OGILVIE, Minn. — Mother Nature may have won a battle with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Friday at Ogilvie Raceway, but she didn’t win the war.
Rain falling four laps into the Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers Feature halted the 30-lapper for what wound up being a roughly three-hour delay. But when the precipitation stopped, the track crew whipped the surface into shape for a thrilling conclusion.
Sheldon Haudenschild, Carson Macedo, and Garet Williamson gave the fans what they came for over the final 26 circuits. Williamson pulled ahead when the green finally flew again with his sights on his first Series score. Haudenschild had other plans as he rocketed by on Lap 11 in the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 18. Macedo then surged into second aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 and found the space to slide by Haudenschild for the lead as the race wound down.
Haudenschild answered with a crossover out of Turn 4 that proved to be the winning move. The Wooster, Ohio, native put some distance between himself and Macedo on the path to victory lane.
“Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Adam (Clark), and Dauson (Heitritter),” Haudenschild said. “Nights like this are not that fun. I mean, I get to have fun, but for the crew guys and all these guys that go up and down the road, it’s a ton of work when the rain comes and everything is wet. Then we’ve got to drive four hours to the next place. But man, thank you to the fans for sticking this one out.”
Haudenschild upped his win total for the season to eight as he closes in on the first double-digit victory campaign of his career. He and the KCP Racing crew kept their momentum up after last week’s strong showing during the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s when they picked up a prelim score and runner-up in the finale. The 32-year-old is down to 10 markers behind Michael “Buddy” Kofoid for the second spot in points.
Carson Macedo wheeled the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 to a runner-up finish, their best result since a June win an Angell Park Speedway.
After leading the opening 10 laps, Garet Williamson settled for third in the Fischer Motorsports No. 23 as that first World of Outlaws triumph continues to elude him in seemingly every way possible.
Bill Balog and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[4]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[6]; 3. 23-Garet Williamson[2]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[1]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]; 6. 17-Spencer Bayston[12]; 7. 2-David Gravel[3]; 8. 83-Michael Kofoid[10]; 9. 15-Donny Schatz[9]; 10. 27-Emerson Axsom[13]; 11. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[5]; 12. 6-Kasey Jedrzejek[7]; 13. 2C-Cole Macedo[18]; 14. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 15. 45X-Ashton Torgerson[15]; 16. 16C-Skylar Gee[16]; 17. 9-Dominic Dobesh[23]; 18. 17D-Ryan Bickett[22]; 19. (DNF) 28M-Conner Morrell[20]; 20. (DNF) 24T-Christopher Thram[14]; 21. (DNF) 3-Kelby Watt[19]; 22. (DNF) 33-Scotty Broty[21]; 23. (DNF) 13-Mark Dobmeier[17]; 24. (DNF) 87-Austin Hartmann[24]
