Jac Haudenschild

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FEATURE

SPRINTS

JAC HAUDENSCHILD

A FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

By Ashley Zimmerman

ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS

about dirt track racing is that the heroes walk among us. In sprint car racing, for decades we have been blessed to hear Johnny Gibson thrill us with the emotion that comes from the announcement of “The Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild exploding on to the track, blowing fans away with the on the edge of out of control Haud line. Photo: Paul Arch

Sadness and nostalgia linger as the Wild Child embarks on closing the chapter of his story as the hero who walks amongst to the legend that paved roads. There is no proper sendoff that encompasses the moments that earned Jac Haudenschild hero status amongst his fans, but there are many landmark moments in sprint car racing’s beautiful tapestry where the Wild Child was the color and the show. We quizzed him on his career and his farewell and let him share his own thoughts.

JAC HAUDENSCHILD

KNOXVILLE NATIONALS MEMORIES

I ran second - the best I did at the Knoxville Nationals. The last few years, you know, we haven’t had the best luck, but that would be the one that everyone wants to win. I definitely would have loved to win the nationals. Winning would mean the world to me. I’ve won a lot of big races everywhere else but, it would mean the world to me. All the great drivers won there, and it would be great to be included in that. My most memorable Nationals would be the year I took second. They had four outlaw races there that year and I won all four races and then I got second at Nationals. That was kind of a bummer. I don’t even know who won that, I’m not sure if it was Danny [Lasoski] or who, but we had close run there.

BEST PART OF THE NATIONALS

My favorite part of Nationals is all of the good fans there. They always have big crowds there and it’s definitely a highlight. Knoxville is always challenging because most of the races have been Photo: Paul Arch

Perfecting the Haud line at Limaland! Photo: Mike Campbell

JAC HAUDENSCHILD

Strapped in at the Grove during the 1985 season. Photo: Paul Arch

Cashing $200,000 of Baltes cash at the Mopar Million. Photo: Paul Arch won on the bottom there. It’s a tough track there to hit the bottom on. It’s a really challenging track because you have to be able to move all around and work really well running the bottom.

COMING TO TERMS WITH NOT WINNING NATIONALS

There are a lot of emotions in my last year, all of these tracks that I’m going to, it’s my last time being there. It’s pretty emotional. I ran good there for quite a few Nationals, just no excuses, I just didn’t get it done. I feel bad you know, you definitely want to win that race because it’s the biggest race there is. I feel bad that I never got to win.

PARTING WORDS TO FANS

I’ve been lucky enough to have the best fans in the world and I just want to thank them for being such great fans and coming to all of the races the whole time.

ON WATCHING SON SHELDON COMPETE

It’ll be fun, even though it’s hard for me to watch him. I never got nervous racing myself or anything, but definitely when I watch him, you just want him to do good, so bad, it’s really nerve wracking watching him. It’s hard for me to watch. Everyone says he’s a little smoother than I was but it definitely makes me nervous.

RACING WITH SHELDON

I don’t think much about it when I’m

Wheels up on the Jamie Miller 6 at Limaland in 2011. Photo: Paul Arch

racing. I race him like I’d race with anybody else. I pretty much block it out that he’s my boy when we’re racing together.

LONG-TIME CAR OWNER JACK ELDEN (#22)

Jack was a great car owner. I was with Jack for nine years, and he was like a second dad to me. He always gave me the best equipment I could ask for. The whole family treated me like a son.

ON WINNING THE MILLION

I’ll never forget that one. It was the biggest non wing race there was; it was a race I’ll never forget. I think Stevie Smith ran second.

OLD DAYS WITH THE OUTLAWS

You couldn’t ask for racing with a better series all of those years I raced with the World of Outlaws. You know, we raced 80-100 races a year, I raced with all of the best guys in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was my favorite place to race.

ELDORA

Eldora was my favorite race track. I started racing there when I was 18. It’s definitely my favorite place to race. I just always liked the high banks there. Back in Roth’s Beef Packers ride. Photo: Dennis Krieger

LIFE WITH WIFE PATTY ON THE ROAD

Life with Patty is great. You know she marketed my t-shirts better than anybody ever did. We traveled for years up and

A pair of Outlaws - Sheldon and Jac. Photo: Mike Campbell

Looking sporty at Port Royal in 2018. Photo: John Rothermel

Dennis Roth hired the Wild Child many times during his long career. Photo: Mike Campbell

A huge win at lifelong friend Brad Doty’s Classic in 2007. Photo: Mike Campbell

Ohio’s greatest export winning one at his homestate’s Millstream Speedway. down the road with our kids and raised our kids in the motorhome. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

INDUCTION INTO NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAME

That was a big deal but you know you’re getting old when that happens. It was a big honor to get inducted into the whole thing.

WHY NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME

I’ve been running my own car for the last few years, and I was pretty much over doing that. I didn’t want to do that again this year. I talked to Rico Abreu and he said he would run me some races this year if I wanted to run for him. So, it was a perfect opportunity for me to park my car and run for him whenever he wants to race.

IS THIS REALLY, REALLY IT?

Yeah, it’s definitely my farewell tour. Rico raced with Sheldon, and I can remember Rico just starting out in California when I was out there. He was always a big fan of mine, and then after I got to watch him race, I was a big fan of his. Then he ended up hiring me after that. He’s a great guy and a great driver.

Hanging out at Knoxville with daughter Raquel and future daughter-in-law Zan. Photo: Mike Campbell