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 2025 Veterans
Roland Achey
Roland served in the United States Air Force as an air policeman from 1957 to 1960. After basic training, he was sent to Sewart Air Force Base in Tennessee. It was there that he worked on the flight line and base patrol. After he took a brief 30-day leave, he was sent to Guam, where he continued his work in security. During his service in Guam, Roland served in a time of peace, where his position gave him the opportunity to provide security services to the Liberation Day Queen on July 21st, 1960. Roland was also briefly stationed in Okinawa, Japan, to assist with Typhoon Vera recovery efforts in 1959. He was able to commemorate his years of service in the Air Force with a trip to Washington, D.C., in recent years with his wife. The two of them currently reside in Fairfax, Iowa.
Seth Pettit
Seth graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. In 2005, he enlisted in the Army, where he served almost 12 years as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserves. Seth was deployed twice in his military career. His first deployment was to Ramadi, Iraq, where he served on the provincial police transition team. His second deployment was to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he worked daily in the detention facility as a Block NCO. Seth and his girlfriend, Megan, have eight children: William, Connor, Tayhlor, Xander, Hailey, Jade, Lucas, and Emryn. Seth is a big Iowa Hawkeye football fan. He currently serves on the board with the Freedom Foundation in Cedar Rapids. He is part-owner of a local family entertainment center called Dragon's Lair, just down the street from Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Seth also works full-time as a Project Manager and Governance Administrator at Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust.
Jay Crabill
Jay joined the Army in April 2007. After working in fast food for a couple of years after school, he decided to join the military to learn skills outside of the food service industry. Jay was first stationed with the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey in South Korea as a 63b Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He learned to work on vehicles such as the Humvee and LMTV. During Jay's time in Korea, Jay met his wife, Thessa. He served a total of three years in Korea, then joined the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin in California. He worked around the clock, repairing vehicles that came back from training exercises. While Jay was working on an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, he sustained an injury that medically retired him from the Army at the rank of Sergeant in 2013. Since his retirement, he has built a career in the low-voltage industry. In 2020, Jay began his racing journey at Hawkeye Downs. When Jay isn't here racing, he's racing across the Midwest at different tracks or spending time with his wife and their baby girl, Felicity.
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.