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CEDAR RAPIDS: Hawkeye Downs Speedway has honored a new class of champions.
Titles were won in every division as the 2025 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series came to an end, despite the fact that championship night on August 15 had to be canceled due to bad weather.
Kurt Bohnsack of the Hornets, Kevin Korsmo of the Legends, Todd Ness of the Sportsmans, Tallan Chandler of the Sports Mods, Adam Petrzelka of the Hobby Stocks, Michael Weber of the Late Models, and Garrett Warren of the HD Dawgs are the winners.
Kurt Bohnsack (Hornets)
Bohnsack of Ely had an outstanding season. In 12 features, he received the checkered flag six times.
“I’m really excited about this title because it’s in the 100th anniversary year,” Bohnsack added. I set out to do that at the start of the year, and it did just that.
Bohnsack placed in the top five in every race in the challenging Hornets class.
According to Bohnsack, the two players who were closest to me in points were Chad (Vozenilek) and John Carnahan, and they made it difficult. Every race and point I earned required effort on my part. I liked it.
In 1996, Bohnsack started racing at Hawkeye Downs. Since winning the Hobby Stock title in 2018, this was his seventh track championship.
He intends to give up racing.
Actually, the car has already been sold, Bohnsack stated. It’s just about becoming older and allowing those men take over and enjoy themselves, even if I didn’t want to quit. Now all I have to do is watch them.
Kevin Korsmo (Legends)
Wall of Famer Kevin Korsmo of Atkins defeated Ames Dallas Kibbe by two points in the most tense points race of the year.
“I’m the fortunate one to win because it was a no-lose situation for me because we were going to have a Legends Direct-Miller Performance Car champion either way,” Korsmo said. Dallas has many years left before I turn sixty-two. I won’t be whining about this one because he will have plenty of time to make it up.
With son Kacey Korsmo, this was Korsmo’s eleventh track victory at Hawkeye Downs.
Because of the 100th year, it’s really significant—possibly the most significant of all of them, to be honest,” Korsmo added. Points races are not for me. It has been years since I last looked at a points sheet. But it means a lot to me this year.
Next year, which will be his 37th race at HD, he intends to return.
According to Korsmo, the only place where I truly feel like racing is Hawkeye Downs. It was significant because it was the 100th year, but I don’t really care about racing full time in points again. But I will continue to race in the future.
Todd Ness (Sportsmans)
Cedar Rapids Ness won the Sportsman’s title for the third time in four years.
“I overcame all the adversity I faced, learned from my mistakes, and beat all the hard days,” Ness remarked, referring to winning his third track title in four years. No one could have predicted the significance of each one.
Ness had again another successful campaign, taking home five out of twelve features.
Ness stated that the competition is fierce, ranging from seasoned players like (Cory) Houdek to young, up-and-coming players like (Corey) Crispin. When we are on the track, the effort of these men is evident since they work hard on their vehicles and improve every week.
I feel privileged to be a 100th year champion since I’ve contributed to Hawkeye Downs’ century-long history. Seeing all the drivers in loops on the track makes me happy, even as a child running around the grandstands. I hope that the following generation is motivated to follow in my footsteps.
Tallan Chandler (Sports Mods)
Chandler from Norway won eight features in a row at the end of the season to win the Sports Mods title for the second time in a row.
“I adore everything about racing,” Chandler remarked. My dad fills the car with everything. Being able to win and prove to him that all of his hard work has paid off is just gratifying.
A three-week winning streak with former NASCAR drivers Ken Wallace, Ken Schrader, and Landon Cassill in the lineup occurred on July 18, 25, and 30 of Chandler’s stellar season.
Chandler noted that competing against a wide range of individuals was an amazing experience. It was a lot of fun, especially racing against the NASCAR drivers, and beating them was the best part.
Adam Petrzelka (Hobby Stocks)
With 11 of 12 features won, Petrzelka of Norway was almost flawless, just as his 2024 championship season. The only setback of his 2025 campaign came on June 13, when he finished in second place.
Regarding his 2024 and 2025 seasons, Petrzelka stated, “It’s been nothing but good, except those two I lost.” Because it was the first, the championship was a little more special, but the second one was also noteworthy because it marked the 100th year of racing here. Each of them has advantages.
Michael Weber (Late Models)
Marion’s Weber earned his first track title at HD after winning five of the nine Late Model races.
According to Weber, it indicates that the work spent developing this vehicle during the off-season was worthwhile. Winning the 100th anniversary championship is unique since it’s really amazing for a track to last that long. I hope it lasts for another hundred years.
In every race, Weber finished in the top five.
Garrett Warren (HD Dawgs)
Indianola’s Garrett Warren won five out of eight features in the second season of HD Dawgs. Warren managed to hold off Will Zamastil, the winner from the previous year, and David Ballstaedt, who finished in second place, to claim the title.
Warren remarked, “It feels fantastic, especially for my first full season on asphalt.” I would want to express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this year’s racing so enjoyable, both at the track and outside.
