Sheldon Haudenschild Tops Barn Burner at U.S. 36 Raceway
On Friday night at U.S. 36 Raceway, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars delivered a gem that fans will be talking about for years to come.
A race-long war for the top spot produced slider after slider and crossover after crossover along with one unforgettable three wide passes around the outside. Once the dust settled at the Osborn, MO oval, it was Sheldon Haudenschild who arose victorious after a 30-lap donnybrook against fellow stars – Carson Macedo, David Gravel, and Brad Sweet.
The triumph marked his 32nd win with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and his second consecutive at U.S. 36 after topping the 2020 race.
In fitting fashion, Haudenschild also won on his father, Jac’s, birthday. The Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing gasser made his dad proud by winning in the wild, white-knuckle fashion “The Wild Child” became famous for.
Haudenschild is now only the second driver to top multiple World of Outlaws races at U.S. 36, joining Joey Saldana. It’s the seventh different track where he’s earned at least two Series victories.
For Haudenschild and the team, who had been combating some early season struggles, the triumph also served as a welcome confidence boost.
“Happy Birthday to my dad. He was probably pacing around the kitchen there for a while,” Haudenschild said with a laugh in Victory Lane. “Hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Danny, Gravy. They’ve been working hard, and when you struggle to start the season, it’s tough. You’ve got to keep your spirits up and keep the whole team motivated. So, I’m just really happy with the whole night.”
The early part of the race was controlled by Carson Macedo as he darted to the lead from the second starting spot and Haudenschild slotted into second.
Macedo went mostly unchallenged for the first third of the race, but after the second of a pair of debris cautions, the intensity of the fight for the lead skyrocketed. David Gravel went from fourth to second on the restart and then briefly to the lead on the next circuit before Macedo slid back by.
Then the next lap brought a move from Haudenschild that the entire Sprint Car community will fondly remember for a while. As Macedo and Gravel went wheel to wheel through Turns 3 and 4, Haudenschild ripped his NOS Energy Drink #17 around the top, making it three wide and squeezing by for the lead as they hit the front straightaway.