CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Nothing was going to prevent Kurt Bohnsack from missing the 2025 season-opener at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
The driver from nearby Ely, Iowa has more than 25 years of Hawkeye Downs experience, but he had taken a sabbatical from racing over the past couple years. A project manager for Communications Engineering Company by day, Bohnsack on the afternoon of April 27 once again shed his work boots for a blue fire suit so he could join the show that would begin his home track’s 100th anniversary season.
The Hawkeye Downs crowd that day was treated to a vintage Bohnsack performance. Protected from the sun by the facility’s covered grandstands, patrons watched the semi-retired racer dominate the 15-lap Hornets feature in a white, two-door sedan. His car would pass for a daily driver on the interstate if not for its No. 4 decal, red racing stripes and Sunline logos.
Bohnsack followed the routine, parking in front of the center stage that houses Hawkeye Downs’ frontstretch Victory Lane. But this moment was out of the ordinary for at least one of the seven drivers who opened the track’s centennial year as a winner.
“I always try to win the very first race of the year,” Bohnsack said. “I’ve done it multiple times throughout my career, and it makes feel good if I continue to do that. For the 100th anniversary, I wanted to come out and make sure my name was in the record books.”
Bohnsack’s saga is just one of many associated with a rich track history that dates back to 1925.
Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa originated as a horse-racing venue called Frontier Park. Changes arrived not long after the facility opened to the public as a different kind of horsepower became prominent. The modern title of Hawkeye Downs came about in 1937 from a statewide contest to rename the track, with the final options of Hawkeye Park and Cedar Downs being merged.
Hawkeye Downs served as a hub for dirt-track racing in Iowa until the end of the 1988 season, when operators paved the facility’s half-mile and quarter-mile ovals. Stock-car competitors flocked to Iowa’s only asphalt short track during the 1990s for opportunities to write their own history.
Among them was Dale Earnhardt, the eventual seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who prevailed in a 10-lap ICMA invitational event at Hawkeye Downs in 1991. The track also served as a stop for prospects like Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Johnny Sauter and many more.
Plenty of local drivers also carved out successful resumes at Hawkeye Downs. They include Bohnsack and Brian Gibson, the latter of whom now serves as the track promoter. After turning his first laps around Hawkeye Downs in 1991, Gibson over the ensuing 30 years competed in nearly every weekly division before assuming his current role ahead of the 2022 season.
Gibson at his appointment knew the facility needed revitalized. He strived to correspond with the Hawkeye Downs board of directors on how to encourage sustainability, an initiative that would require diligence from all parties. He was optimistic.
“The goal was to continue the tradition,” Gibson said. “We knew we were closing in on 100 years, so that was a milestone everybody wanted to get to. Like every place else, there have been good times and bad times. [Hawkeye Downs] was kind of in a down time [when I took over], so the goal was to slowly try to rebuild it and bring it back.”
Gibson’s plans featured integrity as the theme. He set out to create an environment where competitors would trust both officials and management, which in turn would lead to steady car counts.
From Bohnsack’s perspective, Gibson’s leadership is effective. Clear communication is a focal point of driver meetings. Bohnsack says he always understands the rules, and he knows he’ll have the respect of others each time he competes.
“I’ve raced on a lot of dirt tracks,” Bohnsack said. “I can load the car up [on Sunday], come back on Friday, race it again and do nothing to it. I love racing asphalt, and there are a lot of clean drivers out here [at Hawkeye Downs]. The facility is awesome, and Brian Gibson is doing an awesome job running this track.”
Gibson’s culture is garnering appreciation from Hawkeye Downs’ younger drivers, too. The 2022 late model champion, Kody King enjoys the welcoming atmosphere. With another championship being one of his goals for 2025, King looks forward to spending more weekends at his home track.
“I love the people, and love the facility,” King said. “Brian Gibson is a super great dude. Everything here is great, and the fans are great. It’s true that we have a little bit of a smaller car count, but we’re working on trying to get that up as much as we can, and we’d love to have everyone come join us if they could.”
A key tweak to Hawkeye Downs’ schedule for 2025 is the return of the prestigious Miller 100, which hasn’t appeared on the calendar since 2012. Gibson considers the Miller 100’s revival a major step forward since it’s known as the track’s marquee event.
To further commemorate Hawkeye Downs’ 100th anniversary, Gibson will welcome back dirt-track competitors. Dirt will be placed on Hawkeye Downs’ quarter-mile oval in October for what Gibson sees as a one-time race that pays tribute to decades of dirt competition.
Gibson believes these events can help trigger a snowball effect that leads to an increase in attendance and driver participation. He said many factors are already working in the track’s favor, but more can always be done to promote growth and sustainability.
“We still need to get our car count up, but that’s a nationwide [issue],” Gibson said. “I think we’re putting on a good program, and we just have to continue to work hard. NASCAR has been a great partner that has helped us in marketing and facility improvements. We’re going to keep digging, make the program better for the fans and keep things going.”
King said Hawkeye Downs’ status as Iowa’s lone paved short track can be a disadvantage. With no other facilities within a reasonable driving distance, competitors aren’t as incentivized to start their own race programs. He hopes more in the vicinity will open in the coming years.
Until then, King continues to trust Gibson and track owner Roger Cassill, the father of former NASCAR driver Landon Cassill, to steer Hawkeye Downs in the right direction. Having seen many other facilities close, King stressed the importance of recognizing Hawkeye Downs’ impact.
“This is a piece of racing history,” King said. “Greenville-Pickens [Speedway] is an amazing, historic track, but it’s no longer racing. It’s an honor to be a part of [Hawkeye Downs] while it is still here, and hopefully it’s going to be here for years to come.
“You never know in today’s world, but it’s an honor to be here in this moment.”
Gibson understands his challenges, but he doesn’t let circumstances deter his goals. He’s focused on what he considers imperative components: elevating purses to offset costs for competitors and maintaining an active fan base.
The one constant through Hawkeye Downs’ decades of change is the familial vibe. Nearly every member of Gibson’s immediate family has been involved with the track in some capacity. He finds comfort seeing so many peers from his early days at the track also pass down their passion.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve tabbed [Hawkeye Downs] as the generational track,” Gibson said. “We have a lot of second- and third-generation racers out here. This is something families can do together and make those memories in times when a lot of families go their separate ways. Hawkeye Downs is a family-oriented track.
“The relationships I’ve built from being out here are priceless.”
Bohnsack remembers how his late father Bryce’s love for racing brought the family to Hawkeye Downs. The younger Bohnsack went on to become one of the track’s most recognizable names; his desire to learn how to navigate the tricky oval resulted in multiple victories and championships.
Now the year-long celebration of Hawkeye Downs’ 100th anniversary has Bohnsack in pursuit of another title. His commitment to excelling on the track remains unwavering, just like the spirt of the historic complex.
“I started here in 1996 in the Hobby Stock class,” Bohnsack said. “It was me and my dad all the time, but now it’s just me and my family. When my dad passed away, we went to the four-cylinder class, which was something I could afford by myself. It’s hard to win championships, been there and done it, but [another one] would be phenomenal.”
In a century of existence, Hawkeye Downs has witnessed economic downturns, global conflicts and pandemics, yet it has withstood every obstacle.
With dedicated leadership to go along with a loyal group of drivers and fans, Hawkeye Downs looks to add to its cherished history over the next 100 years.