Hawkeye
Downs (IA)
By
ASA Late Model Series
For
the Fifth Anniversary 2007 Season, the ASALMS will invade the Hawkeye Downs
(IA)
A
tradition will also resume over the Labor Day Weekend as the Cars and Stars of
the ASALMS Northern Division will take to the 0.500 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval
on Saturday September 1, 2007 for the running of the Labor Day 100, the eighth
race on the 2007 Schedule for the ASALMS Northern Division and the last event
overall for the 2007 season for the Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Labor Day Weekend
and the ASALMS is one of those established traditions that is
expected to continue for many years to come.
"When
I think of Labor Day Weekend, I automatically think about one of my favorite
tracks that we visit and that means a trip to
"Hawkeye
Downs is pleased to have the ASALMS Northern Division back on our schedule
again in 2007.: Added Brad Grupe, Director of
Media/Public Relations for the Hawkeye Downs Speedway. "The Labor Day
weekend race is certainly one of the highlights of our schedule and has proven
to be consistently popular with the fans and the racers at Hawkeye Downs."
Grupe added.
"We're
thrilled that we could also bring the ASALMS Challenge Division back to Hawkeye
Downs as well in 2007. The fans are in for a real treat with the caliber of race
teams and drivers in this series." Grupe continued. "Hawkeye Downs is
developing a storied history with the ASALMS and we're proud to be in the
company of such tracks as the Bristol Motor Speedway and the Milwaukee Mile in
hosting the Challenge Division." Draper ended.
Grupe
also added; "We've had strong interest in the ASALMS Challenge Division
from the local media already. Within hours of the 2007 Hawkeye Downs Schedule
being released I had calls looking for information on this race." Grupe
remarked. "Since former Hawkeye Downs and ASALMS racer Landon Cassill signed with Hendrick
Motorsports, there seems to be a renewed interest in racing from the area
media." He ended.
The
ASALMS has made three overall appearances at Hawkeye Downs over the years with
two of those shows under the blanket of what is now the ASALMS Challenge
Division banner. Last season's race was an ASALMS Northern Division event. Now
for 2007, both divisions will be competing at the historic
During
the 34th annual Keith Fleck Miller 100 Presented by Barron Motor Supply, which
was the first ever ASALMS Northern Division event at Hawkeye Downs back on
September 1, 2006; Threatening weather plagued the show in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
as Redding, Iowa's Alison Quick was one of the many storylines in this event as
she came from the rear of the field twice to post a Top Five finish!
However
it would be
Hometown
favorite, Dudley Fleck set a new ASALMS track record in his Father's Memorial
event by shattering the previous record by a wide margain.
Fleck toured the 0.500 Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval at an 18.562, which
obliterated the previous mark set by Kris Stump, which was an 18.915.
Overall
19 of the 28 participants on hand broke the previous ASALMS track record. The
GM Performance Parts Shootout was scrapped for this event giving the 2006 GM
Performance Parts Shootout Championship to Alison Quick, who became the first
female Champion in ASALMS history.
In
2005 for the Barron Motor Supply 100 on September 2, 2005, Ryan Carlson led the
final 97 laps to become the second rookie of the 2005 season to win a feature
in what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division. The first was Jason Dietsch back on June 18, 2005 at the I-70 (MO)
Rookies
dominated the 2005 version of the Barron Motor Supply 100 as Kris Stump
shattered the track record in qualifying with an 18.915 and then backed that up
with a third place showing over hometown favorite, Landon Cassill,
and Chase Austin, who started 25th and came roaring through the field to finish
fifth. Overall four of the Top Five finishers were freshman. 32 cars were on
hand over the 2005 Labor Day Weekend.
In
the ASALMS first ever appearance at Hawkeye Downs back on September 3, 2004, in
what is now the ASALMS Challenge Division; Doug Mahlik
surprised many on lookers with his first and only feature win in ASALMS
competition in the Barron Motor Supply 100. The
Hawkeye
Downs Speedway has been a fixture in the
In
addition, more improvements came in the form of Musco
Lighting Systems with broadcast quality lighting, an electronic message board,
full concession facilities and many other features. In 2003, thanks to some
great sponsors like Coca-Cola, Miller Brewing Company, and Alliant Energy,
Hawkeye Downs added a new scoreboard, message board and transponder timing and
scoring system. Hawkeye Downs will celebrate their 82nd year of operation in
2007.
The
Cedar Rapids, Iowa speed plant has become a popular venue over the years for
visiting regional and national series including the ASALMS as well as USAC
Sprints and Midgets, IMCA Summer Series, the Mid-American Stock Car Series,
Mid-American Super Trucks, Auto Value Super Sprints, HOSS Winged Sprint Cars,
McLeod Gold Star Series, NASCAR REMAX Series, American IndyCar
Series, the old ASA, UMARA Midgets and many others.
Hawkeye
Downs is one of a very few tracks in the United States that has its races
broadcast live on the radio as well as simulcast on the Internet. KCRG-AM 1600
The ZONE carries most Friday night races as well as selected special events
either live or tape delayed depending on other programming commitments. KCRG
will carry all the events from the "
For
the 2007 season, Hawkeye Downs will once again hold regular racing events on
Friday nights starting April 27, 2007 with Late Models serving as the premiere
division at the
There
are also a number of specials and traveling series' scheduled to visit
throughout the 2007 season including the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, United States
Super Trucks Series, and the IMCA Deery Brothers
Summer Series for Dirt/Wedge Type Super Late Models.
Race
fans can connect with Hawkeye Downs Speedway by calling during normal business
hours at 1 (319) 365-8656 or you can visit the track and fairgrounds website
at: <b><a href="http://www.hawkeyedownsspeedway.com">
Hawkeye Downs Speedway </a></b>