Hawkeye Downs Speedway Unveils 2026 Racing Schedule for its 101st Season
Hawkeye Downs continues its legacy with another full season of NASCAR Regional weekly racing, visiting series, and community events
(Cedar Rapids, IA) – Hawkeye Downs Speedway is excited to announce the official racing schedule for the 2026 season as the track proudly enters its 101st year. After celebrating a century of racing in 2025, the upcoming season builds on that tremendous milestone with a strong lineup of weekly NASCAR racing, regional touring series, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the spring and summer.
“This year feels like the start of a new chapter,” said Brian Gibson, race director for Hawkeye Downs. “We’re carrying forward everything we celebrated during the 100th season while focusing on growth, driver development, and creating even more opportunities for fans to connect with racing here in Cedar Rapids. Our team is energized and ready for another great year.”
Racing at Hawkeye Downs began in 1925, originally known as Frontier Park, and has evolved into one of Iowa’s most established motorsports venues. The 2026 schedule continues that tradition with a packed slate of NASCAR Regional weekly racing nights, special events, and returning touring series that fans across the Midwest have come to love.
The new season opens with an Enduro on Sunday, April 12, followed by Media Day on April 18 and NASCAR Opening Day on April 26. Throughout the season, fans can look forward to more than a dozen weeks of Friday night NASCAR racing, including signature events such as Wall of Fame Night, the Mid-Season Championship, and the Season Championship. Visiting series include the Big 8 Series, Mid-Am Series, and the ASA Midwest Tour. Three Enduro races are also scheduled, along with multiple Tuesday Night Titans Racing events in June, July, and August.
The 2026 schedule promises a mix of local competition and regional talent, continuing the speedway’s longstanding commitment to keeping accessible, community-centered racing strong in Eastern Iowa.
A full list of race dates and event details is now available at www.hawkeyedowns.org.
ABOUT HAWKEYE DOWNS
Each year, this premiere venue hosts dozens of trade shows, conventions, and gatherings in its exposition halls and on its racing grounds. Hawkeye Downs is also home to one of two asphalt race tracks in the state of Iowa. Every May through August, you can hear the roar of race engines almost every weekend. Founded in 1925, Hawkeye Downs was previously known as Frontier Park and the Cedar Rapids Speedway. Hawkeye Downs is a nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. More information is available at www.hawkeyedowns.org.
###
