Stock cars take the track during their heat lap at the races at Hawkeye Downs on Friday, July 16, 2010. (Julie Koehn/The Gazette)

For the second straight year, opening night for weekly season points races at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids has been postponed due to weather.

Hawkeye Downs Race Promoter Mike Becker released an email this morning that persistent rain had washed out Friday night’s schedule.

Opening night will be Friday, April 29.

Becker’s email said that Opening Night races at the speedway have been canceled Friday night due to rainy conditions and an unfavorable weather outlook.

Fans are encouraged to visit RainedOut.com and register for Hawkeye Downs Speedway rainout alerts. The alerts will be sent to your cell phone, mobile device, or email free.

Racing returns next Friday, April 29 with all regular classes in action. Gates open at 6 p.m. with pre-race ceremonies at 7:15 and racing at 7:30 p.m.

Dakota Danes gets ready to race in the Hobby stock Class, Friday April 29, 2011 Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids. (Becky Malewitz/The Gazette)

The racing events scheduled for tonight (Friday, May 13) at Hawkeye Downs Speedway have been canceled due to the weather.

The rain date for Van Meter Night at the track is next Friday, May 20.

For more, check out Hawkeye Downs’ Web site.

Chris Weinkauf (75) leads the pack through turn three during their ASA Midwest Tour heat race at Hawkeye Downs Speedway Friday, Aug. 12, 2011. (David Scrivner/SourceMedia Group)

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jonathan Eilen left Hawkeye Downs last year on a stretcher.

This year he’s leaving with a title.

A year ago, the race car driver from Minnesota left the track on a stretcher in an ambulance after slamming into a wall in Turn 2. He broke his L3 vertebra, some ribs and tore cartilage, ending his 2010 season.

That same turn was the sight of celebration donuts after he captured his first victory in the American Speed Association Midwest Tour 39th Annual Miller 100 last night at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. He started third but finished before everyone else in the 26-car field.

The win was his best showing this season, improving on two seventh-place finishes, and his fourth in the top 10. It was made even sweeter by being at the place that previously devastated him.

“This is just awesome,” Eilen said. “It’s more than words can say.”

Eilen ran with the leaders early but benefited when Joey Gase hit the wall to force the first of two cautions with 44 laps remaining. The restart eclipsed pole sitter Nathan Haseleu’s huge lead.

Eilen grabbed the lead shortly after the restart choosing to take the high side and then controlling the race the rest of the way.

Haseleu blew away the field in the first half of the race before Eilen took the lead. At one point just before the caution, Haseleu had a quarter-lap lead on Eilen, who was in fourth. Then his role changed from chased to chaser.

He finished second and claimed his sixth top-five finish and his eighth in the top 10.

Griffin McGrath of Cedar Rapids is in his second full season with the tour. He qualified 17th and finished 12th.

Joey Gase and Tim Plummer made the most of their final shot in the “last chance” race, giving spots in the race to the top five and three provisionals to round out the field. Gase and Plummer battled with a few other cars, and placed third and fourth, respectively, to reach the main event. Gase was 24th, leaving the race after the wreck, and Plummer was 20th.

Steve Carlson, who has won this even seven times including the last four, needed the last chance race to reach the field. Carlson won that to start 19th and came in 11th.

The evening opened with a 40-lap ASA Trucks feature, finishing with a battle between brothers. Jerry Wood and John Wood, who are second and fourth in season points before Friday night, placed first and second with Jerry Wood claiming his second win this season. John Wood challenged late, eclipsing his brother’s lead and running right on his tail the final 10 laps. Jerry Wood held him off, earning both victories the last three races.

“That was the hardest race I’ve had in a long time,” Jerry Wood said. “I had a crink in my leg and I thought Johnny’s being good to me back there because I was slowing up a ton. Fans kept pumping me up and I kept going. I’m really happy to win this one. I really didn’t deserve it.”

Chris Marek drives the No.3 and that is now how many ASA Sportsman Tour wins he has this season as he closes in on his second straight season championship. Marek pulled away after he took advantage of an opening to take a lead early in the race. Bryan Turtle was second followed by Scott Null in the 35-lap contest.

“I saw my shot and just kind of went for it, and it worked out nice,” Marek said. “I knew Bryan had a fast car so I better start running because he was going to catch me.”

The hornets were the only weekly regular class at Hawkeye Downs in action. Dallas Chandler dominated a race that suffered two cautions in the first nine laps. Chandler won for the third time this season, snapping his brother Brad Chandler’s streak of four straight feature wins. Brad Chandler was involved in a wreck three laps in and pulled off the track.

ASA MILLER 100

At Hawkeye Downs Speedway

ASA Late Models

Heat winners – Odd qualifier: Jonathan Eilen; Even qualifier: Tim Schendel Last chance race (Top 5 qualified for feature): 1. Steve Carlson, 2. Jeff Storm, 3. Joey Gase, 4. Tim Plummer, 5. Joel Thiesen Feature – 1. Jonathan Eilen, 2. Nathan Haseleu, 3. Jacob Goede, 4. Andrew Morrissey, 5. Tim Schendel; Other Iowans: 12. Griffin McGrath, 20. Tim Plummer, 24. Joey Gase, 25. Brad Osborn, 26. Mason Mitchell ASA Trucks Heat winners – Odd: Jerry Wood; Even: Kyle Brinkmann Feature – 1. Jerry Wood, 2. John Wood, 3. Austin Luedtke, 4. Chad Wood, 5. Rick Corso ASA Sportsman Heat winner – Coedy Houdek Feature – 1. Chris Marek, 2. Bryan Turtle, 3. Scott Null, 4. Jerry Suderland, 5. Doug Bennett Hornets Heat winners – 1st: Kurt Bohnsack; 2nd: Brad Chandler; 3rd: Todd Ness Feature – 1. Dallas Chandler, 2. Todd Ness, 3. Ian Pate, 4. Derek Parrott, 5. Jamie Witham

Daniel Reed, vice president of research and economic development at the University of Iowa, will be the keynote speaker for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance annual meeting next month.

Reed previously worked at Microsoft, serving as a corporate vice president, reporting to the company’s chief research and strategy officer. As corporate vice president for extreme computing, Reed built and led research and prototyping on cloud and parallel computing.

Reed later led Microsoft’s global technology policy group, helping foster dialog on the influence of technology on societal issues and government policy.

The Metro Economic Alliance annual meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at Hawkeye Downs, 4400 Sixth St. SW in Cedar Rapids. The organization will reflect on progress made in the first year of the Metro Economic Alliance and announce plans for 2013.

Lunch will be provided. Reservations are requested by Jan. 17.

Following are gardening and eco-events happening in Eastern Iowa during January 2013:

Tues., Jan. 1 – First Day Hikes: Begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on Jan. 1, at a state park close to home.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting free, guided hikes in four state parks and recreation areas on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states. Hikes will be offered at Big Creek State Park (Polk County) at 10 a.m.; Walnut Woods State Park (Polk County) at 9 a.m.; Mines of Spain State Recreation Area (Dubuque County) at 1 p.m. and Brushy Creek State Recreation Area (Webster County) at 1 p.m.  Visit www.iowadnr.gov/StateParkEvents for detailed information regarding the hikes. First Day Hikes began more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Mass. The program was launched to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year round recreation at state parks. Last year marked the first time all 50 state park systems joined together to sponsor First Day Hikes, offering 400 hikes nationwide. Park staff and volunteers will lead the hikes, which average one to two miles or longer, depending on the state park. Details about hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain and tips regarding proper clothing are listed on the America’s State Parks website, www.americasstateparks.org.  America’s State Parks is committed to promoting outdoor recreation in state parks as a way to address obesity, especially among children. Getting kids outside and unplugged from video games and other electronic media creates a unique connection with nature that promotes physical and mental well-being and encourages creativity and stewardship of our shared resources.

Thurs., Jan. 3, Water: Join Sara and Sam Stikx, Eco Family Super Heroes for the 2013 Eco Family Virtual Conference! YOUR family is invited to: explore sustainable living resources;  conduct citizen science activities; watch & create your own avatar video; have fun together! Eco Family Virtual Conference Sessions will be held the first Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00pm. REGISTER NOW and pay using PayPal.  The entire 6 session virtual course is only $70 per family. Cancellations made one week before course/event will be refunded 50% of registration fee. Cancellations made after one week will not be refunded. Register before the holidays so your family has time to explore the Water resources before the first online gathering on Jan. 3, 2013.

Tues., Jan 8, 7-8:30 p.m., Online Farminar; “Yeomans Plow and Keyline Design”  Practical Farmers of Iowa has developed a free winter online seminar series in an effort to help farmers learn from each other without having to travel. The interactive webinars – called farminars – are presented live on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. CST, from Jan. 8 through Feb. 26. There is also a special lunchtime farminar 12-1:30 p.m. CST, Thursday Jan. 24.  Enterprises span livestock, vegetable and row crop production. The series is open to anyone, and any computer with an Internet connection may be used to participate. To participate, go to www.practicalfarmers.org/farminar. All archived farminars and audio podcasts of past farminars are also available at this link. Farminars are led by farmers from around the world, including Vermont, Wisconsin and Victoria, Australia. Many of the presentations are in a “fish-bowl” format, where attendees listen as an experienced farmer answers a beginning farmer’s questions. Topics featured in the winter series: The Yeomans plow and Keyline design; selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties; cover crop basics for corn and soybeans; fruit and vegetable farm crop insurance options; profit potential in high tunnels; full-time year-round employment considerations; alternatives to corn and soybeans in swine feed rations; selecting beef animals for a grass-based system; and vegetable irrigation basics.  Founded in 1985, Practical Farmers of Iowa is an open, supportive and diverse organization of farmers and friends of farmers, advancing profitable, ecologically sound and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-to-farmer networking, farmer-led investigation and information sharing. Farmers in our network produce corn, soybeans, beef cattle, hay, fruits and vegetables, and more.  For additional information, call 515.232.5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org. Get to know the Yeomans Plow and Keyline Design and learn how subsoil plowing can improve your farm productivity, water holding capacity, and reduce compaction.Jeremy and Jodi Peake, of Waukon, IA, manage a grass-based herd of 35 dairy cows. While they have farmed for more than 11 years, they have only recently begun experimenting with the Yeomans plow. Darren Doherty is a 5th generation farmer from Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Darren also works as a farm planner, developer and educator, specializing in drought-proofing, soil management and practical farm layout design. He has experience using Yeomans Plow and Keyline Design concepts on his farm and as a consultant to farmers in more than 40 countries.Find others in the rest of the calendar, below.

Tues., Jan. 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wed., Jan. 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2013 Ag Show and WMT Tractorcade; Hawkeye Downs Event Center, Cedar Rapids. Schedule of events: Tuesday – Jan 8th

9:00A         Doors open

10:00A       Elwynn Taylor sponsored by Concept by Iowa Hearing Aid Centers

11:30A       THE BIG SHOW    2013 Tractorcade Route Announcement sponsored by South Slope

2:30P        Pesticide Application Certification by Jim  Fawcett

Wednesday – Jan 9th

9:00A         Doors open

10:00A       Jerry Gulke sponsored by Titan Machinery Blairstown/Center Point

11:30A       THE BIG SHOW

4:00PM        Vendor and Display Booths close

Read more: http://www.wmttractorcade.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=456788&article=10655774#ixzz2GecMqwuU

Wed., Jan. 9, 7-8 p.m.,  ‘Starting Garden Transplants at Home’, Marion Library, 1095 6th Avenue. Free class taught by Linn County Master Gardener,  Zora Ronan.

Thursday, Jan. 10, 6:30 PM; Green and Simple: Choices for Sustainable Living; Indian Creek Nature Center; 6665 Otis Rd. SE. The term “sustainability” has become so popularized, it is hard to know what it means anymore. Sustainability is a complex and contested concept; but at its best, it represents hope for a healthy, just and bright future for all. Explore the meaning and vision of sustainability from individual, societal and global perspectives in seven sessions covering ecological principles, food, community, consumption, the economy and transportation.  For a complete description call 319-362-0664 or go to www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org. A discussion course book ($25) is required and included in the fee. Join us for stimulating discussions!  Call ICNC by 4 PM on Jan 7 to register. Fee: $50; $60 if sharing a book with a friend. Discussion dates: 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14 and 2/21. 

 Thurs. Jan. 10-Sat., Jan. 12; Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference “Soil and Soul,” Iowa State Center Scheman Building, on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. The conference is open to the public, and registrations are being accepted now. Those who pre-register by Jan. 2 will save $10 per day. Register online at http://practicalfarmers.org/events/annual-conference.html or by contacting Patrick Burke at patrick@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661. Special rates are available for students and PFI members. Several sessions at this year’s event – which celebrates the vital role soil plays in sustaining life – focus on field crops and management strategies for both conventional and organic systems that can save time, boost profits and build soil health while protecting water quality. The “Cover Crops 101” session, offered in partnership with Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), will benefit farmers thinking about planting cover crops for the first time and veteran cover crop growers. Rob Stout, who farms near Washington, Iowa, will teach practical ways to add cover crops to corn and soybean systems as well as integrate them into no-till systems. Plant physiologist Tom Kaspar, with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, will share the latest research on how adding a small grain cover crop can improve soil quality while reducing soil erosion and nitrate leaching. The conference will also feature keynote speaker Elaine Ingham, chief scientist at the Rodale Institute and a world-renowned microbiologist; 18 other in-depth workshops covering topics in horticulture, livestock, local foods and beginning farmers; nine additional Saturday morning breakfast sessions; up to six in-depth “U-Pick” sessions organized around topics suggested by guests during conference registration; and three short courses on composting, farm finances and tractor handling and operation, taking place on Thursday, Jan. 10 and the morning of Jan. 11. To access the full conference program, registration details or to register online, visit http://practicalfarmers.org/events/annual-conference.html.

 Sat., Jan. 12, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM; Not a Lot of Plot Workshop; Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids. Reconnect with nature through a more sustainable lifestyle!  Enjoy growing food in your backyard, no matter how small. Topics will include ideas for small spaces, nurturing healthy soil, growing and using herbs, backyard rabbits, native shrubs and recycled garden art. See details in the brochure at www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org Fee: M: $15; NM: $18

 Sat., Jan. 12, 10 a.m.–noon; Soap Making Workshop at Prairiewoods. Are you spending a fortune at bath and body stores or worried about some of the ingredients in the soaps you’re using? This class at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha) will be led by Sandy Rosenberger. You’ll learn how simple and inexpensive it is to make your own glycerin-based soaps with simple, nourishing ingredients. All materials will be provided. (The snow date is January 26.) The cost is $20 and registration and payment are required by January 9. For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

 Tues., Jan. 15, noon–1 p.m.; Tuesday Take-Away at Prairiewoods: Working through the Winter Blues. Tuesday Take Aways is a new monthly program at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha), held on the third Tuesday of each month. This series will pair delicious Prairiewoods lunches with topical presentations by local experts. To honor your schedule, hot lunches will be served promptly at noon and presentations will conclude at 1 p.m. If you wish to linger longer, the presenters will stay for additional conversation. All are welcome, but registration is strongly encouraged. Please join us and invite your friends and colleagues for fellowship. All will be sure to find something to “take-away” from this monthly offering! On January 15, Tony Wobeter, MS, will present thoughts about how to counteract depression and the winter “blahs.” He will discuss helpful strategies to creatively meet life challenges in the new year. Tony was an ordained Catholic priest and served for 21 years in the Dubuque Archdiocese. While serving as a hospital chaplain, he received his master’s degree, became a licensed psychologist and left the priesthood. For the past 24 years, Tony has provided psychological and hypnotherapy services in the corridor. The cost is $13 per session and includes presentations and lunch. For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

 Tues., Jan. 15; 7-8:30 p.m., – Winter Farminar, “Selecting Corn Hybrids and Soybean Varieties” – Eric Franzenburg, Laura Krouse, and Maury Johnson. Gain a diverse view of the nuts and bolts of genetic selection and decision-making for corn and soybean seeds. Farmers and a seed production expert will cover genetically-modified, non-GMO, open-pollinated and organic seeds. Eric Franzenburg of Van Horne, Iowa farms several hundred acres of conventional corn and soybeans.  Eric will discuss his process of selecting GMO corn hybrids and soybean varieties. Laura Krouse, of Mount Vernon, Iowa manages about 40 cropland acres in a four-year rotation (corn, oats/hay, hay, and vegetable garden). She plants an open-pollinated corn variety grown on her Abbe Hills Farm since 1903.Maury Johnson currently works for Blue River Hybrids in Kelly, IA which specializes in non-GMO and organic seed choices. He will add almost 30 years experience in the seed business focused on seed production to the discussion.

Thursday, Jan. 17, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Beginning Beekeeping Series: Session I; Indian Creek Nature Center. This is the first of an eight-session series designed for individuals serious about starting a beekeeping hobby. The series takes participants through the annual cycle of beekeeping, from establishing a hive to harvesting and marketing the honey produced. Class members will work with the hives at ICNC. All classes are held at the Nature Center and last approximately two hours; attendance is critical. Call or visit ICNC’s website for full class descriptions.  Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, Jan.16.  Call 319-362-0664 or visit indiancreeknaturecenter.org.   Series:  M: $55, NM: $85;

$10/companion (one only).

Fri., Jan. 18, noon–1 p.m.; Circle Cinema at Prairiewoods: Mother Nature’s Child. You are invited to join a monthly lunchtime screening of films from the Spiritual Cinema Circle and Earth Cinema Circle series at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha). This casual gathering, facilitated by Andrea Jilovec and Emy Sautter, allows Prairiewoods staff and guests to view a film over the lunch hour. As time permits, there may be short discussions following the films. Bring your brown-bag lunch and join us for this free viewing party! January 18 will feature Mother Nature’s Child, a one-hour film exploring nature’s role in children’s health and development. A free-will offering will be accepted. For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

 Sat., Jan. 19, 2 p.m., Naturalist’s Cure for Cabin Fever: Discover Winter Wildflowers; Indian Creek Nature Center. Reconnect to the outdoors on a casual walk to identify the seed heads and stalks of last summer’s blooms. These remnants of warmer days are amazingly beautiful and often quite fragrant.  Dress for the outdoors!  M: $4; NM: $5; Youth: $1

 Sunday, Jan. 20, 2:00 p.m., Mammoth Dig Update; Indian Creek Nature Center. David Brenzel will share the amazing story and mystery of the Oskaloosa mammoths. Learn what has been discovered so far, speculate on what this might mean and learn about plans for the upcoming dig season. Examine mammoth bones. M: $4; NM: $5

 Tues., Jan. 22, 7-8:30 p.m., Winter Farminar, “Cover Crop Basics for Corn and Soybeans” – Steve McGrew and Earl Hafner. Learn from farmers with experience using cover crops in conventional and organic systems. Steve McGrew farms corn and soybeans with his brothers near Emerson, IA. Using cover crops for many years on no-till conventional farmland in gently rolling hills, he has seen vast improvements in soil conservation effects. Earl Hafner organically farms about 2,000 acres near Panora with his son Jeff. They use cover crops extensively in their operation. The Hafners use tillage to kill the cover crops in the spring and also grow small grains in organic rotation.

Thurs., Jan. 24, noon to 1:30 p.m., Winter Farminar;  “Specialty Crop Insurance: One Farmer’s Experience and Vision” – Richard deWilde – Noon 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Central time. Have you considered insuring for your fresh produce farm this summer? Hear a farmer’s take on what is available as well as his vision for a more suitable insurance program for fruit and vegetable farms. Richard deWilde, of Harmony Valley Farm, Viroqua, Wisconsin, has been growing organic vegetables since 1973.  He will explain his experience with Farm Service Agency’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and will provide an overview of NAP requirements and potential returns if there is a crop loss.

Thurs. Jan. 24 and Fri., Jan. 25, Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Conference; Des Moines Area Community College,

Iowa FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny.  Program Information: www.ifvga.org

Saturday, Jan. 26, 12:30-5:00 p.m., Sixth Annual Paddle Day; Indian Creek Nature Center. Paddle Day offers something for every paddler whether a beginner or seasoned veteran. Connect with a paddling buddy, share experiences, learn about new gear or a new place to paddle. Displays, door prizes and engaging presentations.  Paul Sleeper will introduce Iowa’s mussels and discover exciting paddling opportunities at Charles City Whitewater at Riverfront Park. For a complete agenda of the day’s speakers and activities, go to www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org.  M: $8; $NM: $12

 Sunday, Jan. 27, 2:00 PM; Planning Your Alaskan Adventure; Indian Creek Nature Center. About 60% of the people who visit Alaska take package tours, often including a cruise up the Inside Passage, a visit to Anchorage and Denali National Park, and a flight home.  Join veteran Alaska travelers Steve Street and Bob Anderson and former Alaska resident Rich Patterson to plan a customized trip to the Last Frontier. Learn to locate interesting lodges and bed and breakfasts in spectacular terrain off the main tourist routes. Gain insights into the topography, weather, and people of our largest state. M: $5; NM: $8

 Tues., Jan. 29, 7-8:30 p.m., Winter Farminar;  “Explore the Profit Potential of High Tunnels” – Adam Montri: Learn how to harvest not just great winter greens, but profits as well from your season-extending structure. Adam Montri of Ten Hens Farm, near Bath, Michigan, raises crops year-round in his high tunnel. Adam also serves as the hoophouse outreach specialist for Michigan State University, serving high tunnel growers across Michigan.

Daniel Reed, Vice-president - University of Iowa

The vice president of research and economic development at the University of Iowa is promising a “much more muscular” relationship with state and local economic development organizations.

“We’ve been a partner for years, but we’ve got to do some new things and we’re going to make a difference in new ways,” said Daniel Reed in a keynote speech Thursday for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance annual meeting at Hawkeye Downs.

“In a knowledge world, those who win are the ones who are faster, more nimble or creative,” said Reed, contending that colleges and universities have changed over the centuries to adjust to what is happening in the world outside of academia.

Reed said higher education is encountering another “inflection point” in which its relationship with society is changing profoundly.

“It’s about how we much more rapidly create knowledge and transfer that knowledge into practice,” Reed said. “It’s about how we shift the dynamics of higher education in partnership with our community and junior colleges for life-long education.

“The notion of a much more active life-long relationship between the university and the private sector is one of the things I believe is in real flux. It involves how we think about economic development, regional competitiveness, and how we become active partners in solving real societal problems.”

Reed said universities need to respond more quickly to real world issues on a time scale that is relevant to business.

“If we’re going to partner with business as an academic institution, we have to embrace business sensibilities,” he said. “We have to understand the time value of money, the value of talent, and the ethos that drives the actions of entrepreneurs as well as small-, large- and medium-size companies.

“We have to educate our faculty, staff and students about what it means to live in that world.”

UI is taking an inventory of its intellectual property to determine how to work with businesses to help them grow, he said. He added that the university will continue to look for more effective ways to license and transfer individual and group intellectual property.

In opening remarks, Dee Baird, president and CEO of the Alliance, told the more than 600 attendees that many things were accomplished in the organization first year of operation.

“We made 177 contacts with business prospects in the target areas of bioprocessing and food ingredients, logistics and distribution, food processing, process manufacturing, electronic equipment, wind energy, insurance, financial services and information technology,” Baird said. “We assisted 17 companies in retaining 63 jobs and creating 1,379 new jobs and new capital investment of $123.4 million.”

Baird said the Alliance is working with 27 active projects in which decisions expected over the next year could create 2,227 new jobs and $516.5 million of new capital investment.

“While we are proud of what has been accomplished in our first year, much work remains,” Baird said.

Shane Hanson, (37), leads the pack in the hornets heat race at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, August 17, 2012. The 2013 weekly points series races begin May 3. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette-KCRG)

Hawkeye Downs Speedway has always been anchored in the community.

This season, it appears the Cedar Rapids auto racing facility wants to enhance that relationship.

The track’s weekly Friday night points series will include multiple nights to attract community members and feature local organizations during the 2013 schedule. The season consists of 15 sponsored nights and added racing attractions.

The track is attempting to make things more interesting to fans.

“Life is actually good,” Hawkeye Downs Race Promoter Mike Becker said. “We’re looking forward to the season. We’ve got some different things going on.”

Throughout the season, Hawkeye Downs will feature various groups during weekly points races. The Cedar Rapids Police Department will have a canine cop on display to spectators, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department will bring a truck out for children to explore, the United Way will be welcome to the track and Van Meter will host its fourth annual celebrity Legends car charity race, raising funds for the American Cancer Society and spreading Breast Cancer Awareness.

“These are all part of different sponsored nights,” Becker said. “We’re trying to reach out to the community.”

The season will open with a Car Show and Media Day, including a test and tune for drivers, Saturday, April 27. Weekly races kicks off with Innovative Signs Night on May 3. The track celebrates its history with the 12th Keith Fleck Memorial Wall of Fame Night on May 24. Van Meter’s charity night and celebrity race is June 21 and the season concludes Aug. 23.

More could be added before the season starts.

Hawkeye Downs will have some additions on the track as well. This season, the Mid-American Stock Car Series, running a 40-lap sportsman feature, will compete at the track May 17. The series returns for the first time in almost five years, according to Becker.

Allison Legacy Cars will take the track during weekly races July 19.

“We have some different highlights,” said Becker, noting the track is attempting to host a Legends car regional qualifier race in July.

Some of the additions include a collaborative effort with two other sports organizations in Cedar Rapids. The track will offer a special night of hockey at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on April 12. A similar promotion will be held May 16 for a baseball game at Veterans Stadium.

“We’re going to the RoughRiders and having a Hawkeye Downs night (and) we’ll have a Hawkeye Downs night at the Kernels,” Becker said. “We’ll have those folks here a couple different nights.”

CEDAR RAPIDS – A treat for local fans and a test for some local drivers.

The Mid-America Stock Car Series returns to Hawkeye Downs Speedway for the first time in four years Friday, competing in a 45-lap feature as part of the weekly race show. Gates open at 6 p.m. with hot laps at 6:35 and races at 7:30.

Hawkeye Downs Promoter Mike Becker said he doesn’t know what the show will produce.

“These are certainly guys who run in tour racing,” Becker said. “They certainly have their game on. I don’t know if it will be 15 cars all in a group, if they get all strung out and it’s an endurance deal. We’re certainly looking forward to see what happens and is one of the reasons why I brought them in. I thought it could be any combination of all the above.”

The MASCS competes in Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The series will run time trials, heat races and the second feature of the night. Becker said 15 to 18 MASCS drivers are expected to be in the field and a few local racers to enter.

Fifteen official entrants are listed already, including Mark Pluer, of Brookfield, Wis., and Brad Keith, of West Bend, Wis., who are tied for first in points with 143. Jack Stern, of Slinger, Wis., and Jeremy Spoonmore, of Somonauk, Ill., are tied for third in the season standings with 127 and have registered.

“The guys that are in this group have been at it for some time,” Becker said. “They have some experience and should be good at what they do and should see a pretty good race.”

Local drivers Dave McCalla, who has dominated the sportsman division at Hawkeye Downs in recent years, Ben Glascock and defending modified season points champion Brian Gibson have entered and will compete. McCalla won 11 sportsman features last year, claiming the Hawkeye Downs season points championships easily and won the season opener last week. McCalla ran in the 2009 event, which was held as a stand-alone event on an extremely hot weekend afternoon.

Becker said the local drivers are capable of being competitive with the touring drivers.

“The cars are basically the same,” Becker said. “The rules are very close to being the same. They run on the same tires we run. The feel of the car is very similar.”

Regular sportsman division will be replaced by the MASCS event, but all other divisions will run. Tickets remain $10 for adults and $7 for seniors. Admission for students with a school ID is $5, and children 12 and younger are free.

MEET THE DRIVERS AT MEMORIAL STADIUM

Some of the regular drivers will have cars on display at Memorial Stadium on Thursday for the Cedar Rapids Kernels home contest against the Burlington Bees at 6:35 p.m.

Modified, legends and hobby stocks will be on display for fans to view. Brian Gibson, Mark Ironside and Matt Lacoursiere will be among the drivers in attendance.

Reporter K.J. Pilcher talks with driver Brian Gibson about defending his Hawkeye Downs points title.

Diana Simmons (right) of Marion and Patti Loth of Cedar Rapids work on a repackaging project for a tool company at Options of Linn County on Williams Blvd. in southwest Cedar Rapids on Thursday, April 1, 2010. In the past year, . (Julie Koehn/The Gazette)

Some workers with developmental disabilities are able to thrive in workplaces without support; we have too few opportunities for those Linn County workers who can’t.

For months, local disabilities advocates and families have been putting heads together to address the need.

“You have this whole group of people who are not people who can go into the community and immediately get a job,” Linn County MHDD Director Mechelle Dhondt told me this week. “But they can work, and they want to work. They want to do something that’s real and useful.”

The group’s ideas include helping businesses recruit and train workers with developmental disabilities and developing free-standing enterprises, such as coffee carts. They want to promote entrepreneurial and volunteer options, as well as artistic endeavors. They plan to ask the county Mental Health Advisory Board this week for seed money to help get their projects off the ground. The board should lend a hand.

Last year, dozens of local supported workers got their pink slips when long-term Medicaid funding for their employment started drying up.

Folks like Ron Hunt, 37, who lost his full-time job of 14 years.

He still puts in a few hours in an enclave job, but Ron misses his full-time job, his mother Shirley Harris told me Friday. “He doesn’t think of himself as disabled. He’s just Ron.”

“He’s friendly. He’s outgoing. I don’t think he’s ever met a stranger,” she said. “He’s a great guy.” And he’s one of those Linn County workers who needs some support to thrive.

Harris took the initiative, helping Ron get set up selling fashion jewelry. Today he’ll launch his new business at the Flea Market at Hawkeye Downs. His mom, his sister and aunt will take turns helping him with details, such as making change.

But Ron knows it’s his own business and that’s important to him, she said. It’s important to her,too. “It means that I did ok. That I let him do what he’s able to do, to the best of his ability.” she said, her voice tight with emotion.

It isn’t easy — Harris works full-time, herself — but it’s something she feels she needs to do for her son. She hopes to help other families do the same.

Work is an important source of pride and identity for  adults with developmental disabilities, same as anyone.

We’ve got a role to play here. Not every family can go it alone.

Comments: (319) 339-3154; jennifer.hemmingsen@sourcemedia.net

Note: A print and earlier online version of this article failed to use “people first” phrasing in describing workers with developmental disabilities. 

Race car drivers understand the risk that accomplanies getting behind the wheel for competition. The death of 37-year-old NASCAR driver Jason Leffler this week is a reminder of the importance of safety equipment for drivers. (David Scrivner/The Gazette-KCRG)

CEDAR RAPIDS – The inherent danger is accepted by each and every driver that gets behind the wheel.

It comes with the territory when you’re zipping around a confined oval with traffic at speeds illegal on public streets.

The death of 37-year-old NASCAR driver Jason Leffler, following an accident during a sprint car race Wednesday night at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway,  enforced the realization that race car drivers face tremendous risk in every competition. It will likely be on the minds of officials, drivers and fans when Hawkeye Downs Speedway hosts its weekly points races Friday night, beginning at 7:30.

Don’t expect drivers to slow down. They know the consequences.

“You know the dangers going into it,” Wall of Fame member and current legends division points leader Kevin Korsmo said. “We know it’s out there, the possibility of wrecking and being hurt. You can’t spend your time thinking about it or you wouldn’t be in a race car.”

Leffler wasn’t an inexperienced driver. He had three NASCAR victories - one Camping World Trucks Series and two Nationwide Series wins – and more than 423 starts on the nation’s premiere stock car circuits, beginning in 1999. Leffler’s death re-opened the wounds of auto racing fans, who were stunned when IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon died in a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011.

“NASCAR extends its thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fans of Jason Leffler, who passed away (Wednesday) evening,” NASCAR officials said in a news release. “For more than a decade, Leffler was a fierce competitor in our sport, and he will be greatly missed.”

Read Iowa Speedway’s statement on Leffler’s death. Visit www.nascar.com for additional coverage on the career and death of the NASCAR veteran.

Cedar Rapids native Landon Cassill, a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, competed against Leffler last weekend in the Party in the Poconos 400 at Pocono (Pa.) raceway. Cassill commented about the situation on Twitter Wednesday night.

“Had a great talk with him just the other day,” Cassill posted on his @landoncassill feed. “We reminded each other why we love racing and do what we do. He was family.”

Steve Wallace (66) and Jason Leffler (38) race neck-and-neck during the NASCAR Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. (David Scrivner/The Gazette-KCRG)

The threat of injury exists on any level, any class and at any venue.

“You don’t want to let your guard down anytime,” Korsmo said. “It can happen at any track. You have to make sure you’re prepared for it.”

The steps a driver takes before he even gets into the car is vital to safety. Competitors must have essential equipment, including helmets, gloves and harnesses, to help limit harm of a crash. Preparation can provide peace of mind, so the focus can be on racing.

“You can’t sit and dwell on that too much,” eight-time Hawkeye Downs track champion Tim Plummer said on accidents. “It makes you pretty complacent. You’re not going to do the things you need to do (on the track).”

Hawkeye Downs has made considerable effort to insure driver safety when Race Director Mike Becker took over in 2010. Drivers and track personnel go over the checklist and fill out weekly to make sure the car and all the equipment are up to standard. Becker and Plummer both said the death of Dale Earnhardt at the end of the 2001 Daytona 500 led to significant changes in safety requirements.

“We developed a safety inspection sheet for our tech officials and drivers,” Becker said. “They all have to work with us.”

Becker said he has kept drivers from taking the track due to safety concerns. One driver had a helmet that wasn’t sufficient and it was confiscated until a proper helmet was obtained. Another driver was held out, because of poor safety harnesses. Korsmo and Plummer said Hawkeye Downs has made sure drivers take protective precautions.

“We don’t like to be timid about that,” Becker said. “My goal is everybody race here on Friday and then get up on Saturday and do stuff with their family.”

The track witnessed a severe accident during this season. Hornets driver Jose DeJesus was racing down a straightaway during the feature when his car flipped and rolled off the quarter-mile, demolishing his race car. DeJesus scrambled from the wreckage and ran to safety. He was OK and even received a free dinner from track officials when he returned to race in his old car the next week.

“You lose your breath any time you see a car start to spin,” Becker said. “When Jose went flipping off the backstretch and barrel-rolled six times, everybody’s heart sank in the whole place. Nobody wants to see a driver get hurt.”

Korsmo said the track hasn’t had a fatal crash at the track since it became an asphalt surface in the late 1980′s. He recalled some accidents resulting in serious injury, but no deaths. One of the reasons might be the foam barrier that runs the outside of the half-mile oval.

“We were one of the first to put up that polystyrene wall,” Korsmo said. “Kudos to the track for spending the money to do that because I know that’s kept some people safe.”

On the track, drivers control their own fate, but rely on others to avoid issues during a race. A certain amount of trust exists that drivers will run clean and not thrust someone into peril.

“Especially in the modified class with the open wheel,” said Plummer, a late model and modified driver. “You bump wheels and then go airborne, and that’s when things get hairy.”

The last line of aid is the track’s emergency personnel. The Speedway Fire and Rescue Team are ready to assist those involved in an accident. Becker said the team experiences training exercises throughout the year, bringing in instructors and advisers to stay up on the latest procedures. It is important to know how to react to what has happened, what could happen and things responders want to avoid.

“The world changes every day and so does racing,” Becker said. “You have to stay on top of everything. The safety personnel is no different, and they do a good job.”

Bryce Bailey (51) leads Tim Goettsch (01) and Matt Blake (74R) out of Turn 2 at Hawkeye Downs Friday night. The Legends cars are the most popular class this year at the historic race track, and promoter Mike Becker believes the class is the future of racing at the speedway.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Racing is a cyclical sport. Over the years, participation has risen and fallen, often coinciding with the nation’s economy.

Of late, participation in weekly racing at Hawkeye Downs hasn’t been like years past, save for one division: the Legend cars.

“The Legend car is a very good deal for racing and is going to continue to be good for racing,” said Hawkeye Downs promoter Mike Becker. “There is a sense of excitement again, that maybe fell off a little bit with some of the other (classes).

“I think this is the fuel for the fire that we needed to get young people involved, to get people excited about (racing) and get people having fun.”

Becker said Friday night he believes, as has happened in the past, racing will see a resurgence, and the class that will lead it there is the Legend class.

With it’s relative affordability compared to other divisions, the Legends allow for families with drivers of all ages to enter the sport without a ton of logistical hoops to jump through.

“There are young families getting involved in our sport because of this (class),” Becker said. “They’re small, they’re light, they’re easy. You can own one of these when you live in a cul-de-sac and your neighbors aren’t going to mind. They’re very well thought-out.”

The Legends average 16 cars per week at Hawkeye Downs – including 15 Friday night, when Tim Goettsch picked up the feature win – well above the next closest class, the Hornets which average eight cars every Friday night.

That popularity is spread all across the country – with heavy participation on both coasts – and brought 13-year-old driver Noah Cornman and his family to Cedar Rapids from Groveland, Fla.

“What makes this class great for us is you can race in a lot of different states,” said Noah’s dad Scott Cornman. “There’s always going to be a class. … We can go pretty much anywhere in the United States.”

With the rules package that cars in INEX U.S. Legend Cars International compete under, Cornman can take his Gatorland Legend to any INEX-sanctioned track across the country and be ready to race without any major changes, other than the car setup.

And as competitive as the Legend cars are on a weekly basis because of that, the racing at Hawkeye Downs figures to be even closer a week from Friday night. The track is set to host a U.S. Legend Cars International regional qualifier on July 19.

Becker said it’s hard to tell exactly how many cars will show up for the race next week – Scott Cornman said he, Noah and the family might come back next week while the family is still in the Midwest – but that it will be a big show for the race track regardless.

“I’ve been told by some we’ll have cars here from six states,” Becker said. “We could be nuts, we have no idea (how many will show up). Tune in next week.”

Maybe the most attractive part of the Legend cars for drivers – especially those hoping to move up the ranks like Cornman – is the experience it provides them and the lessons it teaches them behind the wheel.

“You see a lot of kids – rising stars – that are wanting to make it big time, and this is the level to start at, as far as a real car goes after go-karts,” said former Hawkeye wrestler-turned racer Mark Ironside. “A lot of the (Sprint) Cup guys, they got their start in these, and they say if you can drive one of these things and be successful, you can drive anything.”

July 12 Hawkeye Downs feature winners:

Hobby Stock: Matt Lacoursiere

Sportsmen: Dave McCalla

Legend Cars: Tim Goettsch

Modifieds: Tim Plummer

Hornets: Todd Ness

Late Models: Griffin McGrath

For a full list of the results from Friday night at Hawkeye Downs, see the July 13 edition of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

During the summer months, the track at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids literally and figuratively heats up.

“We are the only paved racetrack with weekly racing in the state of Iowa,” Hawkeye Downs Executive Director Roy Nowers said.

Ed Callan, Shellsburg holds up a checkered flag during one of the races at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids. (Becky Malewitz/The Gazette)

This differentiating factor, however, doesn’t come without challenges.

“It’s an expensive hobby,” Nowers said. “You have to have tires, fuel and a truck and trailer to haul your car. And with the downturn in the economy we are losing racers.”

It’s not unusual to have 60 to 70 cars race per week, while in past years something like 80 to 100 race cars would be registered.

And in today’s busy world, it can be difficult to get drivers to consistently race all summer, Nowers said.

“At the end of the year we have a season championship race. We have points and we keep track of that all season long,” he said.

“This is to encourage them to come every Friday night and race. But it’s hard to commit to that all summer long.”

Race promoter Mike Becker said that while most of the drivers racing at Hawkeye Downs are local, they have several drivers that come from two to three hours away to race.

Come and go

The season — which runs from May through the last race, scheduled this year for Aug. 23 — features six different racing divisions: late models, modified sportsman, stock car, hobby stocks, hornets, and legends, a fan favorite.

“Cars can register at any time. It used to be more hard core and you wouldn’t think of jumping in midsummer. It didn’t happen,” Becker said.

“But now we try to make it as easy as we can so people can come and go.”

It’s yet another adaptation the industry as a whole has had to make in the past decade, Becker said.

(Tim McDougal/The Gazette)

“We didn’t do a good job cultivating new fans and competitors,” said Becker, who has been involved with Hawkeye Downs, as a fan and racer, since the 1960s. “We didn’t see it coming as racers because we were busy racing. So we are working now to try to create new race fans.”

Becker noted at Hawkeye Downs they created a new program called the Little Racer Club in 2010 for children attending the races.

“We plan different activities for them, and the drivers get involved. The kids leave glowing,” he said.

It’s no surprise that sponsorship dollars help sustain the racing program, but with both Hawkeye Downs and the drivers out seeking sponsors, the process can be more complicated.

“There is an unwritten rule that we don’t step on each other’s toes,” Nowers noted.

The fact that racing is a loud sport can be a challenge as well.

“It’s hard to talk to the person sitting next to you,” Nowers admitted, adding that can make it difficult to illicit fan engagement.

Still, on an average Friday night, some 1,500 to 1,600 fans attend.

All Iowa Agriculture

Hawkeye Downs got its start in the 1920s when 10 business men invested $10,000 each to create the Cedar Rapids Amusement Co., which had a heavy agriculture focus. When that venture failed to take off after a year, the city and the convention and visitors bureau stepped in to open the facility as Fonner Park in 1925.

Years later, ownership of the property was turned over to the All Iowa Agriculture Association, a 501(c)3 organization that runs Hawkeye Downs to this day.

Taking up 96 acres on the city’s southwest side, Hawkeye Downs is best known for racing. But Nowers — who has worked for the organization since 2006 — said there is more to the enterprise than most consumers realize. Most people don’t know Hawkeye Downs is a not-for-profit organization with a $2.25 million annual budget.

“All the money we make goes right back into the facility,” Nowers said.

Led by a volunteer board of a dozen, Nowers and his employees — including Becker as race director and a full-time business manager, along with six other full-time-equivalent positions — keep the enterprise functioning year-round. Nowers said Hawkeye Downs relies heavily on part-time staff — 40 in the winter and about 80 during summer months.

“Everybody knows racing, but there is always something going on,” he added.

Hawkeye Downs hosts Bingo three nights a week, and motocross races take place every other week from April through October. Plus, it hosts some 625 events — from home and boat shows, antique shows and swap meets to business meetings, auctions and trade shows — in the expo hall each year.

“We’ll try anything once,” said Nowers of their events. “And if it doesn’t work we won’t do it again.”

Nowers said one of his main roles is to rent the facilities.

“I try to cultivate our current business and look for new clients,” he said. “We have to work together to create cost-effective cross-marketing opportunities.”

“It’s a balance of writing contracts and looking ahead to April of next year, even while we have a race this coming Friday night.”

Jeremiah Davis waits to start the Legends feature race at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on Aug. 16. Davis finished eighth of the 14 cars in the feature. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

It’s pretty easy to assume auto racing is a simple sport. After all, at oval tracks like Hawkeye Downs, there’s only two ends to the track, and they both look similar to the outside observer.

But if you’ve ever spent a day in the pits of a racetrack, or participated in a competitive race — not just those fun karts at an amusement park — you’ll know there’s a difference between driving and racing.

So with the help of Bulltown Legends in Kalona — and owners Warren and Denise Ropp — I had a chance to take to the track in a U.S. Legend Car at Hawkeye Downs, in an effort to illustrate what it takes to sit behind the wheel in competition.

I grew up in a racing household. My dad and uncles raced go-karts across the country for 30 years, and passed the love of motor sports on to me. I raced go-karts off and on from eight years old until this spring, so I’d been around race tracks before, but never in a Legend car. I’d also never competed in any vehicle with a roof, roll cage and seat belts, or one in which I had to shift gears.

The Legend division was an easy choice, though, because lately it’s far and away been the most popular class at Hawkeye Downs, and has seen immense growth across the country through its sanctioning body, INEX.

I went to Hawkeye Downs my first night as a Cedar Rapids resident to sit in the stands and watch. When the Legend cars took the track, not only was I entertained by the on-track product, but I noticed the others in attendance thoroughly enjoyed what they saw. I overheard some “Oh, those are the cutest little cars,” and a few say “I bet I could do that, no problem.”

So, naturally, I jumped at the chance to go see if those fans were right, or if there was more to these cars than meets the eye.

I found out in a hurry the Legend cars were no joke. The cars have a tight wheel base at 73 inches and weigh 1,300 pounds with a sealed — meaning no modifications — 1,250cc Yamaha 4-stroke motorcycle engine under the hood. The light, top-heavy Legend cars make 122 horsepower and have a five-speed transmission with a top speed of 120 mph, so finding grip is the key to fast lap times.

Though I didn’t go that fast at Hawkeye Downs — the Legend cars race the 1/4-mile oval in the middle, so there’s not enough straightaway for that much speed — I certainly felt every bit of the horsepower.

Jeremiah Davis straps into his Legend car on Aug. 16 at Hawkeye Downs. Denise Ropp (right) and her husband Warren own the car, as well as Bulltown Legends. (Photo courtesy Craig Hartmann)

While I was being strapped in for my first laps in the car several hours before the race, Warren gave me some advice that may seem basic, but proved vital: don’t mash the gas. Treating the gas pedal like an egg shell, he said, was the key to fast laps.

My first practice laps where slow and easy, and when Warren gave me the signal to pick up the pace, I learned quickly how sensitive the cars are.

Going down the back stretch, I took the car to full throttle, and immediately, the back end of the car started to come around, and though I didn’t spin out, I did end up in the infield grass. Warren waved me in for a quick chat and gave me some tips.

“Keep the car lower on the straightaway, you’re swinging out too far,” Warren said. “Roll that throttle too. You should never be fully out of the gas.”

After running dozens more practice laps, I got more and more comfortable applying the advice Warren gave me. By the session’s end, Warren said I was ready for the race later that night.

When I returned to the track for the driver’s meeting and races — about two hours after the practice session — I had worked myself into a bit of a frenzy. My dad and uncle had come to town, and the prospect of racing against other cars in a vehicle I didn’t have much experience with had considerably raised my stress level.

That wasn’t helped, either, when I couldn’t get my belts buckled for the hot lap session that precedes the racing. By the time I got them buckled, the session was over, and I’d lost a valuable opportunity to learn with other cars on the track.

While I waited for the first heat race, I chatted with other racers, all of whom assured me that with my racing background, I’d be fine come race time. To my great relief, they were right.

The heat race went well, and while I didn’t pass any cars, I didn’t get passed either. I gained confidence in the car and what it was capable of with each passing lap, to the point that by the end of the heat race, I was pushing pretty hard to run fast laps.

Jeremiah Davis drives onto the track for the Legends feature race at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on Aug.16 (Adam Wesley/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

The minutes between the heat and feature race featured a range of emotions. I would transfer between encouraged and excited to intimidated and nervous. I’ve never been scared of competing, and wasn’t that day. My anxiety was rooted in the unfamiliarity of the situation, coupled with the fact that I was driving another person’s car. I’d only ever raced personally-owned equipment, so the risk of damage took on a different tone. On top of that, I was trying to remember everything Warren had told me and how to apply it with other cars around me.

By the time I strapped into the car for the feature race, though, my worries were gone. As has always been the case for me, all my stresses and worries disappear when I pull the helmet on. That night was no different.

My initial plan for the race was to take it easy, not stick my nose in where I could get in trouble and bring the car back in one piece. But my competitive nature took over when the green flag dropped, and I gave it all I had. There were some close calls — two separate incidents where a car spun directly in front of me — but I was able to avoid both and race on. Each lap at speed, with those other competitors there to learn from as much as race against, I polished my — very rough — skills behind the wheel of a

Legend.

“All I had” ended up being an eighth place finish after starting last in the 14-car field. In 15 years of off and on go-kart racing, I never experienced the speed and response in a race vehicle that I did in the Legend car.

The Legends leave little to be desired. It’s not the simple ride it may appear to be, but the cars give a welcome jolt to the senses.

They give a racer everything he or she could want, and provide the challenge that makes racing what it is: an ever-changing quest for speed.

Justin Kay leads a group of late models through turns 1 and 2 at West Liberty Raceway on July 10, 2013. West Liberty hosts weekly races, as well as the Deery Brothers Late Model Series throughout the summer. (Jeremiah Davis/The Gazette)

Racing has been a part of my life as long as I can remember.

In fact, the earliest memory I can recall is the 1993 Daytona 500. I was watching with my dad and uncle in my grandparents’ living room as Dale Jarrett beat our favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, to the checkered flag in the first so-called “Dale and Dale show.” I remember crying – hey, I was four, gimme a break – because I wanted Earnhardt to win.

Over the next 20 years of my life, I’ve lived and breathed racing on every level. I’ve been a participant, an attendee, a fan, a viewer, a listener and a member of the media. I’m still all those things to a certain extent, but moving forward I’ll have one role above all others in racing – the final item on that list.

That brings me to why we’re here. Welcome to The Inside Track by Jeremiah Davis.

This blog page on thegazette.com will hopefully serve as a hub for auto racing of all types in Eastern Iowa. The passion I have for racing is, if you spend any amount of time with me, evident quickly, and it’s equal among all types of motorsports.

There are 24 tracks east of Interstate-35 that operate on a regular or semi-regular basis in Iowa, the majority dirt ovals, but including asphalt ovals – Hawkeye Downs here in Cedar Rapids, and Iowa Speedway – and drag strips. That number represents 24 locations where race fans gather to watch men and women compete in a sport that requires a level of money and dedication unparalleled in the sports world. They’re 24 chances to smell burning rubber and race fuel. Twenty-four ways to enjoy a summer night with friends and family.

Bryce Bailey (51) leads Tim Goettsch (01) and Matt Blake (74R) out of Turn 2 at Hawkeye Downs on July 13, 2013. The Legends cars are the most popular class at Hawkeye Downs, and promoter Mike Becker believes the class is the future of racing at the speedway. (Jeremiah Davis/The Gazette)

My hope is to be your conduit to the drivers, teams and race tracks. I want to tell stories of the racers and their families. Stories of the track workers and their dedication. Stories of old races gone by, and a fan who was there to see it. Stories you can identify with.

To do that requires some help. I’m one (very fortunate) person, who can only be so many places in a given summer. As our community sports editor J.R. Ogden wrote a few weeks ago, we at the Gazette want to hear your stories. We want to know what racing means to you, and would love to either tell your story or give you a chance to tell it yourself through our Your Page, which runs every Sunday when football isn’t in season.

There will be a few fun features to The Inside Track that will be maintained on a regular basis. Weekly Power Rankings will be published, with the top 10 NASCAR drivers and top 10 local drivers (across all classes and divisions) ranked by yours truly. Power rankings are a very subjective thing, and feedback from you is more than welcomed. If there’s a modified driver who’s been winning, but I haven’t had a chance to see him or her, let me know, and maybe they’ll make the list.

This page won’t just be dirt racing or Hawkeye Downs, and it won’t just be NASCAR. It’s a page that belongs to the motorsports world, and one in which I hope I can share with you the sport I’ve loved my whole life.

So welcome, and I hope you stay a while. Time to go racin’.

The checkered flag is waved during a race at Hawkeye downs on April 29, 2011. Hawkeye Downs is in search of a new race promoter after Mike Becker resigned his position on Monday. (Gazette staff photo)

Mike Becker

CEDAR RAPIDS — Hawkeye Downs Speedway is in search of a new race promoter after Mike Becker, who’d held the position since 2010, resigned his position effective immediately on Monday.

Becker had been a fixture in racing in the Cedar Rapids area for decades, and said he gave every effort to make Hawkeye Downs the racing destination it once was. Going forward, he’s not sure what his future plans are, but still has a passion for racing.

“I’m no longer a part of it,” Becker said Tuesday morning. “I’m going to miss being part of Hawkeye Downs.”

Hawkeye Downs Fair Board President Bob Bruce confirmed the news Monday night, saying Becker tendered his resignation to Speedway general manager Roy Nowers.

“He submitted his resignation to our general manager this morning,” Bruce said. “I’m not sure why he did so, and I wouldn’t speculate as to why.

“(But) we want to thank Mike for all his hard work, and we wish him well in the future.”

Bruce had only positive things to say about Becker and his time at Hawkeye Downs.

“Mike was great,” Bruce said. “Mike built a rapport with all of the drivers we had. It was no secret that when he came in, we had — for lack of a better word — morale was pretty low among the drivers. Mike did a great job  restoring confidence among the drivers, and we’re absolutely thrilled to have had him for the time we did.”

Bruce said he and the fair board started the process of finding a replacement for Becker right away on Monday. Being so early in the process, he didn’t have any leads as to who that might be.

“We don’t have a successor to name right now,” Bruce said. “We’re going to take sort of a tag team approach to getting ready for the race season.”

Bruce was adamant that there will be a full race season this year, and the schedule for the 2014 Hawkeye Downs season was released on Sunday. With all the rumors that swirl around a situation like this, Bruce wanted fans and racers to know Hawkeye Downs was committed to racing this year.

“There will be a full race season,” Bruce said. “I know there are a lot of rumors out there. We will have all of our divisions — all the usual cars will be out there.

“We’re excited about the future of racing at Hawkeye Downs, and we don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Despite the setback in plans for 2014, Bruce said the fair board is still excited about what’s to come. He said there are things in the preliminary stages that are being planned at the Speedway, not just including racing.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming season,” Bruce said. “We’re adding some new things to the program beyond racing that we think will add a lot of entertainment value this year.”

CEDAR RAPIDS – Hawkeye Downs Speedway announced on Wednesday that due to potential scheduling conflicts around the Easter holiday, as well as anticipation of poor weather, the 2014 race schedule has been pushed back one week.

The Car Show and Test and Tune originally set for April 19 will now take place on April 26. The season opener, originally set for April 25, will now be May 2 and so on.

The full schedule for the 2014 Hawkeye Downs Speedway race season can be found here.