While one World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car driver has been the jewel in the crown of this series over the last couple of weeks, this weekend’s barn burner at the 42nd Annual Jackson Nationals gave another young driver the opportunity to earn his own crown jewels at Jackson Motorplex. While wins like the one that Logan Schuchart raced to on Saturday night eluded him throughout the 2019 season, fending off an assault of slide jobs and dive bombs throughout the 35-lap Feature to grab one of his most impressive wins of the 2020 season as well as the $30,000 prize that came with it.
Entering Saturday night as the series points leader, the Hanover, PA driver and his Shark Racing team began this weekend’s finale race in the runner up position behind the No. 83 of Daryn Pittman after finishing second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass King of the Hill Dash. Placing the two most impressive drivers of the weekend alongside one another gave series points leader Schuchart a chance to dart ahead of Pittman on the first lap, bringing two-time and defending Jackson Nationals champion Brad Sweet and Sheldon Haudenschild along with him.
Following this pass, the battle for the race lead became one that fans are sure to be talking about for years to come. In fact, the lead officially changed six times throughout this event – not counting every time Schuchart, Sweet and Haudenschild swapped the lead before crossing the finish line.
The first of these passes would take place on Lap 10 when the No. 17 of Sheldon Haudenschild would drive his way past Schuchart in lapped traffic. That is until a red flag put Haudenschild and Schuchart side by side on the restart. Unwilling to give up on the opportunity to lose out on winning one of the biggest crown jewel events of the season, Schuchart timed the restart perfect and powered his way around the outside of Haudenschild to reclaim the lead. The driver who was just as hungry for the victory charged his way back around Schuchart the next lap.
By Lap 13 Schuchart threw in an impressive slide job going into Turn 1 and reclaimed the lead and was able to pull away, running the high line. Haudenschild fell victim to Sweet, as well. With Schuchart in the lead, Sweet second and Haudenschild third, the three drivers ran single file around the top of the track for about the next 10 laps.
As this race wound down Schuchart once again caught slower traffic, which gave Sweet and Haudenschild a chance to reel in the race leader. While the three drivers swapped lanes every corner to try and get an advantage on the other, Haudenschild and Sweet almost made contact exiting Turn 4, forcing Haudenschild over the cushion with eight laps to go, which caused the driver to fall to the clutches of Pittman, while Sweet went after Schuchart.
Although Sweet put up one heck of a fight, Schuchart edged him for the lead on Lap 29 and never looked back for one of the biggest wins of his career.
“This win is so awesome,” said Schuchart. “Both myself and my team have been so close to crown jewel wins like this so many times and to finally get this huge win during these trying times with everything that’s going on is so great for both myself and our team.”
Now, with a crown jewel win under his beat, Schuchart said it only gives he and his team more confidence going forward this year.
“It is tough to race against talented competition like Sweet and Haudenschild, so we still have some work to do to continue taking down some of the best cars ever on this tour,” said Schuchart.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returns to Cedar Lake Speedway for the upcoming three-day Independence Day mega event, July 2-4, alongside the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models, which will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. Stay tuned to RacingJunk.com for the latest news from the dirt.
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