Despite standing only 5-foot-5 and tipping the scales at around 135 pounds, Haudenschild has long been known for being fearless and having a heavy right foot.
“I think I actually got that from my dad,” he noted. “My dad was pretty much a daredevil his whole life.”
As for the “Wild Child” moniker, “I got that nickname right when I started racing. One of my competitors gave me that nickname,” he said.
Those who keep track say Haudenschild has won more than 300 sprint car features, including 72 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, 30 with the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions and a half-dozen with USAC.
“I don’t know,” Haudenschild responded when asked about his greatest accomplishment in a sprint car. “Some of the big races are the ones you remember the most – the Eldora races. I always remember them because they were big races – the Kings Royal, the Historical Big One. I won the Gold Cup three times, and that was a big deal to win that one. Certain races stand out in your head.
“There were also a couple of Kings Royals when I was leading and either broke or ran out of fuel,” he added. “You also remember certain ones that got away.”
It’s interesting that Haudenschild’s greatest success has come in his home state at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. He’s a three-time winner of the track’s Kings Royal and he banked $100,000 for topping the Historical Big One in 1993. Haudenschild also took home $200,000 for winning Eldora’s Mopar Million feature for non-winged sprint cars in 2003.
“I always felt comfortable and I did a lot of racing without a wing when I first started,” Haudenschild explained. “I raced Eldora; I ran a bunch different races without wings. I did it for a long time, so I always felt comfortable racing with or without wings.”
Another attribute that has endeared Haudenschild to race fans is his approachable and fan-friendly demeanor.
“I remember growing up and getting some drivers’ autographs,” he said. “I always thought that was pretty neat, so when I got to the point to be able to do that, I always took my time with the fans.”
Haudenschild has driven for a long list of car owners, but his most productive years came when he was teamed with Jack Elden.
“I drove for him for nine years,” Haudenschild recalled. “He gave me top-notch equipment all of those years, and we had a lot of good times racing together.”
For a portion of his tenure with Elden, the team’s No. 22 sprint car was sponsored by Pennzoil and that sponsorship opened the door for Haudenschild to pursue his racing dream.
“I always wanted to get into Indy car racing. I got to test the Pennzoil Indy car one year and tried to get my foot in the door, but I never could get in,” he said. “You definitely had to bring a sponsor with you. I’m sure some guys got in without that if they had a lot of asphalt experience, but I never ran much asphalt.
“When I tested the Panther Racing Indy car at Texas Motor Speedway, I didn’t feel too bad in it. I think I could have figured them out. I always would have liked to be an Indy car driver. I never had any interest in driving a stock car.”
Career decisions are never easy, especially when a single choice will literally define the next chapter of a longtime racer’s life.
“Outside of racing, I really don’t have an interest to do anything. I just like racing. That’s it,” Haudenschild said. “I don’t enjoy the traveling as much as I used to, but I still enjoy getting out on the track and driving.”
It will be interesting to see which way Jac Haudenschild heads when he pulls away from the crossroads.