Series Pevely spotlight - Jac Haudenschild

A Thrilling Combination: Jac Haudenschild Looks Ahead to I-55 Raceway this Weekend

Pevely, MO - April 16, 2010- I-55 Raceway has been considered one of the most exciting tracks on the World of Outlaws circuit for quite a few years, while Jac Haudenschild has long been one of the most thrilling drivers each and every time he takes to the track, especially on high-banked bullrings like Pevely. When the Hall of Famer takes to the track at I-55 Raceway, which is located just outside of St. Louis, he always puts on a good show, no matter where he lines up in the field.

Haudenschild has raced quite a few times at I-55 Raceway over the years with the World of Outlaws. In fact, he has made the second most starts of all the drivers competing full-time with the series this season at the high-banked 1/3-mile and has had quite a bit of success as well at the track over the years. He is currently second on the win list at the track among active drivers with the series and is also second in Top-10 finishes at the track as well as Top-Fives, dating back to the series inaugural event at I-55 Raceway back in 1987.

He will have a chance to race this weekend at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri, which will host the World of Outlaws later this season in the second edition of the Ironman 55. The event this weekend on Saturday, April 17 will be the only tune-up this season for the series at I-55 Raceway as they gear up for the grueling 55-lap contest in early August.

"Pevely is a high-banked track and a pretty racy race track," Haudenschild said. "The banking always makes for good racing and we just enjoy going there. It's usually pretty tacky and good racing there."

The veteran driver competed in the first ever World of Outlaws race at I-55 Raceway in 1987, finishing fourth. He has three career wins with the series at the high-banked bullring, with the first of those coming in 1999. He followed that up the next year with a win and also was victorious in 2002. He has 23 career Top-10 finishes at the track with the World of Outlaws, with an average finish of 7.4 in 28 starts, which is second to only 20-time series champion Steve Kinser.

"Usually in the spring, the track is a little tackier and not quite as slick," explained Haudenschild. "It can get a little choppy, but it seems like every time we go there it's good racing and I would imagine it will be the same this time."

Haudenschild has been fast all season aboard the Owens-Corning Fiberglass XXX, with bad luck cutting short a couple of Top-Five runs and several other strong performances. He has raced his way into the dash five times in the first 10 races to earn Top-10 starting spots in feature events. He led 10 laps at Lone Star Speedway in Texas last month before getting shuffled back on a late race restart as he continues to close in on his first win of the 2010 campaign.

"We've been pretty good and the car has been pretty fast," he noted. "Hopefully we can get up there and get a win before too long."

He is looking forward to the World of Outlaws schedule picking up in the next couple of weeks. Last weekend's race in Oklahoma marked the first of 18 consecutive weekends of racing for the series. That stretch of racing will wrap up with the second edition of the Ironman 55 at I-55 Raceway on August 6-7, making this weekend's event important to get a good baseline for when the series returns for that event.

"It always helps the more you can race," shared the native of Wooster, Ohio. "You can get the set-up down then and everyone starts to gel more. The more we race, the better I like it."

Haudenschild is currently ninth in the World of Outlaws championship standings on the strength of three Top-10 finishes, with a best finish of third at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California last month. He is currently less than 80 points out of the sixth position as he continues his third season driving for the Carnahan Motorsports team with veteran Crew Chief Leonard Lee turning the wrenches.

"We just have to make sure the car is running good and Leonard (Lee) has been doing a good job of that this season," said Haudenschild when asked what will make it a good spring and summer. "I think we'll be good and if we can pick up a few wins, it will be a good stretch of races for us."

On Saturday, April 17 at I-55 Raceway, reserved tickets will be $32 with general admission tickets $30, while children ages 12-under will be admitted free of charge in the general admission section. For ticket information call the track at 636-479-3219 or visit www.i55raceway.com.

-source: WoO