Series 2009 driver preview - Jac Haudenschild

2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Preview: Jac Haudenschild

Concord, NC-- January 24, 2009--After spending a very busy off-season building cars for his son Sheldon who is breaking into the sprint car ranks this season, Jac Haudenschild is ready to hit the road and begin his 36th season behind the wheel, as he battles for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship and continues to add to his own legacy in the sport.

The 2009 campaign begins for Haudenschild with the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, February 6-8, with three full nights of racing each paying $10,000 to the winner.

"We're definitely ready to head down to Florida and get going," said Haudenschild. "Leonard (Lee) and everyone has the R19 stuff prepared and ready to go. We can't wait to get back racing."

In his career at the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, Haudenschild has 19 Top-10 finishes, with eight of those being Top-Five performances, including a win with the All Star Circuit of Champions in 1995. He looks forward to starting the season off against one of the most stout fields the series will face all season, with drivers from across the country converging on the half-mile to open the new year.

"Florida is always tough," he noted. "Everyone has fresh equipment and you have all the guys from Pennsylvania along with the Outlaws and All Stars. The competition there is always tough."

The 2009 season will mark Haudenschild's second behind the wheel for the Carnahan Motorsports team based out of Minnesota with veteran crew chief Leonard Lee turning the wrenches. The native of Wooster, Ohio won five times last season with the team, including the $50,000 Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, which he has now won three times in his career. He also was victorious at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, which was his first career win in Canada, along with triumphs at Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York in the closest race of the season edging Jason Meyers by mere inches, Lucas Oil Speedway in Missouri, where he traded the lead with Craig Dollansky five times and Thunderbowl Raceway in California, in a thrilling battle with 20-time series champion Steve Kinser.

"Leonard really knew how to get the car going for me and it helps having that year together now," explained Haudenschild. "We got really good at the end of the year. We're hoping for another good year this year."

The 2009 World of Outlaws calendar has around 80 races on it, stretching from early February in the Sunshine State to the 3rd Annual VAULT World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway in November. Haudenschild had one of the strongest second halves of the season last year of any driver on tour, picking up 14 Top-10 finishes in the last 16 races of the year. He looks to use that momentum to start the season on a high at a number of tracks he had a great deal of success at in the past.

"The crew works hard on the car and you just have to stay focused all year," he shared, of what it takes to stay fresh and run up front all year. "We're hoping to go and fight for the championship this year. We just have to stay focused and the mechanics have to keep the car in good shape."

Haudenschild will have the chance to race a number of times in his home state of Ohio this season, with three separate stops at the famed Eldora Speedway, where he has won 23 times in his legendary career. The series also visits the 1/3-mile bullring at Attica Raceway Park, where he always runs strong. For the fourth consecutive year the Brad Doty Classic will be contested at the always racy ¼-mile at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio. Haudenschild won the race in 2007, which is promoted by and honors his longtime friend and fellow Ohio native, Doty.

"We always like running around home, especially Brad's (Doty) race," said Haudenschild. "It was fun running over there at Limaland last year. Hopefully we can get the R19 running good this year and win some races."

Haudenschild has finished in the Top-10 in the World of Outlaws championship standings 14 times in his career, including a second-place performance in 1995. He was fifth last season on the strength of 48 Top-10 finishes, with 22 of those being Top-Fives, as he looks for his first series title.

"The competition with the Outlaws has always been the toughest and that is what makes it the place to race," he noted. "To win a championship you have to be consistent and run in the Top-Three every night to win it."

It was recently announced that Haudenschild had been selected as a 2009 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. He is currently ninth on the World of Outlaws all-time A-Feature win list with 51 victories and has over 350 wins in his career. Among his biggest victories are: three Kings Royals triumphs at Eldora Speedway, three wins in the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in California and the Mopar Million at Eldora that paid $200,000 to-win.

The 2009 World of Outlaws season opens on February 6 at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, with the 38th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. For more information on the event, including tickets, visit: www.dirtcarnationals.com.

-credit: woo