The Wild Child Holds Off Lee and Dean Jacobs for All Star Win at Mercer

Jac Haudenschild in Victory Lane at Mercer.

The race may have been held in Mercer County Pennsylvania Saturday night, but it was three drivers from Wayne County Ohio who stole the show and it was Jac Haudenschild taking home the $5,000 All Star Circuit of Champions victory.

He was joined on the podium by Lee and Dean Jacobs and all three drivers grew up in the same part of central Ohio.

"It was special to have that happen tonight," Haudenschild said. "I drove to the races this weekend with Lee. Them Jacobs boys are tough."

Haudenschild and Trey Gustin brought the 25 car field to green for the 30 lap main event.The driver of the Destiny Motorsports 9w got the early jump and third starting Lee Jacobs got by Gustin to move into second. Sixth starting Dean Jacobs made a move on Gustin shortly after that to take over the third spot. 

On the fifth lap of the race Gustin and Rod George were battling for the fourth spot when they made contact in turn two causing George to spin to a stop which brought out the first yellow of the night.

On the restart Danny Holtgraver, who was looking for his seventh win in his last seven starts at Mercer Raceway Park, got by Gustin to move into fourth.

Haudenschild pulled away from the other top runners, but when he got into heavy lapped traffic just past the halfway mark of the race, Lee Jacobs started reeling him in. The driver of the 81 Simcox Grinding and Steel backed sprinter would get to within a car length of Haudenschild with six laps remaining. 

"The traffic was tough tonight," Haudenschild said. "We had a good race track tonight and you could race all over it. It helped us get through traffic really well."

Lee Jacobs looked like he was ready to battle it out with Haudenschild for the win, but trouble on both sides of the speedway brought out a yellow with five laps remaining. Scott Priester, who was the fourth fastest qualifier, lost a left rear wheel in turns 3/4 and Holtgraver blew a right rear tire forcing him to stop in turn 1. Preister was done for the night, but Holtgraver's crew was able to make repairs to his 10h machine and he was able to restart.

"We didn't want to see that caution," Lee Jacobs said. "I think it might have hurt us because we were getting close to (Haudenschild) in lapped traffic. I am happy for Jac though. It is pretty cool that three guys from Wayne County Ohio can come to Pennsylvania and run one, two, and three. It was great racing with those guys tonight." 

When the green flag waved for the restart Haudenschild was able to use the clear track to his advantage and pulled away to get his first All Stars victory of 2014. It was his 27th career victory with the series.

"It is good to start up front and have a clean race track," Haudenschild said. "The Rick Rogers car felt good tonight and we were able to lead the whole thing."

Lee Jacobs took second, followed by his uncle Dean, 11th starting Dale Blaney, who started off the night by setting a new track record in qualifying at 13.558, and Ed Lynch, Jr.

For Lee Jacobs it was a more that satisfying weekend.

"I am really thrilled with the way things are going right now," Lee Jacobs said. "My cousin Cody is giving me a really good race car. This was one heck of a weekend for us." 

Dean Jacobs, Lee Jacobs, and George took the heats. 

Michael Bauer Picked up the Win in the 305 Outlaw Sprint Warrior Division.

In the 305 Sprint Outlaw Warriors it was defending track champ Michael Bauer picking up the victory. He made a lap 14 pass on the 88 of Greg Dobrosky to move into first and secure the win.. CJ Jones was third, followed by George Hobaugh and Cody Bova.

Tim Bish held off veteran Rusty Moore to score the win in the Stocks Curt Bish took third, Lernerville regular Rob Shook was fourth and Bill Hurrelbrink rounded out the top five. 

Jeff Teeters won the mod lite class to finish off the night.

All Star Sprint Results

1. 9w  Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH

2. 81   Lee Jacobs, Dalton, OH

3. 97   Dean Jacobs, Wooster, OH

4. 14k Dale Blaney, Hartford, OH

5. 2L   Ed Lynch, Jr, Apollo, PA

6. 45   Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA

7. 80   Trey Gustin, West Union, OH

8. 63   Chad Kemenah, Anada, OH

9. 49   Cole Duncan, Lockbourne, OH

10. 40 Caleb Helms, Findlay, OH

11. 23jr Jack Sodeman, Jr, North Jackson, OH

12. 08  Dan Kuriger, Monaca, PA

13. 5k  Adam Kekich, Hermitage, PA

14. 13  Brandon Matus, Wampum, PA

15. 10h Danny Holtgraver, Pittsburgh, PA

16. 57x Andrew Palker, West Salem, OH

17. 8     Rod George, Kittanning, PA

18. 56   Ralph Spithaler, Evans City, PA

19. 7     Eric Williams, Greenville, PA

20. 49h Brad Howard, State College, PA

21. 2s   Francis Sesco, New Bethlehem, PA

22. 38   Dennis Wagner, Pulaski, PA

23. 33   Brent Matus, Wampum, PA

24. 15   Scott Priester, Rimersburg, PA

25. 10   Carl Bowser, Sarver, PA

Lap Leaders- Haudenschild 1-30

Fast Qualifer- Blaney

Heat Winners- Lee Jacobs, Dean Jacobs, George

Dash Winner- Haudenschild