The top five drivers in late model qualifying took "The Back of the Field Challenge" last night, choosing to start the 40-lap main event from the rear of the 16-team field.

Most came through with flying colors.

The more than 6,000 fans who turned out to watch the late model regulars and NASCAR Nationwide rookie and Cedar Rapids native Landon Cassill put on a show were presented with "The Flood Relief Challenge." They, too, answered the bell in heroic fashion.

Steve Carlson and Cassill chose to start at the rear of the field with a little extra spending money on the line, and charged through the pack before Carlson was able to capitalize on a late Cassill misstep and win the 40-lap late model feature last night at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

Despite starting in the back, Carlson and Cassill were first and second by lap 9. They stayed that way until a caution with five laps to go, meaning Cassill would be right on Carlson's rear deck lid for a five-lap shootout. But Cassill gunned it and the car's rear end spun around as the green flag flew. He ultimately finished sixth. Curt VanDerWal and Johnny Spaw finished second and third behind Carlson.

"It was a little slick off the restart and, and I was just going for the win," Cassill said, smiling. "I was just really excited to be out here racing with these guys and racing with Steve again."

Carlson has won six of the eight weekly late model features at Hawkeye Downs as well as the Keith Fleck Miller 100.

He looked forward to racing Cassill, although he's made a career of racing against and beating NASCAR drivers with slightly higher profiles than his own.

"On that first lap there, Landon passed me on the grass and we made some contact over there, and I thought, 'Well, if that's how we're going to play, let's go play,'" Carlson said. "Landon chased me all the way through. He was fast."

Besides entertaining racing, the night also served as a fundraiser for Cedar Rapids flood relief.

After four heat races on the quarter-mile, track gates were opened and about 200 fans poured out on the track to walk around the half-mile with Cassill and several other drivers among the throng. About a dozen youngsters took of running, well ahead of the crowd.

Fans were asked to make a donation to flood relief efforts for the opportunity to walk.

"This is all about the flood victims and helping out with the community," Cassill said before the walk. "You guys are awesome and it's going to be a lot of fun tonight."

Late in the racing program the goal of raising $10,000 was nearly met, and that meant about $50,000 to the effort after matching contributions from Cassill, Rick Hendrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kurt Busch. The money is designated for the Salvation Army and Aid for Women, who will distribute it to local flood victims.

Sixteen late models took part in qualifying and, once again, Carlson turned in the quickest lap, this time circling the half-mile in 18.783 seconds (95.831 mph). Cassill was second at 18.880 seconds.

In other action on the half-mile, 50-year racing veteran Arlo Becker won the 25-lap modified feature and Randy Coghlan won the 25-lap sportsmen main event. The win was Becker's second straight and third of the season.

On the quarter-mile, Brad Chandler won the 20-lap hornets feature for his sixth win of the season, crossing in front of second-place Jim Hanson. The runner-up finish was as good as gold for Hanson, who took over the points lead from Derek Parrott, who ran seventh.

Last year's hornets track champion, Shawn Myers, started inside the second row and charged to his first victory in the IMCA hobby stock feature, comfortably ahead of points leader and nine-time winner Gary Pfantz.

"Everything seemed to work pretty well and it doesn't hurt to start towards the front," Myers said. "I really can't believe I'm here after the bad year we've had."

Myers came into the night ninth in points.

Former hobby stocks track champion Rodney Grother picked up his first win in the IMCA stock cars division and former late model competitor Brian Gibson picked up his first IMCA sportmods win in only his second time in the car.