Gorgeous Sunset, Hot Racetrack for Weekly Racing Sponsored by Sunline

It was a beautiful night for racing at Hawkeye Downs! Friday, May 19th marked the second night of points racing in the 2023 racing season. All five classes took part along with the Enduro Sprints for weekly racing sponsored by Sunline. 

The Sunline Hornets were first up on the night. Ian Pate led flag-to-flag after starting on the front row and took home the victory after missing last week. The battle behind him was between Chad Vozenilek and Corey Crispin with Vozenilek being able to hold on to the runner-up spot.

The Performance Foods Sportsman class had a wild race with the front row starters having issues from the beginning. Jacob Tiegen had a mechanical issue resulting in him pulling off right after taking the green. Greg Hentrich went for a spin sending him to the rear. This brought Todd Ness and Jim Hanson to the front to fight for the lead, but Hanson was too loose and Ness stayed ahead to the checkered flag.

This week, the Anderson Automotive Hobby Stock series field chased Derek Parrott around the track which included a late race restart. Jason Sherman made his way past Adam Petrzelka but couldn’t hold onto the spot and ended up finishing third. Parrott stayed ahead and grabbed his first win of the season.

It was a brother versus brother battle in the Legends.Direct Legends series. Nick Slabaugh paced ahead of Austin Slabaugh for the majority of the race with a couple times the two making contact, but Austin just unable to get around his younger brother. It was the first time the duo finished 1-2 in the series.

“I don’t think I was the best driver tonight,” Nick said from victory lane. “We were pretty tight in the heat race and were able to make changes that helped.”

Patrick Flannagan wasted no time at the beginning of the Cassill Motors Sport Mods, taking them three-wide on the frontstretch at the start and grabbing the lead. Both of the cars on the outside of him, Hunter Wimer and Tallan Chandler, made contact sending Chandler spinning in turn one. On a green-white-checkered finish, Jonathan Williams moved to second on the choose cone, but didn’t have the speed to challenge Flannagan who went two-for-two so far this season.

The final class of the night was the Interstate Power Systems presented by Marion Tire Co. and Mount Vernon Road Tire Co. Enduro Sprint. Matt Lane and Nik Bates started on the front row, but it didn’t take long for the familiar face of Eric Legue to take over the lead. Dustin Lacey worked his way up to second and made a hard charge to get within a couple car lengths of Legue, then started to fall back with about five laps to go.

“It was fun to be back for this race,” Legue said. “It’s probably the last race for this car. Rockford was pretty rough.”

Check out the race results on MyRacePass here. We’ll see racers, fans, and supporters from across the Midwest on Friday, May 26th for weekly racing with late models!

Racers are welcome in the pits beginning at 4:30pm with gates open to the public at 6:00pm. Drivers meeting is held at 6:25pm. Hot laps begin at 6:30pm. Opening ceremonies are hosted at 7:00pm with the races starting at 7:05pm.

ADMISSION

Adults (18-59) $12

Youth (9-17) $9

Seniors (60+) $9

Veterans $9

Children 8 & Under FREE (with paid adult)

Tickets are available at the front gate. Cash or card is accepted.