Hawkeye Downs to Convert to Predominantly Dirt Racing in 2027
Quarter-mile track to be covered in dirt this fall will remain a dirt track next racing season
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Hawkeye Downs, the premier racing venue in Eastern Iowa, will officially race on dirt during the 2027 racing season. Plans call for adding 6000 tons of dirt (that’s 350 truckloads!) to the quarter-mile track this fall for Dirt at the Downs events. The dirt will remain in place for next year's racing season.
“Following the success of our Dirt at the Downs events last year, we were encouraged to consider converting the shorter track to dirt for future racing,” said Gordon Parker, board president of Hawkeye Downs. “After putting pen to paper and reviewing the financials, we believe it’s in the best interest of Hawkeye Downs and its future to go with dirt racing in 2027.”
The half-mile track at Hawkeye Downs will remain an asphalt oval. The board and staff are also exploring opportunities to host racing events on the longer asphalt track next year, which could make Hawkeye Downs the only racing venue in Iowa to offer both dirt and asphalt racing.
Hawkeye Downs is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The board will continue to oversee events at the racetrack, as it does at the expo center, also located on the property. Hawkeye Downs leases the racetrack and expo center from the property owner, Roger Cassill, who owns several local businesses. Cassill backs the move to short-track dirt racing.
“The support for dirt racing at last year’s Dirt at the Downs was evident by the crowds filling the stands,” said Cassill. “I’m pleased to see the board taking this action to keep racing alive and well at Hawkeye Downs.”
The 101st racing season is now underway at Hawkeye Downs with the Big 8 Series racing this Saturday, July 18, and weekly asphalt racing on the following dates:
Dirt at the Downs returns in September with four events currently scheduled.
FUN, FAST FACTS ABOUT HAWKEYE DOWNS
Hawkeye Downs began racing in 1925 at what was then called “Frontier Park.” Frontier Park was later renamed “Hawkeye Downs.”
In 1989, Hawkeye Downs became the first racetrack in Iowa to offer asphalt track racing. The Iowa Speedway in Newton opened in June 2006, becoming the second, and only other, track in the state to offer racing on asphalt.
Hawkeye Downs offers seven classes of racing, including Late Models and HD Dawgs on the half-mile track, as well as Legends, Hornets, Hobby Stocks, Sportsman, and Sport Mods on the quarter-mile track.
In addition to weekly racing, other events are frequently hosted at the racetrack, including:
Tuesday Night Titans
Enduro races
Midwest Shredfest (a drifting event)
SCCA (Sports Car Club of America)
Kennedy Electric Car Club
Iowa Night Meets
Various Car Shows
Midwest Pavement Grand National go-kart event
Training and practice for local law enforcement
