Kositzky mastering oval track racing at Downs

IMCA sportmod driver Scott Kositzky of Cedar Rapids checks the pressure in his tries as he prepares for Wednesday night’s races at Hawkeye Downs. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Scott Kositzky welcomes a challenge, which is exactly what lured him to Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

The real challenge has been for other drivers to keep the relative newcomer out of victory lane, Kositzky is perched atop the IMCA sportmod division and owns four feature wins in just his second summer of oval-track racing.

Kositzky surpassed his own expectations in his first full season at Hawkeye Downs.
“I just heard about how much work it is and how much different it is than drag racing, so I thought I’d give it a try,” Kositzky said. “It’s really surprising how well I caught on to it.”

Kositzky, 25, of Cedar Rapids, switched to the oval after about five years of drag racing in Cedar Falls, Earlville and outside Iowa for special events. He raced on dirt some, placing twice at Benton County Speedway in Vinton, and ran a partial season at Hawkeye Downs last year.

“I just felt a little more seat time would be fun,” Kositzky said. “Trading a little paint doesn’t hurt either.”

His favorite style of racing still is uncertain.

“It’s a tossup right now,” Kositzky said. “Circle track is starting to grow on me quite a bit, because it’s non-stop, fast-paced.”

On tap: It’s Landstar Transportation Wall of Fame night with six divisions of racing and 10 new members for the track’s “Wall of Fame.” Racing are late models, IMCA stock cars, hobby stocks, nostalgia stocks, hornets and a special sportsmod topless. A Mid-American Stock Car Series race is Saturday.
Time: Gates open at 6, racing at 7; Saturday’s races begin at 1 p.m.
Notes: The 10 Wall of Fame inductees include the Spaw brothers, multiple-time track champion Johnny, Eric and Ray. Former Gazette sports writer Jeff Dahn will be honored tonight with Gary Crawford of Independence and Chub Liebe of Oelwein. Two deceased drivers — Dick Ritchie of Cedar Rapids and Cal Swanson of Reinbeck — will be honored with the late owner Jim Patton of Cedar Rapids and owner/promoter Frank Winkely of Minneapolis.
Tickets: $10 adults, $7 seniors and students, $1 children both days
Online: hawkeyedownsspeedway.com

Kositzky’s run was halted slightly Wednesday night when a wreck forced him to leave the track without finishing. Only a slight dent was made to his points lead that stands at five over Creston Williams heading into tonight’s races.

“The key so far for my car has just been consistency,” Kositzky said. “You just have to make sure you get the tires consistent from race to race.”

Interestingly, former rival Arnie Reif has equipped Kositzky with a new car, and serves as a crew member. Scott’s older brother, Kenny, is driving Scott’ old SportMod in his rookie season.

The experience has been good.

“Hawkeye Downs is a great track and I really like how clean the drivers are out here,” Kositzky said. “They’re not trying to wreck you.”

The same attitude that took Kositzky to this style of racing motivates him to move up the ranks and classes.

“Just keep the challenges coming and see where I end up,” he said. “I like challenge. If you win or lose, at least you have something to work toward.”