Sport
2 February, 2023
American dominates
AMERICAN superstar driver Sheldon Haudenschild has dominated at Simpson Speedway.
AMERICAN superstar driver Sheldon Haudenschild has dominated at Simpson Speedway.
A record crowd in excess of 3,000 enjoyed an action-packed night at the Heytesbury Stockfeeds track on Saturday January 21 for the Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers All Star challenge.
For Haudenschild, the event proved a great warm-up to last weekend’s 50th running of Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic – where he finished runner-up after being overtaken on the final lap by Portland’s Brock Hallett as they made the final turn and endured a ‘drag-race’ to the finish line.
Haudenschild’s dream run at Simpson resulted in a $15,000 payday for the son of sprintcar legend Jac, driving for Jack Lee Racing of Terang.
The 29 year-old from Wooster in Ohio is a World of Outlaws regular and last raced in Australia in 2015.
He led home fellow American Chase Randall of Texas while Grant Anderson of Albury finished third.
After setting a time of 12.633 seconds in time trials behind quick-time winner Paul Solomon (12.606), Haudenschild grabbed a win and a second in his two heats, including one from position nine, and started from the front row next to the fast Rusty Hickman of Bendigo for the 35-lap feature.
Hickman, who also won both his heats, got the jump on Haudenschild and led for the opening 10 laps until he suffered fuel issues in the Dave Challons-owned J&J which forced him from the lead and the race.
While Haudenschild was lapping cars at will, Randall worked through from seventh position to challenge him for a podium and was quickly into second while Anderson jumped to third.
Back in the pack, last year’s challenge winner Brendan Quinn found himself sideways on turn four, collecting Charles Hunter and Chris Campbell.
James McFadden got as high as fifth but was a victim when Todd Moule spun in turn three.
McFadden blew a right rear tyre and careered towards the concrete wall and Daniel Scott rolled trying to avoid the carnage.
With 10 laps to run, Michael Tancredi’s front end collapsed and at the restart B-Main winner Brett Milburn (who was up to seventh) spun before cars recommenced the restart lap – Matthew Reed careered into him and rolled, forcing him to withdraw.
Haudenschild was in control and led Randall and Anderson to the finish line in what became a race marred by several unusual incidents – with just seven cars of the 20 starters finishing the event.
“We knew it was going to be a long race and just had to survive,” Haudenschild said.
“The 45 (Hickman) was good and I was happy with the line I wanted to run when I was behind him.
“It’s great to be finally racing in Australia.”
The Snoopy Slam for super rods was taken out by Jacob Pitcher while the SSA Junior Sedan Invitational was won by Arthur Hutchinson who held off a determined Blake Glynn, with Matilda Farrell in third.
The next meeting to be held at Heytesbury Stockfeeds Simpson Speedway will be on February 11.
This will feature the annual FrontRow Challenge for wingless sprints, the Trevor Podger Memorial for super rods, round seven of both the South West Stampede for VSC sports sedans and the Southern Speedcar tour.
