Last week was suppose to be the beginning of an era as the Hawkeye Downs Speedway has gone under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series Banner in 2023. Mother Nature had other plans as last weeks season opener was rained out along with the Mid-Am Series first visit to the Downs.
Friday Night finally got the 2023 season rolling on both the quarter mile and half mile ovals with Hills Bank Night at the Races. Racing action began at 7:05p and wrapped up 9:35p. The racing was exciting an competitive in the heats and features, Great job by Race Director Brian Gibson and the rest of the track crew keeping the program moving.
Yes the car counts are little depressing but the racing action did not and I ask that you go support the Downs when you can because they could use more cars. One cool featured they added this year is the choose cone, an orange cone with blue LED Lights, so the drivers can see and choose their restart lane. Only exception is if you are the caution, you must start the tail end of the longest line.
First feature of the night was the Sunline Hornets 15 lap feature event. Corey Crispin jumped out to the top spot early and was followed by Adam Weller. Weller was able to make the pass for the race lead on lap seven, and appeared to be heading on to the win. Weller crossed the finish line in first but was disqualified in post race tech handing the win over to Crispin. Korey Lana was given second, Jeremy Cassill in third, Josh Cassill in fourth and Duane Hochstedler in fifth.
Jacob Tiegen took the early race lead in the Performance Foods Sportsmans 15 lap feature event with Jim Hanson all over him on lap one. Tiegen looked comfortable out front until a caution came out on lap four when Greg Hentrich and Joshua Sevey got together in turn two. Tiegen initial held off Hanson but Hanson was able to work his way into the top spot on lap six. Hanson started to pull away as Todd Ness worked his way into second. The caution came out on lap 11 when Will Zamastil spun in turn four. Hanson went on to claim the victory ahead of Ness, Tiegen, Hentrich and David Ballstaedt.
Adam Petrzelka led from start to finish in the Anderson Automotive Hobby Stocks 15 lap feature event. Petrzelka held off Jason Sherman and Matt Petrzelka early before getting a little separation. The caution came out on lap seven when Jason Sherman was spun in turn three by Derek Parrott, Parrott was sent to the tail as Sherman got his spot back. Adam Petrzelka was not fazed as he went on to take the feature win. Sherman finished runner-up, Reggie Mitchell finished third, Parrott worked back to finish fourth and Matt Petrzelka was fifth.
Next on the Speedway was the Legends Direct Legends 20 lap feature event. Jacob Tiegen wrestled the race lead early from fellow front row starter Michael Weber. Collin Stocker made it a three car pack out front. The caution came out on lap four when Taylor Bennett spun in turn two. Tiegen continued to lead as Weber and Stocker battled for second. Stocker made the pass on Weber for second and set his sights getting by Tiegen and on lap 13, Stocker was able to get by Tiegen for the race lead. Stocker went on to take the feature win, Weber grabbed second away from Tiegen, Tiegen fell back to third. Kacey Korsmo and Kevin Korsmo round out the top five.
Patrick Flannagan jumped out to the race lead in the Cassill Motors Sport Mods 15 lap feature and never looked back. Jonny Williams ran second the entire distance, Chad Siems was third, Steve Wimer was fourth and Tallan Chandler, spun early but kept going to avoid a caution and came back to finish fifth.
Final feature of the night was the King Enterprises Late Models 15 lap feature and it was all Griffin McGrath. McGrath jumped out and pulled away allowing him to cruise on to the win. Bryce Miller, Kacey Korsmo, Danny Lehmkuhl and Mark Ironside rounded out the top five.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series continues next Friday May 19th featuring Sprint Series at Hawkeye Downs sponsored by Sunline. Legends, Hornets, Hobby Stocks, Sportsmans and Sport Mods are all racing. Pits Open at 4:30p, Grandstands Open at 6p, Hot Laps at 6:40p, Racing at 7:05p.
Next night for the King Enterprises Late Models are on Friday May 26th.
All pictures taken by me are posted on the Trackside Report by Foxman in a photo album called Hawkeye Downs Hills Bank Night 5-12-23.
For more information about Hawkeye Downs Speedway check out hawkeyedowns.org or like the Facebook page Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series
Hills Bank Night
Friday May 12th, 2023
LEGENDS
presented by Legends Direct
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Tiegen; 2. Lehmkuhl; 3. Nick Slabaugh; 4. Reed; 5. Kauffman; 6. Olson.
presented by Sunline
A Feature (15 Laps): 1. 17 Corey Crispin (Walford); 2. 87C Korey Lana (Cedar Rapids); 3. 911 Jeremy Cassill (Marion); 4. 22 Josh Cassill (Cedar Rapids); 5. 45 Duane Hochstedler (Kolona); 6. 87 Don Stephens (Marion); 7. 3 Chad Vozenilek (Cedar Rapids); DQ 1H Adam Weller (Springville).
presented by King Enterprises
A Feature (15 Laps): 1. 64 Griffin McGrath (Cedar Rapids); 2. 41 Bryce Miller (Columbus, Wis.); 3. 52JR Kacey Korsmo (Atkins); 4. 20 Danny Lehmkuhl (Cedar Rapids); 5. 10 Mark Ironside (Swisher); 6. 35 Greg Hentrich (Hiawatha); DNS 14 Kody King (Clear Lake); DNS J3 Jerry Ziemiecki (Corcoran, Minn.).
presented by Anderson Automotive
presented by Performance Foods
A Feature (15 Laps): 1. 13 Jim Hanson (Cedar Rapids); 2. 16 Todd Ness (Cedar Rapids); 3. 7 Jacob Tiegen (Marion); 4. 35 Greg Hentrich (Hiawatha); 5. 9 David Ballstaedt (Cedar Rapids); 6. 27 Gary West (Elysian, Minn.); 7. 54 Will Zamastil (Fairfax); 8 06 Josh Sevey (Cedar Rapids).
presented by Cassill Motors
A Feature (15 Laps): 1. F7 Patrick Flannagan (Cedar Rapids); 2. 45 Jonny Williams (Cedar Rapids); 3. 76 Chad Siems (Shellsburg); 4. 50H Steve Wimer (Toddville); 5. 22 Tallan Chandler (Norway); 6. 75D Dale Kite (Shellsburg); 7. 13C Cameron Delay (Cedar Rapids); 8. B7 Beckett Flannagan (Cedar Rapids); 9. H29 Hunter Wimer (Atkins).
