Hawkeye Downs going dirt in '27
The legendary Hawkeye Downs Speedway, which has primarily operated as a paved oval since 1989, plans run dirt races on the quarter-mile layout in 2027 at the 102-year-old facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, promoters announced this evening.
The track ran a handful of Dirt at the Downs events in 2025, including a $3,500-to-win Late Model event won by Nick Marolf, and after this season’s dirt events plans to leave the 350 truckloads of dirt on the track for next season’s campaign.
“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.”
Property owner and local businessman Roger Cassill supports the decision by the nonprofit organization that operates the track.
“The support for dirt racing at last year’s Dirt at the Downs was evident by the crowds filling the stands,” Cassill said. “I’m pleased to see the board taking this action to keep racing alive and well at Hawkeye Downs.”
The track’s asphalt season is under way and plans are to leave the track’s half-mile layout as asphalt. While the layouts share the same frontstretch, promoters are exploring the possibility of continuing asphalt competition on the half-mile track in 2027, which could make Hawkeye Downs Iowa's only racing venue in Iowa to offer both dirt and asphalt racing.
This season’s Dirt at the Downs events are scheduled for September, but specific dates and divisions haven’t been announced.
The half-mile layout at Hawkeye Downs was a dirt track from 1925-1988 with a quarter-mile dirt layout added to the track in 1950 and also paved in 1989.
