and it, as well as his working on weekly racing broadcasts, is a way to give back to the sport.

"I've enjoyed that side of it after jumping out of the race car and trying to keep involved because I love racing," Korsmo said. "It's been a lot of fun for me."

Korsmo will be joined by Dick Hobel, Roy Wilson Sr. and Brad Loney, all of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City's Dwayne Schneider, Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Keokuk's Don White and Johnny Gerber of Davenport. The Wall of Fame was established in 2002 and will include more than 50 members with the 2010 inductees.

Hobel raced midget cars during the 1940's and 1950's, competing successfully in the Midwest Midget Auto Racing Association that raced throughout Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.

Wilson worked many racing nights at the track as a part of the crew handling accidents. He owned a local towing service and auto salvage yard, according to a news release, and devoted his time to help tend to accidents on the track.

Loney started racing cars at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in 1989, driving in the pro stock division. He advanced to late models in 1990 and won the track championship his rookie year. He added a second straight late model track title in 1992 before moving on to the American Speed Association circuit. He once held a national record by finishing in 47 consecutive races.

Niffenegger raced late model cars in the 1970's and 1980's. Schneider built and owned race cars that were competed at the race track. Wall of Fame race car drivers Bill McDonough, Cal Swanson and Kenny Walton were among those who raced cars Schneider worked on or owned.

A meet-and-greet with the 2010 inductees will be held before the races.

Last week's races were rained out and the track will honor tickets for Casey's General Store night, which has been moved to this Friday.