Venue release
07/15/26
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Hawkeye Downs, the premier racing venue in Eastern Iowa, will officially race on
dirt during the 2027 racing season. Plans call for adding 6000 tons of dirt (that’s 350 truckloads!) to the
quarter-mile track this fall for Dirt at the Downs events. The dirt will remain in place for next year’s racing
season.
“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.”
The half-mile track at Hawkeye Downs will remain an asphalt oval. The board and staff are also
exploring opportunities to host racing events on the longer asphalt track next year, which could make
Hawkeye Downs the only racing venue in Iowa to offer both dirt and asphalt racing.
Hawkeye Downs is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The board will continue to
oversee events at the racetrack, as it does at the expo center also located on the property. Hawkeye
Downs leases the racetrack and expo center from the property owner, Roger Cassill, who owns several
local businesses. Cassill backs the move to short-track dirt racing.
“The support for dirt racing at last year’s Dirt at the Downs was evident by the crowds filling the stands,”
said Cassill. “I’m pleased to see the board taking this action to keep racing alive and well at Hawkeye
Downs.”
The 101st racing season is now underway at Hawkeye Downs with the Big 8 Series racing this Saturday,
July 18, and weekly asphalt racing on the following dates:
Friday, July 24
Friday, July 31
Wednesday, August 5
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 21
Dirt at the Downs returns in September with four events currently scheduled.