ASA ACDelco Series Highlights Hawkeye Downs Opening Weekend

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 13, 2001

Series makes its first of two visits during 2001 season April 27-28

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The ASA ACDelco Series makes its 2001 Midwest debut in the Iowa 300 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on April 27-28. It marks the 13th appearance at the Cedar Rapids (IA) oval for the sanctioning body and the first of two eve nts scheduled this season.

“Two ASA ACDelco Series events this season are huge for everyone in the community of Cedar Rapids,” said Hawkeye Downs Speedway General Manager Jim Amstutz. “With the series visiting here annually, it gives the speedway some national legitimacy. The people of Cedar Rapids are so friendly and they really get into the ASA races. They treat the ASA stars like celebrities, which makes it a fun atmosphere.”

Hawkeye Downs Speedway opened for competition in 1925 as a dirt track and was paved in 1989, instantly inheriting the title as the only paved racetrack in the state of Iowa. With its covered main grandstand, the track has a “retro” look, harkening back to when it first opened nearly 76 years ago. It gives an historic look to race fans, competitors and media personnel who visit it annually for the ASA events. The ASA ACDelco Series first competed in Iowa in 1994, with Wisconsin native Steve Holzhausen captur ing the initial victory at the tricky half-mile oval.

In 2000, Hawkeye Downs Speedway was jokingly renamed “Garvey Downs Speedway” in recognition of the dominant performances of Mike Garvey and the Tecumseh Chevrolet in the two events. The former resident of Muskegon (MI) led a total of 419 circuits of the 50 0 completed at Hawkeye Downs and captured two victories and one pole position. He led 84 percent of all laps completed at the Iowa track and has won three consecutive events, stretching back to the season finale of 1999 when he led the final 47 laps.

“So far, we haven’t figured out how to get around Hawkeye Downs,” said three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller. “The track is very smooth, but it has some bumps and dips that make it very hard to set up a race car. We are going to compromise our flat -track setup with a banked setup for the race in April.” Miller posted one top-five finish and an additional top-10 finish at Hawkeye Downs last season.

On Friday, April 27, ASA practice begins at 11:30 a.m., with qualifications taking center stage at 4:30 p.m. The 100-lap qualifier race goes green at 7 p.m., with Hawkeye Downs local racing starting at 8 p.m. featuring late models, sportsmen and modifieds. On Saturday, ASA’s exclusive on-track autograph session is scheduled for noon, with pre-race ceremonies starting at 1:15 p.m. The Iowa 300 goes green at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the Iowa 300 are available through the ASA office and are $25 for reserved sections and $20 for general admission. Additional information is available through the ASA ticket line, 1-888-ASA-1020. VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted for t icket orders.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.