Skies Clear and Race Season Begins at Hawkeye Downs

While the weather forecast for Friday, May 12th looked grim at the beginning of the week, it ended up being a perfect night for Weekly Racing Sponsored by Hills Bank! The weekly racing classes, plus the late models took to the track for fantastic racing at Hawkeye Downs.

The Sunline Hornets kicked off the night with Chad Vozenilek capturing the heat race win. The feature wouldn’t be so kind as the car lost power several times, due to a wiring issue. Corey Crispin led the opening laps of the feature race before Adam Weller would make the pass just before halfway. Weller would go on to take the checkered flag, but would be disqualified after tech inspection, giving the win to Crispin. 

“I was hoping to win it by crossing the line first,” Crispin said. “But as soon as he passed me, it was over.”

In the Sportsman class, Todd Ness and Jim Hanson battled fiercely for the heat race win. Ness would go on to win, but received a bump from Hanson after the checkered, showing displeasure for how he was raced. Those two would race their way to the front of the field in the feature race. A restart with four laps remaining saw Ness on the bumper challenging for the lead but unable to get by Hanson for the win.

“It wasn’t any way to start the season,” Hanson said of the heat race. “In racing you get in there, put your helmet on, and stuff happens.”

The Legends.Direct Legends were next up on the track with heat race winners Kacey Korsmo, Jacob Tiegen, and Austin Slabaugh. Tiegen led the field from the start but a charging Colin Stocker reached his bumper in the late stages. With seven to go, Tiegen pushed up the track allowing Stocker to take the lead and the eventual win. Stocker made the last minute trip from Farmington, Minnesota after the track he was going to compete at rained out. 

Derek Parrott won the Anderson Automotive Hobby Stock heat race, but he couldn’t find the same luck in the feature which included a spin. He rebounded to a 4th-place finish behind the leaders who had a fierce battle. Adam Petrzelka took home the win ahead of Jason Sherman and Reggie Mitchell. 

The Cassill Motors Sport Mods were the final class on the ¼ mile track. Rookie Talon Chandler held off Patrick Flannagan for the heat win but spun early in the feature race. Flannagan started on the front row and dashed away from the field to take home the win for the first race of the season. 

Last but not least, the King’s Enterprises Late Models hit the track. Griffin McGrath swept the night, taking home both the heat race win and feature race. While he opened the gap, Bryce Miller was putting up decent lap times behind in a 602 late model. Kacey Korsmo rounded out the top-three in a 602 late model as well. 

Check out the race results on MyRacePass here. We’ll see racers, fans, and supporters from across the Midwest on Friday, May 19th for Sunline night at the races! We will host pur five weekly classes as well as the first Enduro Sprint Series. 

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.