Alex Nieten (World of Outlaws PR) – Photos by Kole Esterly
The opening act for the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s couldn’t have gone any better.
The sport’s biggest event delivered a finish that’ll never be forgotten to open the week as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series rolled into Knoxville Raceway for BRANDT Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night on Wednesday.
Sheldon Haudenschild looked like he had no shot as James McFadden and Jace Park raced into the final set of corners nose to tail. McFadden went low, and Park changed course at the last second and aimed at the top. McFadden slipped up off the low side while third-running Haudenschild stuck the bottom to perfection. He rolled by Park halfway through the turns and pulled alongside McFadden as they exited Turn 4 with the checkered flag waving ahead.
The two drag raced side by side all the way down the front straightaway as the entire grandstands rose to their feet. Neither could pull ahead as they both had the gas pedal mashed down. They crossed the line in a photo finish with Haudenschild pulling off a miracle and winning by .006 seconds. The jaws of everyone in at Knoxville were on the floor. How did he do it? Holy Haud.
“I never count myself out, that’s for sure,” Haudenschild said. “Man, hats off to (Kyle) Ripper, Adam (Clark), and Dauson (Heitritter). The 28 and the 21 got to playing a couple games on the white flag. I saw the 21 cut down real hard. I knew he probably lost a little bit of momentum. Then he slid across the track, and I was like, ‘Man, if I could get my right rear where I’ve been putting it, I think I will have a shot as long as they don’t close that gap too soon.’”
The thrilling score gave Haudenschild his second career Knoxville victory, adding it to a 2021 local win. Most importantly, the Wooster, OH native and the KCP Racing crew are atop the event points and very likely to be starting in at least the top two rows for Saturday’s 50-lap Championship Feature.
James McFadden suffered a tough loss, but it was still a great result for the Tarlton Racing team as their runner-up also slotted them second in points.
“It’s just racing mate,” McFadden said. “The lapped car had hit the bottom every lap before, and he missed it and I chose the wrong lane and allowed Sheldon to get there. I’m just disappointed in myself for not slowing down for the bottom and following the lapped car. Great night for us, sitting good in points.”
Jace Park rounded out the podium after leading the most laps, falling just two spots short of his first 410 Sprint Car win on a massive stage.
Cole Macedo and Chase Dietz rounded out the top five.
FEATURE RESULTS:
NOS Energy Drink Feature (25 Laps): 1. 18-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 2. 21T-James McFadden[6]; 3. 28-Jace Park[1]; 4. 2C-Cole Macedo[3]; 5. 23D-Chase Dietz[4]; 6. 11-Justin Henderson[5]; 7. 42-Sye Lynch[2]; 8. 4-Kasey Kahne[8]; 9. 3P-Sawyer Phillips[12]; 10. 25-Jy Corbet[11]; 11. 14-Corey Day[24]; 12. 2-David Gravel[23]; 13. 53-Jack Dover[20]; 14. 14TSR-Rico Abreu[21]; 15. 22-Riley Goodno[17]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III[13]; 17. 24T-Christopher Thram[18]; 18. 6T-Zach Hampton[10]; 19. 51-Steven Snyder Jr[16]; 20. 17GP-Brock Zearfoss[19]; 21. 45X-Rees Moran[14]; 22. 11N-Darin Naida[15]; 23. 27A-Emerson Axsom[22]; 24. 10-Ryan Timms[9]
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