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HAWKEYE DOWNS
SPEEDWAY SEASON OPENS SATURDAY
MID-AMERICAN STOCK CARS “THE RETURN TO RAPIDS” TOPS CARD
by: Brad
Grupe
CEDAR RAPIDS,
IOWA (April 22) – Hawkeye Downs
kicks off its 84th season of racing in a rare daytime race on
Saturday, April 25 at 1pm. The event features the return of the Mid-American
Stock Car Series along with a special $500 to win Barron Motor Supply IMCA
Stock Car vs. Barron Motor Supply IMCA Hobby Stock race. Sunline Hornets,
IMCA Sportmods, and 2-Man Cruisers are also on the card for the opener.
The Mid-American Stock Car
Series was to have opened their season at Rockford Speedway last Sunday but
that event was rained out which means the Hawkeye Downs race will be their
season opener and will be the first event of a two day swing that concludes
at Rockford Speedway on Sunday. The Budwesier Sportsmen are eligible to
participate with the Mid-American Stock Cars as the Hawkeye Downs rules are
based on MASCS rules.
Some familiar names dot
the MASCS lineup including Ross Zumbach, Bobby Gutknecht, Bill Prietzel,
Jake Finney, and Paul Neisius. They will be joined by defending Budweiser
Sportsmen champion Dave McCalla and other Hawkeye Downs drivers.
One of the favorites to
win the MASCS Championship, Lyle Nowack of
Wausau,
WI has never raced at Hawkeye but
after talking to his fellow competitors he feels he can adapt to Hawkeye
Downs.
Some have
compared the half-mile of Hawkeye Downs to the fast-paced high banks of
Madison International
Speedway, where Nowak won in September and the
half-mile of
Marshfield, where Nowak finished a
strong third.
Despite 31 years of racing experience, the driver who has 16 track
championships to his name has never even seen Hawkeye Downs. The comparisons
were a pleasant surprise. “I’m feeling a lot better about it now,” Nowak
commented.
Another long time veteran, three-time MASCS champion Bill Prietzel, will
feel fairly confident heading into
Cedar Rapids. After all, he has
been there in his Mid-American car and truck recording a fast time and a
win. Prietzel is not only confident in his ability to prepare for a trip to
Hawkeye
Downs, but also confides in his fellow
competitors.
“It’s very similar to
La Crosse. The racers that we have
will have no trouble adapting,” said
Richfield,
WI’s Prietzel.
Grandstand
Gates open at Noon on Saturday with Racing at 1pm.
Hawkeye Downs is pleased
to announce regular Grandstand Admission Prices for 2009 have remained the
same. Adults (18-61) are just $10.00 with Students (12-17) and Seniors
(62+) only $7.00. Children up to age 11 are just $1.00.
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