By Tony Veneziano

Sheldon Haudenschild is one of the few drivers who has been able to slow down Mother Nature this season on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series circuit. 

While rain claimed yet another event this past weekend, Haudenschild scored his third win of the season in the first eight races, which has him tied with nine-time series champion Donny Schatz atop the win list. 

The event at Bakersfield Speedway saw action throughout the field on the third-mile bullring as the Outlaws wrapped up the California portion of their early-season West Coast swing.

Continuing To Shine

Haudenschild continued his amazing start to the season at Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night, charging from the ninth starting spot to take the lead on lap-23 of the 35-lap contest. The sophomore driver then pulled away, withstanding a late-race restart, to win by over 3 1/2 seconds. 

For the 3rd time in 2018, @Haudenschild_17 parks the @NosEnergyDrink @SJMRacing17 in #WoOCraftSCS Victory Lane! This time at @BAKOSPEEDWAY! pic.twitter.com/OIp3DJCBC1

— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) March 25, 2018

Haudenschild had one trying moment in the evening after a heat race spin put him to the tail in that eight-lap event. The native of Wooster, Ohio, quickly proceeded to power his way back into a transfer position and was even challenging for a spot in the dash, when he ran out of laps while running third. 

Haudenschild’s main event win helped him chop 12 points off Schatz’s lead in the standings.

Outlaws At The Front

After California drivers claimed the majority of the top 10 positions in the first two races in the Golden State this season, World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series regulars dominated the top 10 at Bakersfield, taking the win, along with each of the top five spots and eight of the top 10 positions. 

Carson Macedo was the highest-finishing Californian, placing seventh.

On The Podium Again

Shane Stewart earned his second straight podium finish with a runner-up performance at Bakersfield. The driver of the No. 2 machine for Kyle Larson Racing started seventh and used a couple of strong restarts to continue his charge forward as he closes in on his first main event win of the season. 

Stewart has been among the top five in each of the last two races for the series at the third-mile bullring.

Nearly A Clean Sweep

Jason Johnson was looking for a clean sweep of the racing program at Bakersfield Speedway, after setting fast time, winning the first heat race, and winning the dash. The veteran driver started on the pole and led a total of 18 laps on his way to a third-place showing. 

.@JasonJohnsonRac sets #WoOCraftSCS QUICKTIME at @BAKOSPEEDWAY with a lap of 11.271! pic.twitter.com/0Z7SFnCvZM

— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) March 25, 2018

Johnson was out front for the first 14 laps after starting on the pole, before Brad Sweet got around him. Sweet, then had trouble while leading on lap 18, which handed the lead back to Johnson, who was passed by Sheldon Haudenschild a handful of laps later. 

The 2016 winner of the Knoxville Nationals now has six top 10 finishes in the first eight races of the season.

Season-Best Finish

Joey Saldana picked up his best finish of the season at Bakersfield Speedway, crossing the line fifth. The veteran driver lined up 14th and used a couple of strong restarts to help advance his cause. 

Saldana, who is in the midst of his first season driving for the Rudeen Racing team, now has a pair of top 10 finishes in 2018 with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.

Another Top Five

Ian Madsen followed up a season-best finish of second at Stockton on March 17, with another top five finish at Bakersfield Speedway. The Australian started 16th and powered his way to fifth in the 35-lap contest. 

That finish also helped Madsen move into the top 10 in points, where he currently sits ninth.

Hard Charger

Schatz passed more cars than any other driver at Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night. The nine-time and defending series champion started 21st and methodically worked his way forward to finish sixth, which earned him the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. 

Tonight’s #WoOCraftSCS @KSE_Racing Hard Charger was @DonnySchatz coming from 21st to 6th!

— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) March 25, 2018

Schatz leads the series with seven top 10 finishes in the first eight races.

Three For Three

Tim Kaeding picked up another top 10 finish, driving for Jason Sides. The veteran driver has now been among the top 10 in all three of his starts aboard the No. 7S in his home state. 

Kaeding opened the night by turning the second-fastest lap in time trials. He won the second heat race, while Sides, who was third quick in time trials, won the third heat to put both cars in the dash. Kaeding finished fourth in the dash, and Sides crossed the line eighth in that eight-lap contest.

Moving On Up

Daryn Pittman nearly was the Hard Charger at Bakersfield on Saturday night as he romped from the 19th starting spot to finish eighth. The 2013 series champion has picked up three top 10 finishes so far in five races during the West Coast swing and is up to seventh in points. 

Another Tough Break

Brad Sweet had bad luck for the second straight week while running among the top five this past weekend. This time, he was leading and spun, while navigating lapped the traffic. After restarting at the tail of the lead lap he worked his way back to 13th, which helped him remain third in the current series standings.

Your leader @BradSweet49 does a massive wheelie and comes to a stop in turn two with 18 down and 17 to go!

— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) March 25, 2018

Sweet, who had won the previous two World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series races at Bakersfield Speedway led four laps in the middle portion of the race, after a spirited duel with pole sitter Jason Johnson.

Change Of Direction

The Destiny Motorsports and driver Parker Price-Miller team recently announced that they were pulling off the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tour to follow the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions full-time, beginning April 6 at Atomic Speedway in Ohio. The team was 13th in owner points with the Outlaws, while Price-Miller was 14th in driver points. 

Price-Miller finished in the top 10 in each of the first three races for the All Stars at Bubba Raceway Park in Florida last month, including fourth- and fifth-place performances.

Another Win For Mother Nature

Add another to the list of wins for Mother Nature to open the 2018 campaign, as Ocean Speedway on March 23 fell to rain and was not rescheduled. A total of seven of the first 14 races this season have been affected by inclement weather. A trio of those races were re-scheduled, while four were completely canceled.

Points Update

Schatz continues to lead Haudenschild in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series standings, but the margin is now down to 34 points. Sweet is currently third, 30 points behind Haudenschild. 

Stewart is fourth, just two markers behind Sweet. Johnson is fifth, six points behind Stewart. David Gravel currently rides sixth, while Pittman has moved up to seventh. Cory Eliason remains eighth, with Ian Madsen ninth, which is his first time among the top 10 this season. 

Logan Schuchart also broke into the top 10 for the first time in 2018.

Up Next

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series is off this coming weekend for Easter. The series will not have another off weekend until the season ends in early November. Next on the docket is a visit to Arizona Speedway on Saturday, April 7.