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.”