CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 8, 2009) – With heat indices topping the 100 degree mark at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the look on Bill Preitzel’s face in victory lane said it all. A fatigued Prietzel, who won for the first time in his stock car at Hawkeye Downs, slowly climbed from his victorious mount and solemnly posed for pictures after winning the Mid-American Stock Car Series’ “Return to Rapids.”

“For me it was tough,” said the three-time MASCS champion. Prietzel then recalled his trip to Cedar Rapids in 2003 when he ran three features between his MASCS car and his Midwest Super Truck. “It was 90 degrees that day, but I still didn’t feel like this.”

The winning move was performed by Prietzel on lap 26. After a lap 22 restart, in which Prietzel utilized the outside line to swipe the second spot from Jeremy Spoonmore, Justin Neisius’ race-long lead was soon in danger.

The leading rookie contender of Mid-American gave a valiant effort to hold off the current point leader, but Prietzel worked the inside line to perfection and did not look back after wrestling the lead away from Neisius exiting turn two.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Aug. 5) – Jeff Aikey proved again that he’s just as fast on asphalt as he is on dirt.

Aikey led the last 31 times around the half-mile oval in winning Wednesday’s “Dirt At The Downs” Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

The victory, his third of the season, career fourth at Cedar Rapids and IMCA Late Model tour 51st, paid $2,000.

Jason Frankel, second behind Aikey in the series point standings, ran in the runner-up spot most of the way. Terry Neal, Ray Guss Jr. and Rob Toland rounded out the top five.

Neal, piloting Rick Dralle’s car after his own ride expired early in the evening, drew the pole start but Aikey made his move from outside row two and was at the front of the field when the fourth lap was scored.

He was pulling away before catching up with the back of the pack on the 11th circuit. Frankel made up most of the distance as the two ran in lapped traffic, trying unsuccessfully high and low to make his way into first.

The front pair continued to negotiate their way through backrunners as the race ran caution-free. Johnny Spaw passed nine cars and finished sixth.

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.

by Brad Grupe
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Week two of the Papa Johns Pizza/I-Wireless Championship Cup chase is here with Miller Lite Late Models, Budweiser Mid-Am Sportsmen, and Coors Light Modifieds racing on the semi-banked Hawkeye Downs half-mile.

Also in competition Friday night are Barron Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, Barron Motor Supply IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Sunline Hornets battling on the always exciting Hawkeye Downs quarter-mile.

Friday night is also “Mother’s Day Night” with a special Shopping Cart Race for Moms.

With just one week of racing in the books everything is up for grabs in the points races. Johnny Spaw leads the way in Miller Lite Late Models, Dave McCalla tops the chart in Budweiser Mid-Am Sportsmen, Dave Ballstaedt holds down first place in Barron Motor Supply IMCA Stock Cars, and Roland Bohnsack hold the top slot in Barron Motor Supply IMCA Hobby Stocks. Nathan Chandler is the leader after week one in Sunline Hornets.

Grandstand Gates open at 6pm with Late Model Qualifying set for approximately 6:40pm. The first race of the evening goes green just past 7pm.

Cedar Rapids, IA (April 25, 2009) – Mother Nature won her second consecutive Mid-American Stock Car Series event Saturday, postponing the “Return to Rapids” until Saturday, August 8th.

A total of 26 Mid-American competitors were prepared to test the half-mile oval of Hawkeye Downs Speedway but were sent away for the second week in a row without taking a lap of competitive action.

The 32nd Annual Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway was canceled early last Sunday morning. It was slated to be the season opening event.

MASCS competitors will head back to that destination tomorrow for the rain date from last Sunday with the hope that the third time is the charm to get the 2009 season underway.

Qualifying at Rockford on Sunday begins at 11:15 a.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Rockford Speedway is located at 9572 Forest Hills Road seven miles north of downtown Rockford, just two miles west of Interstate 90 at the intersection of Forest Hills Road and Highway 173 in Loves Park, IL. For more information please visit www.rockfordspeedway.com