FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (August 5, 2009) – On April 25 the Mid-American Stock Car Series was scheduled to make its first trip to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after a four-year absence. Although 25 competitors pulled through the gates, it was as much action as they would see on a rainy afternoon.
With a few new entrants, Mid-American will make another attempt to get the “Return to Rapids” in the books this Saturday, August 8.
The last trip to Hawkeye Downs in 2004 placed Bobby Gutknecht in victory lane. After that time, Gutknecht began a drought which lasted until a win at Wisconsin International Raceway in June of 2007. He backed that win later in the season with a win at the Milwaukee Mile in August.
Almost two years later, Gutknecht finds himself in the midst of another drought. However, Gutknecht will enter this Saturday’s event with the momentum of his best finish of 2009, a fourth place finish in the Dells Duel Part Two at Dells Raceway Park. Perhaps the momentum and a return to the half-mile will allow Gutknecht to snap yet another streak.
Gunning for Gutknecht will be one of few MASCS competitors to win at Hawkeye Downs, current point leader Bill Prietzel. Consistency has been the name of the game for the three-time series champion as he has pocketed three second-place finishes and one third-place finish in the first five events of 2009. Prietzel has collected two trophies at Hawkeye, one of which came in a Midwest Super Truck.
While many MASCS competitors are winless in Cedar Rapids, many have yet to even take a lap at the venue. Of those drivers who were present on April 25, 2006 MASCS Rookie of the Year Jake Finney, 2007 MASCS Rookie of the Year Kyle Shear, and long-time short-track ace Lyle Nowak have yet to rev up their engines in Iowa.
New venues have not been all too troublesome for two of those competitors, however. Shear won in his first trip to Dells Raceway Park in 2007. Nowak won his first ever trip to the Norway (Mich.) Speedway this past June. In the last event run on a half-mile, last September at Madison Inernational Speedway, Nowak was victorious.
Nowak will also be looking to make up some ground on the top three in point standings this Saturday. A sure-fire top ten was erased from Nowak’s résumé at Dells Raceway Park two weeks ago when a broken trailing arm took him out of the running. Nowak received the Wehrs Machine Hard Luck Award and surely hopes he is not in position to win the award at Hawkeye Downs.
The traveling MASCS competitors will be faced with some of Hawkeye’s finest on Saturday as several local competitors are salivating at the opportunity to race against the best sportsmen drivers in the country.
Michael Weber of Ryan, Iowa and Travis Thompson of Marian, Iowa have filed entries. Weber has won a feature this season and Thompson sits third in standings.
Perhaps the biggest question mark going into Saturday will be whether or not Hawkeye hero Ross Zumbach will enter. Zumbach is seeking sponsorship for the “Return to Rapids.”
If he is able to enter, Zumbach will be labeled as an immediate favorite after an incredible season in 2006. In his rookie season at Hawkeye Downs, Zumbach won four features and was easily the top rookie of the class.
Qualifying at Hawkeye Downs on Saturday is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 1 p.m.
Hawkeye Downs Speedway is located at 4400 6th Street SW approximately a half-mile off Highway 151 in Cedar Rapids, IA. For more information please visit www.hawkeyedownsspeedway.com .
For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series including results, current standings, the remaining 2009 schedule, and driver info, visit www.midamericanracing.com.
This article was posted to the website on August 5th, 2009 • Click to view all related content in the following categories
