For the 100th anniversary of Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, those in charge went back in time. Dirt was brought in, covering the inside quarter mile for a one time series of events showcasing different divisions of cars for each of the several programs. On Saturday it was Late Model time, as special dirt series promoters Rick and Corey Dripps brought in the Karl Chevrolet Pro Late Models racing for a $3,500 top prize. This night two of the weekend dubbed the "Downs Dirt Classic" also featured Johnny Spaw Race Cars IMCA Stock Cars, Advantage Chassis Sport Mods, Mod Lites and the A.I.R.S. vintage series.
With so many memories of great racing at the legendary half mile dirt facility, the opportunity to momentarily step back in time made the two and one half hour trip an easy decision. If my memory is correct, I have attended only one or two events at "the Downs" since the asphalt replaced the dirt in 1989. Obviously I was not alone in my choice, as one hundred and thirty nine race teams came to compete before what can only be described as a huge crowd measured in thousands. The main concrete pit area was packed with another fifty or so spilling into the overflow pit area.
Despite the obvious challenges presented, hot laps started a bit ahead of the 6:00 advertised time on the prime Iowa black dirt surface. It took nineteen qualifying events to set the feature fields although the A.I.R.S. twelve lap main event ran ahead of a pair of Late Model B mains.
Twelve laps would be the distance as all but four of the twenty seven vintage cars lined up. Domanic McNabb would grab the early lead from the pole position and hold off challenges from first his row one mate Leighton Potter, then from lap two on Robin Atkins. A pair of yellow flags with eight laps scored would be the only thing slowing the winner. Leighton held on for third trailed by tenth starting Bart Miller and Tracy Quigley.
A bit of track work was all that was needed as once again all but four of the twenty six Sport Mods came to the track for twenty laps. Five caution periods would mar the event, evenly spaced throughout. Tony Olson sat on the pole, beating outside row one starter Austin Kemp to turn one. Three times the yellow flag would fly in the first six circuits, each time Olson would drive away from the field on the restart. Following the third caution Brady Hilmer and row three starter Jason Roth would find there way to second and third. Roth would claim the runner up spot following another stoppage with nine in the books. Roth was able to stay with the leader in what now became a two car battle. The front pair caught the back of the pack with just three laps remaining giving Roth a chance to pounce, but a final caution gave Olson a clear track. The T23 would then pull away for the flag to flag win. Roth settled for second, chased by Hilmer, fifteenth starting Brett Thomas and Kemp.
Mod Lites turned out twenty cars with just a pair not making the call for fifteen laps. Dan Keltner jumped out front from the pole while fifth starting RJ Gonzales moved to second. As those two quickly put distance on the pack, Gonzales would be scored in front as they ran side by side to complete lap three. Keltner was back on top one lap later as that duo stretched their advantage to a full straightaway. The first caution would come with five laps to go, and on the restart Colby Oberembt would lose a tire on the front stretch, bringing a second and final yellow. Once again it was Keltner and Gonzales driving off. Ben George had lined up outside row eight, restarted in fifth and quickly powered to third. Meanwhile the two leaders waged a thrilling side by side, lap after lap duel. At the checkers it was Keltner in front by a half car length over Gonzales. George ran third topping Brandon Cox and Garrett Barber.
The IMCA Stock Cars needed a B main to whittle their twenty seven car field, and with one scratch twenty three took the green flag for twenty laps. Double duty Tony Olson charged from inside row two to pace lap one. As the pack entered turn three the next time around, second running Dave McCalla got sideways, triggering a multi car scrum. Back under green Olson worked the high line while fifth starting Gage Neal chased using the inside line. Another two class standout, Dallon Murty closed quickly on the leaders, and six laps in they caught up to Bronson Spaw, running behind after having issues earlier. Trapped in the high line, Olson was overtaken by both Neal and Murty. One lap before the half way mark the red flag would be displayed as Bob Ahrendsen left the track, clearing the temporary Jersey barriers in turn one, landing on the paved half mile. He appeared uninjured and soon we were back to racing. Murty was now chasing Neal around the top side of the oval. With three circuits left, Murty appeared ready to drive under Neal in turn three when the yellow flag was displayed a final time. Dallon elected the outside for the Delaware Style restart, then executed a slider on Neal to grab the point. Murty, Neal and Olson would charge down the back chute three wide, but this race belonged to Murty. Neal and Olson came next while Kaden Reynolds made a late charge to finish fourth. Kyle Olson would complete the top five.
An outstanding group of forty Pro Late Models signed in, and it took five heat races and a pair of B mains to set the twenty four car starting grid. The drivers drew for their heat race starting spots, then passing points were used to qualify eighteen for the main event. Three cars from each B completed the field while the top four in passing points apparently redrew for their spot in the first two rows. Dallon Murty pulled the number one and he paced lap one followed by third starting C J Horn and fifth starting Nick Marolf. While the track had remained racy all night, the inside line now proved the fast way around, and the leaders all set up in that low groove. By lap eight slower traffic came into play lined up nose to tail, and Murty decided to move up the track. This left the door open for Horn, and the third generation driver took over the lead with Marolf following in second. Exiting turn two on lap eleven, Horn momentarily found himself off the track, falling to third behind Marolf and Travis Smock before recovering in third. Marolf was happy to freight train in the low line behind the back of the pack as the laps clicked off. Twice the caution flag would be displayed with just six laps remaining. With clear track ahead, Marolf now cruised to the win, picking up a cool $3,500 for his efforts. Smock was strong in second, besting Murty on the podium. Horn, whose grandfather Fred is a local legend, claimed fourth while Luke Goedert rounded out the top five. Bobby Hansen made a late charge to sixth after a row six start chased by Jerry King in the Jeff Aikey #77. Sean Johnson gained eleven positions to come home eighth and Eric Pollard and Matt Ryan completed the top ten.
The efficiently run program was completed around 10:00 P.M. The entire undertaking has surely been a monumental task that could not have turned out better. Special thanks to the Dripps family for their hospitality! There is still one more event on the calendar, as the IMCA Modifieds will be back in action next Saturday with special guest Ken Schrader joining the competition. Dirt at the Downs has been billed as a one time thing, but perhaps no one anticipated how successful it would be!
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