Landon Cassill eager for racing return to Hawkeye Downs

CEDAR RAPIDS — There's a video that was posted on Facebook Thursday afternoon by the Cassill Motors account for 'Throwback Thursday,' and right near the end, it showed plainly what Hawkeye Downs Speedway means to Cedar Rapids native Landon Cassill.

Cassill's dad, Roger, narrated a video of Landon's first Modified victory at his home track. The main reason the video was posted was because it showed the heat race Cassill referenced on Twitter on Monday when tweeting a memory of Arlo Becker, who died Monday at 79. But the end of the video, in which Cassill climbs the fence, pumping his fist in celebration, showed the roots of what the place means to the 27-year-old Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver.

He returns Friday night to Hawkeye Downs to get back in a racecar - the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes car owned by Mark Ironside - on the 1/2-mile for the first time since 2009 for Cassill Motors Military Night.

'I think I'm more excited just to see people than I am race with them,' Cassill said Monday. 'I think I'm just happy to get back and be around folks who helped me shape my racing career.'

Those folks are happy to get him back, too.

The whole night has several layers of planning that have gone into it, culminating in parachute jumpers bringing in the American flag, a free military member dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m., a dunk tank, a military display and a $1,000-to-win Late Model main event in which Landon will compete against local and out-of-town racers chasing the money and the bragging rights.

Friday night's event is free entry, but will have a freewill donation with all proceeds from admissions to benefit Midwest Military Outreach, Operation Home, and the National Tee Tournament. All three organizations benefit active military, veterans, and their families.

While Cassill wasn't involved with the planning himself — his day job driving the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports is a little time-consuming — he said he's proud to be part of it.

'When my dad asks me to do something, I typically do it,' Cassill said. 'I'm really excited to see what they come up with. It's really important to get people to come out to the races.'

Hawkeye Downs' Executive Director Ann Poe, Director of Operations Tiki Johnson and race promoter Kevin Korsmo all have worked with Cassill Motors and several others to plan the event, and Korsmo said this week something like a Military Night is a no-brainer.

He said it's natural to 'honor the people who deserve to be honored,' and that 'it's a cool thing and you want to stand behind these kinds of nights and make them grow.'

Having Cassill back to cap it off is something Korsmo has been excited about for weeks. He gets to see someone race who he watched grow into the racer he is, and gets to see the fruits of a renewed and strengthened sponsorship with Cassill Motors.

'It's great to not only get Landon back but to get the Cassill family back involved in a big way at Hawkeye Downs,' Korsmo said. 'Sponsorship is a key part of making money. Speaking for Hawkeye Downs, we haven't had somebody out on the street seeking sponsorship. With Ann and Tiki now, they're able to focus on sponsorship. It's what we've been wanting and needing, and I think that's what we've got now.'

Cassill has said on several occasions he wants to see Hawkeye Downs restored and revived, to have its stands full like they were when he was cutting his teeth.

He doesn't shout out his home track and his hometown regularly on his post-race Facbeook Live videos or on Twitter just for the lip service. He came back to test a few weeks ago because he wants to run well in his return. He wants to return because he loves the place.

Maybe those who show up Friday night will get to see him climb the fence again. Regardless, if Cassill has his way, Friday night won't be a rare visit home.

'I'd really just like to make it back to Hawkeye Downs more than just once a year or obviously I haven't been back once a year in a while,' Cassill said. 'I'd love to make three or four races a year, so I probably need to build a Big 8 car.

'I feel like from here I need to probably get serious about getting my own Late Model so it makes it easier to get back and race.'

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