LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — Sheldon Haudenschild claimed victory in a Memorial Day Spectacular that lived up to its name Monday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
Becoming the third different leader in a wild 30-lapper, Haudenschild drove to the point on lap 11 and never relinquished his lead. His series-leading fifth victory was far from easy, however, as the NOS Energy Drink, Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing No. 17 faced steep traffic and relentless challengers in the closing stages.
The path to back-to-back wins for the Wooster, OH native included a series of three-story sliders across the banking against Logan Schuchart and a green-white-checkered finish when he survived a challenge from Kyle Larson, who raced from 16th to finish second.
Haudenschild’s 27th career World of Outlaws triumph gives the Haudenschild family 99 total wins with the series and inches him closer to Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne Racing in the championship battle.
“I’m just happy we survived and came out with the win,” Haudenschild said. “I had so many close calls through traffic, those lappers were tough to battle. That’s just normal Lawrenceburg, though. I knew there would be some holes, you just have to run the track smart. More than anything, I just want to thank the men and women and the families who have sacrificed so much that allow us to race on this Memorial Day.”
The most anxious moment of the race was without a doubt the final caution on the final lap, which forced a green-white-checkered. Larson had just moved Paul Silva’s No. 57 into the second spot with a massive slider on Schuchart and was within striking distance of Haudenschild when the yellow lights flashed for a slowing Parker Price-Miller.
With only two laps left, a nearly sold-out crowd at Lawrenceburg knew anything could happen with Haudenschild, Larson and Schuchart lining up 1-2-3 as the green flag waved.
Ultimately, Larson’s plan to disrupt Haudenschild never had a chance to play out as Schuchart shot a big move at the No. 57 and stole his momentum allowing the No. 17 to check out and seal the deal.
“I knew Larson would be coming,” Haudenschild said. “I looked at the board and kept seeing the No. 57 creeping up toward the top. That was a fun little cat and mouse game I had with the No. 1s. It seemed like however would get the run was going to come out on top, so I knew I couldn’t slide across turns one & two, I needed to carry that speed down the backstretch.”
Larson had a plan to attack Haudenschild on the last lap, but the caution flew and ruined all timing.
“It would’ve been hard to beat Sheldon on a green-white-checkered in clean air anyways,” Larson said. “I really didn’t need that last caution, because I was setting him up into turn three at the checkered flag to make my move. It was a fun race, though. I always love coming to Lawrenceburg, it was rough and wavy in the corners. It just has so much character. I needed a better start to the night in qualifying and things might’ve been different.”
Rounding out the podium was Schuchart.
“I had a chance right before Kyle got by me, but I stuck to the bottom and should’ve slid up,” Schuchart said. “I’m just proud of this group of people and how fast we’ve been lately. It’s great to be on the podium, but I need to get this thing in victory lane soon. It feels so close, but so far away at the same time.”
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps):Â 1. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5][$10,000]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [16][$6,000]; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4][$3,500]; 4. 2-David Gravel [7][$2,800]; 5. 5-Spencer Bayston [3][$2,500]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi [6][$2,300]; 7. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,200]; 8. 18X-Cole Macedo [12][$2,100]; 9. 83-James McFadden [17][$2,050]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [14][$2,000]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz [18][$1,600]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [1][$1,400]; 13. 41-Carson Macedo [2][$1,200]; 14. 20G-Noah Gass [24][$1,100]; 15. 26-Cory Eliason [15][$1,050]; 16. 15J-Justin Peck [23][$1,000]; 17. 9-Kasey Kahne [25][$]; 18. 101-Cale Thomas [13][$1,000]; 19. 11X-Parker Price-Miller [8][$1,000]; 20. 3-Ayrton Gennetten [22][$1,000]; 21. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [10][$1,000]; 22. 9K-Kevin Thomas [19][$1,000]; 23. 39-Christopher Bell [21][$1,000]; 24. A79-Brandon Wimmer [20][$1,000]; 25. 11K-Kraig Kinser [11][$1,000].Â
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