Sportsman champion Bennett among those honored

Everybody has their place and some have their spot reserved among the best to grace Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Eight individuals, consisting of race car drivers, owners and supporters, will be honored with induction to the Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame during the weekly points races Friday night. Ceremonies will be held an intermission after heat races for six divisions, starting at 7:30 p.m.

The group includes former drivers Bill Bennett Jr., Jeremy Epperson, both of Cedar Rapids, brothers Lem and Gordon Blankenship, both of Keokuk, and the late Eddie Leavitt. Former owners Vince Fiala and Russ Lyman, both of Cedar Rapids, and contributor Sonny Crow, of Marion, round out the Wall of Fame selections.

They all made their mark with some being on the track for all to see while others were behind the scenes giving drivers a chance to do their thing.

"Everybody's the same. We're all just part of the puzzle," Hawkeye Downs Race Promoter Mike Becker said. "They're all important. The guys who have experienced success deserve a pat on the back.

"They don't even want anything. It's cool to honor them and tell them thanks."

Bennett won three straight season points titles in the Sportsman class from 1996-98. He then experienced success in the late model division. Wall of Fame and Hawkeye Downs Board of Directors member Kevin Korsmo raced against Bennett.

"He was a tough competitor," Korsmo said. "He had very good cars and a very good crew."

Bennett competed at a time when the Sportsman division was at its strongest. He helped the class gain interest, and always had a large fan following at the track.

"He helped grow the division," Korsmo said. "He got the people interested in it."

Fiala owned numerous cars driven by late model racers Curt Hansen, Mike Niffenegger and Duane Steffe. He branched out to other divisions, owning the modified Steve Stinger ran to the 1991 track title.

"He was a great car owner," Becker said. "He owned late models back in the dirt days. He owned some cars in the pavement days. He was very dedicated to racing."

Lyman was also a successful car owner at Hawkeye Downs. Notable drivers like Bill Beckman, Buzz McCann, Steve Keppler Verlin Eaker and Bill Zwanziger raced his cars. He also served as a crew chief for track champions John Henecke and Brad Loney.

"Russ Lyman has been involved around racing at Hawkeye Downs for so many years," Becker said. "He helped so many guys."

Epperson was a staple at Hawkeye Downs in the 1960's and 1970's, while Crow provided support to the track by supplying tow trucks and helping race officials, drivers and their crews.

Lem Blankenship was a 1969 Mid-Continent Racing Association champion, earning MCRA Rookie of the Year honors in 1966. Gordon Blankenship raced IMCA and USAC stock cars in the 1970's. He won the 1973 IMCA stock car championship before being named ARCA Rookie of the Year in 1981.

Leavitt, who was from Missouri, competed in IMCA sprint cars in the 1960's and 1970's. He was a 2001 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee, winning titles at the Knoxville Nationals in 1975 and 1976.

Race fans can meet and mingle with the new Wall of Fame inductees, and some current Wall of Fame members, before the races underneath the grandstands. Gates open at 6 p.m. with hot laps at 6:35.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for students older than 12. Children 12 years old and younger are free.