ROSSBURG, Ohio – It’s hard to believe, but Jac Haudenschild had never won an Ohio Speedweek feature until Saturday night (June 26, 2004) at Eldora Speedway.
Haudenschild ran down early leader Tim Kaeding and paced the final 17 laps in the Haulmark All Star sprint car »lap Ohio Speedweek feature. For the opening race of the 22nd annual Speedweek, Haudenschild’s Jamie Miller-owned Ham Signs Maxim team pocketed $5,000.
“Tim Kaeding had me worried,” Haudenschild admitted. “He was running really good. I’ve raced with the Kaedings all my life, and the boys run as good as the old man does,” Haudenschild added.
With a pair of Tims, Hunter and Kaeding, leading the pack to the green flag, Kaeding jumped out to an impressive early lead.
Fourth-starting Dale Blaney ran second behind Kaeding until he brought out the first caution when he slowed on the frontstretch on lap seven. Blaney was forced to pit for repairs, and at the same time Greg Wllson, who spun to a stop, went pitside.
Kaeding jumped out to another nice lead when the green reappeared, followed by third-starter Haudenschild, Chad Kemenah and Butch Schroeder. As the laps ticked off, Haudenschild began reeling in Kaeding. When the pair entered lapped traffic on lap 14, Haudenschild closed to two car lengths.
The leaders were nose to tail on lap 16, and Haudenschild tried a slide job in turn three, but Kaeding had enough momentum to repel the charge.
The next lap, Haudenschild dove low in turn three for a classic Eldora slide job and emerged with the lead. But a lap later, the red flew when Ron Blair tagged the turn-two wall and flipped.
The final seven laps went all green, with Haudenschild pushing out to a two-thirds-of-a-straightaway victory over Kaeding.
Kemenah was third, followed by Randy Hannagan, who started 18th. Dean Jacobs, Chaney and Danny Smith rounded out the top five.
SPEED SPORT is celebrating its 90th anniversary.