Veteran of the Night
Hawkeye Downs is honored to recognize our local heroes and share an evening with our nation’s veterans at the races. On scheduled weekly race nights, Hawkeye Downs and our community partners welcome one veteran to celebrate their commitment to our country and show our support and gratitude for their service.
Additionally, Hawkeye Downs Speedway staff would like to invite veterans in our community to a night at the track with discounted admission. Admission for active duty military and veterans is just $10 for weekly racing events. More information on weekly racing admission can be found here. Tickets are available at the gate.
Thank you to our Veteran of the Night supporters,
Honor and Respect, LLC, Freedom Foundation, and CVMA 39-2!
Meet Our 2026 Veterans
Cody Cook
Cody began his military career in the United States Army as a Tanker in 2010. He was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, and was deployed to Iraq in early 2011. He was one of the last companies to leave Iraq that year. Cody was then deployed again to Kuwait until mid 2012, when he was brought back to Texas. He then spent 5 weeks with the Honor Guard, assisting with 81 military funerals. After his time in the Honor Guard, he was deployed to South Korea from 2013 to 2014. He returned stateside and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he decided to end his military career in 2016 to watch his children grow and spend time with family. Cody is a proud American, proud of his time in the Army, and would proudly serve again.
David Porter II
David served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2012 as a Combat Engineer and Carpentry/Masonry Specialist. During his service, he completed two deployments to Iraq and one deployment to Afghanistan while serving with the 92nd Combat Heavy Engineer Battalion Alpha Company and the 92nd 554th Engineer Company. Throughout his military career, David helped provide lead security on convoys and worked to build infrastructure that supported local communities in the countries where he served. Today, he continues to give back as a crew member for the Christian race team W.B. Racing. David’s deep love for his country, his faith, and the outdoors continues to shine through in all he does.
Veteran of the Night Supporters
Honor and Respect, LLC
Honor and Respect strives to prioritize mental health for all first responders, veterans, and their families. We want to let them know that they are never alone. Honor and Respect has had the honor of being able to donate to various organizations that share their mission in helping our nation's heroes make their mental health a priority.
You can find the Honor and Respect team at their booth in the grandstand on most race nights. Learn more about the Honor and Respect mission on their website www.honor-respect.com.
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation in Cedar Rapids brings veterans and civilians together to make a difference in the lives of those who have served with a "Veterans Helping Veterans" approach to navigating the challenges of everyday life after serving our country. The Freedom Foundation provides numerous programs and services to Veterans. These programs and services include a Pantry, recreational activities, the operation of the "Veterans Temporary Housing/Shelter Program" for homeless and displaced Veterans, a Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, and our hosting of a free weekly Thursday luncheon, serving our Veterans a well-deserved "home cooked meal."
More information about the Freedom Foundation their programs can be found on their website and Facebook page.
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 39-2
The Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association (CVMA) is an association of veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles. The organization was built with a simple mission: to support and defend those who have defended their country and their freedoms. The focus of the CVMA is to help veterans who need support, whether that means simply providing a warm meal, clothing, shelter, and guidance, or simply saying "thank you" and "welcome home."
The Cedar Rapids CVMA Chapter 39-2 is proudly composed of local Iowa veterans, dedicated to serving veterans across our state. Each year, the Cedar Rapids CVMA chapter provides essential support and services to approximately 200 veterans, undertaking various initiatives. These range from repairing leaky roofs to installing wheelchair-accessible ramps, as well as organizing community barbecues for our homeless veterans and offering companionship to those in need of solace. Our nation’s veterans have bravely fought for the freedoms we cherish every day, and it is the mission of the CVMA to ensure they feel our unwavering support and deep gratitude for all that they do.
Our Hawkeye Downs team and members of the CVMA invite you to join us in our commitment to honor our veterans, ensuring they know they are appreciated and that their sacrifices will never be forgotten, with a special Lap of Honor after the singing of our national anthem at designated races. During the Lap of Honor, we ask that you remain standing after the anthem as our friends from CVMA exit Victory Lane for a lap around the track in honor of our nation’s veterans.
For more information on CVMA 39-2 and how to support, please visit their Facebook page.
Interested in nominating a veteran in your life for our Veteran of the Night program?
We are now accepting nominations for local veterans to be recognized in our 2025 racing season. Please submit your nomination to our board member, Nicole Schroeder, via the button below.