MORE than three decades after winning the second of his two Lucas Oil Grand Annual Sprintcar Classics, American Jac Haudenschild craves another one.
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Haudenschild was nicknamed the baby-faced assassin when he raced away to win the 1981 Classic as a 22-year-old. He backed up the win the following year in an equally dominant fashion.
But as fast as he won the adulation of the Australian sprintcar world, he was out of sight, staying at home in Wooster, Ohio, carving out a successful career. He was a star on the World of Outlaws tour, consistently running in the top 10 with a career-best second in the overall standings as well as tens of feature wins.
Such is his record, which has included more than 20 A main wins at Knoxville and the track championship, the man known as the Wild Child, was inducted into the National Sprintcar Hall of Fame in 2009.
Tonight the 56-year-old returns to the Classic for the first time since his back-to-back triumphs in an era Americans dominated. While he admits there is a nostalgic element to walking through the Premier Speedway pits, he leaves you in no doubt this is far from a holiday.
"It would be great to come and win the Classic again," he said.
"That's what I'm here for.
"I hope I can beat them again."
Haudenschild said he wanted to return to the Classic much earlier but the demands of a year-round racing schedule back home had prevented him.
He said in the years after his Classic triumphs, he had to concentrate on securing and then holding down drives in America.
But the Classic held a special place in his heart.
"It definitely helped me back home (winning the Classic)," he said. "I was a pretty young driver and the experience I got out here definitely helped me when I got back home."
Haudenschild has no regrets.
He is loving being back Down Under and has his 21-year-old son Sheldon with him. While Haudenschild is looking to preserve a 100 per cent strike at the Classic, Sheldon is lining up to make his Premier Speedway debut.
Haundenschild senior is grateful for the support of American car owner Bernie Stuebgen and sponsor Essendon Ford's Dave Dickson for putting together his package.
"We've had a ton of guys help us, the support has been amazing," he said.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au