Sheldon Haudenschild claimed the 30th annual Kings Challenge at Borderline Speedway, Mt. Gambier, the night before this year’s Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic.
Driving the Lee Contracting entry, Haudenschild led two-time winner Kerry Madsen to the checkered flag with a comfortable four-second gap. Third to cross the line after the 30-lap finale was Jy Corbett ahead of Cory Eliason and Luke Dillon.
The defending Challenge winner from 2022 and 2023, James McFadden, finished sixth.
Haudenschild and Madsen had shaded the field after 12 heats in which no one driver dominated the proceedings on the 400-yard oval. Madsen scored a win and a second placing, Haudenschild earned a pair of seconds and Callum Williamson collected a second and a third placing.
In collecting the winner’s $12,500 prize, Haudenschild goes into this weekend’s Flying Horse Bar & Brewery Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic in top form. He will be joined by 105 other entries for the 51st running of the feature race.
The field includes most of the Americans who have been racing the Australian summer with the exception of Brad Sweet, who has returned to the U.S. In addition to Haudenschild, who was narrowly defeated in the Classic last season, there is Carson Macedo, Cory Eliason, Rico Abreu, Chase Randall, Aaron Reutzel, Justin Peck, Riley Goodno and Brock Zearfoss.
When officials restricted the Australian championship to locals in the late 70s, the Classic became the unofficial open championship. Seven-time winner, Garry Rush expressed a common sentiment that he would prefer to win the Classic than the Australian championship.
Ten Americans, including Danny Smith six times, have won the Classic, beginning with Jimmy Sills in 1978.
Of the visitors, Carson Macedo has been the most consistent this season, winning a series of features across the country. Of the Australian drivers, Jock Goodyer, Luke Oldfield, Jamie Veal, Brock Hallett, Lachlan McHugh and the Dumesnys, Marcus and Matt, have been competitive over the past few months.
Williamson has been in good form in Western Australia. How that translates on the smaller Premier Speedway will become evident over the three nights of racing.