Spaw looks to improve fortunes at 'Dirt at the Downs'

Good luck could mean a good time for Johnny Spaw.

But good luck has been hard to come by for the Cedar Rapids race car driver during the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series' asphalt contest. Still, Spaw will try for his second title in three years in the dirt track late model race called Dirt at the Downs Wednesday night at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Action begins at 7.

“I think we have a pretty good shot at doing well or winning the race,” Spaw said. “We're running the same care we've run the last three years, and I got it handling really well.”

Bad luck with rulings might be the reason Spaw isn't going for his fourth straight Dirt at the Downs victory. Spaw's lone victory in 2007 was sandwiched between two odd finishes.

Last year, Spaw finished first to claim his second win in a row. But after an inspection he was disqualified for “unapproved alterations to the spec cylinder heads.”

“It was a minute technical deal,” Spaw said. “It was a real bad deal. A little borderline.”

In 2006, Spaw said he “got together” with the race leader, who went off the track. The other driver stopped, forced a yellow flag and then drove the opposite direction toward Spaw as he completed a lap. Spaw drove seven laps under caution as the leader before being sent to the back of the pack late in the race.

Those experiences have covered a wide range of feelings.

“It's a big time emotional roller coaster,” Spaw said. “You're all happy at one point and then you're frustrated and mad later on.”

Some family and friends have voiced their disapproval with the decisions that have kept him from victory lane. Spaw said he didn't feel he was being targeted.

“It's just the way they made the calls,” said Spaw, noting series driver Ray Guss Jr. was disqualified from an earlier dirt race last year for the same infraction.

What: IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series brings its annual “Dirt at the Downs” race to Hawkeye Downs Speedway, featuring IMCA Dirt Late Models on the half-mile asphalt track. IMCA hobby stocks, stock cars, sportsmods and hornets also will race.When: Tonight, 7 p.m.Radio: KGYM-AM (1600)Tickets: $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $1 for childrenOn the Web: www.hawkeyedownsspeedway.com

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Radio: KGYM-AM (1600)

Tickets: $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $1 for children

On the Web: www.hawkeyedownsspeedway.com

Spaw said he wasn't sure if he was welcome in the dirt series' only asphalt race of the summer, but he qualifies to be in the field. He has driven modifieds and late models on dirt. Most recently at West Liberty and he placed fourth at the 2006 Yankee Dirt Track Classic at Farley Speedway.

“I'm not just an asphalt racer I'm also a dirt racer,” said Spaw. “I feel I have just as much right to be out there racing with those guys as anybody.”

Wednesday night will mark the start of a memorable week for Spaw, who is being inducted Friday into the Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame  with his brothers Eric and Ray.

It's also a reunion with an old driving mate, Dale Stolte, a dirt model racer who drove with Spaw early in his career and provides him with the car.

“It's a real special week,” Spaw said. “A real big week.”

Plenty of circuit regulars will try to capture the checkered flag Wednesday night.

Defending champion Darrell DeFrance of Marshalltown is in the field, as is series points leader Jeff Aikey of Waterloo. Aikey and Jewell's Mike Smith look for their fourth wins at Hawkeye Downs. Marion's Terry Neal is also a contender.

DeFrance, 49, has made every start in the IMCA series' 22 years of existence, tonight's race making it 346 straight appearances.

“It will be better down the road after you're retired and look back on it maybe,”

DeFrance said of the streak. “Right now, we just try to do the best we can.”

DeFrance didn't necessarily like winning without actually crossing the finish lines first.

“It's a race where you really didn't feel like you won it,” DeFrance said. “You got the check but you didn't get the trophy or the recognition.

“I still kind of feel like we finished second.”

The transition from dirt to asphalt and back to dirt for the drivers is tough. Shaw said the drivers get better each year, and DeFrance has warmed to the asphalt event thanks to recent success.

“I didn't run so well so I didn't look too forward to it,” Spaw said. “The last couple years we've run pretty well, so I kind of look forward to it this year. It's fun and it's different.

“I think it's neat that they do the dirt cars up at Downs. ... All in all it's a pretty cool deal for everybody.”