JACKSON, Minn. – After a rough outing with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series one week earlier at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, Sheldon Haudenschild recouped some of his confidence with a solid runner-up finish during the opening night of the Great Lakes Shootout for 410 sprint cars.
Haudenschild piloted the No. 17 Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing entry to second in Friday’s 25-lap preliminary feature, leading seven laps after passing Donny Schatz before being passed himself by eventual winner and defending World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet.
If not for a slip off the bottom at lap 18, Haudenschild believed he might have had the car to hang on and take the victory in the non-sanctioned program that received infrastructure support from the IRA Bumper to Bumper Outlaw Sprint Series.
Still, however, it was a welcomed return to form for the son of National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jac Haudenschild after just a single top-five finish and two top 10s to open the WoO season.
That rough record included a flip on lap 12 at Knoxville on May 8, something Haudenschild pointed out was somewhat alleviated by being able to race to the front as quickly as he did on Friday night.
“I got out in front early, and I felt really good when the track was just normal and slick and a little bit dirty,” Haudenschild said. “I definitely had some confidence and the car felt really good all night long. I can’t thank (crew chief Kyle) Ripper, Drew and Nicholas enough, and to finally get a decent finish in the races that we’ve had feels good.”
It was a different-looking Haudenschild than the one that exited his race car eight nights earlier.
That version of the Wooster, Ohio, young gun was frayed, frustrated and understandably down about where he team was leaving the Marion County Fairgrounds.
The Haudenschild that spoke at Jackson was smiling, upbeat and ready to chase after his first win of the season during Saturday’s finale to the doubleheader weekend at the four-tenths-mile dirt track.
“Just having a great race car helps a lot,” noted Haudenschild about his improved mentality. “This was definitely the best I’ve felt here, at least since the (No.) 93 and my previous years in the (No.) 17. That alone just gives me tons of confidence as a driver when it comes to getting the night going, and starting up front is a pretty big help as well.
“Hopefully we can keep this going and it bodes well going forward with our season and getting even stronger.”