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CEDAR RAPIDS: Ken Schrader said “yes” without hesitation.
On Friday, Schrader, who competed in NASCAR for almost 30 years, was one of five people honored into the Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame. Schrader seized the chance to race his No. 7 Sport Mod on induction night when fellow 2025 inductee Landon Cassill asked him if he would like to.
“Hell yeah,” I replied. I really want to, because I’m up there,” Schrader remarked. Landon and I have been friends since he was a puppy. When he started racing outside his house (Hawkeye Downs), we would approach him and race alongside him, even though we had previously competed against each other in the NASCAR series.
We just determined it was going to happen because I am aware of how involved they are and how much they have done to support the track (Landon and Roger Cassill).
Schrader has served as an advocate for motorsports throughout his career, appearing and competing in the Modified and Late Model divisions at Hawkeye Downs on multiple occasions.
According to Schrader, race spectators, cars, and drivers in Iowa have always been excellent. The Iowa boys used to visit us for our major races and kick our ass. I’m from St. Louis. I simply like the community’s support and the fans that the smaller tunes receive.
Schrader hadn’t competed at HD in around 20 years prior to Friday. His early victory on the new asphalt in 1989 and his Deery Brothers Summer Series victory in 2001 are only two of his many happy memories of the track.
Every time we visited here, we had a great time, Schrader remarked. When they paved it the first night up here (1989), I believe we prevailed. Because no one was accustomed to the pavement, I recall that they opened a little early for practice. Bob Harris (HD Wall of Fame, 2022) had me as his driver. I had a great time attending a brand-new track.
Schrader raced NASCAR until 2013, having started his debut NASCAR Cup Series in 1984. He achieved three consecutive Daytona 500 poles from 1988 to 1990, finished fourth in points in 1994 behind Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, and Dale Earnhardt, and amassed 184 top-10 finishes during his NASCAR career.
“It’s amazing that Kenny Schrader will be inducted with him,” Cassill added. His past in Cedar Rapids is the reason for his induction. I was familiar with Kenny Schrader as a child. He drove a modified car for Gerald Seger here at Hawkeye Downs, which is what I drove.
Even before I had competed against Schrader, I felt like I had a connection to him.
Cassill found it easy to ask Schrader to drive his Sports Mod on Wall of Fame night because of their connection.
In a field of thirteen cars, Schrader came in second to Tallan Chandler, who led the points.
He still participates in racing at the age of 70, taking his Federated Auto Parts vehicles to several dirt tracks around the nation.
Schrader laughed and remarked, “The problem is that I’m still enjoying myself (racing).” I could give up if I wasn’t. We’re still having fun, though.
In back-to-back weeks, Schrader became the second former NASCAR driver to pilot the No. 7. On July 18, Kenny Wallace placed second in the Sports Mod as well.
It will be Cassill’s turn next.
Cassill stated, “This Wednesday, July 30, I’m going to be driving it.” Hopefully, the community will enjoy themselves while doing it.
On Friday prior to the start of racing, Jim Williams, Max Rogers, and Bob Ballard were recognized as members of the 2025 Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame class alongside Schrader and Cassill.
