MANSFIELD, Ohio — Sheldon Haudenschild holds home close to his heart.
The 33-year-old is from Wooster, Ohio, and still lives in the area. He’s amassed legions of fans all across the country during his tenure with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, but the Haudenschild shirts show up nowhere more than the Buckeye State.
Friday was a special day for Haudenschild before a car even hit the track as his NOS Energy Drink Buckeye Brawl Weekend brought the tour back to Mansfield Speedway for the first time in 45 years.
Matt Tifft and his team revived Mansfield, and Haudenschild helped bring The Greatest Show on Dirt back to town in the track’s comeback season. Throw in a standing room only crowd, and this was guaranteed to be a great evening no matter the outcome for Haudenschild.
But those were only the opening pages of this story that couldn’t be scripted better in fiction. The punctuation came Friday night when Haudenschild brought the packed house to their feet. He wheeled the KCP Racing No. 18 by Nate Dussel on Lap 18 and set sail. Donny Schatz jumped into the runner-up spot late, but even the 10-time series champion couldn’t halt Haudenschild on this night. He took the checkered flag, and the roar in the stands could be heard over in Wooster.
“This race, it was like I’m just enjoying it no matter what, win or lose,” Haudenschild said. “To see these fans show up, that’s what means the most. It’s just the cherry on top to be able to win this race. Thankful for Matt Tifft, the Outlaws, Lauren (Albano) at NOS Energy Drink for putting this whole thing on. It was just a pretty quick deal of throwing it out there, and they made it happen really fast. Man, I don’t think you could ask for a better racetrack.”
It was also a special night on the statistical side for Haudenschild as Friday gave him 10 wins this season, marking the first time he’s reached double digits during a campaign. He’s the third different driver to hit 10 this season, joining Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (15 wins) and David Gravel (11 wins). The career victory tally now sits at 56 for Haudenschild, two away from tying Jason Meyers for 17th all-time.
Schatz came home second in the CJB Motorsports No. 15 to notch his third podium in the last six races.
Carson Macedo ripped the tricky cushion up to the third position aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41.
David Gravel and Emerson Axsom completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[3]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz[4]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[7]; 4. 2-David Gravel[6]; 5. 27-Emerson Axsom[1]; 6. 1-Nate Dussel[2]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[15]; 8. 2C-Cole Macedo[8]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[18]; 10. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson[5]; 12. 71-Parker Price Miller[11]; 13. 17-Spencer Bayston[10]; 14. 45-Cale Thomas[20]; 15. 16C-Skylar Gee[14]; 16. 1A-Cameron Smith[12]; 17. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[13]; 18. 24-Cole Duncan[22]; 19. 33W-Cap Henry[17]; 20. 15K-Creed Kemenah[9]; 21. 17B-Bill Balog[25]; 22. 7S-Chris Windom[21]; 23. 6-Bryce Lucius[16]; 24. 15C-Chris Andrews[23]; 25. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[24]
