HangoverFest at Cordova

Words by Tazz Hines - Photos by Mike Garland

In the Peacocks Bar and Grill Winternationals Gambler, it was “D3 Diva” Suzanne Rooker of Wasco, IL, substituting her ’98 Chevy Dually for her usual ’69 Camaro Stocker, taking the win and $300 payout over runner-up Brandon Snyder of Sterling, IL, in his ’05 Kia Rio.

Who needs football? Certainly not the over 200 spectators nor the 150 racers who turned out for the 9th Annual HangoverFest on New Year’s Day at Cordova (IL) Dragway Park. With weather in the mid 20’s (12 if you factor in wind chill) and a track temperature of BRRRRRRR! these hearty Midwest racers let nothing stand in their way of a good time. Racers from as far away as Michigan and Nebraska made the drive to Cordova for the annual racing ritual.

“As windy and cold as it was this morning, I was surprised and pleased by the turnout.” Said Scott Gardner, owner and operator of CDP (along with Iowa tracks Eddyville Raceway Park and Cedar Falls Raceway) “We had a great day of racing and the fans and racers all seemed to enjoy it too.”

Everyone through the gate received free aspirin and an “I survived HangoverFest” cozy. There were also $1.00 Bloody Mary’s for those not racing and not done partying from the night before.

Brian Christner of Milan, IL, took the honors in the trophy eliminator going six rounds in his Cadillac DeVille over NHRA Div. 3 Super Street racer Justin Rosenbaum of LeClaire, IA, in his Corvette.

First race of the year…first crash of the season. If the driver didn’t have a headache before this run, he sure did afterward.	You didn’t have to escape from an asylum to race at Cordova’s HangoverFest, but maybe it helped.