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Haudenschild Holds On For Williams Grove J & S Classics National Open Loot - Bill Balog nearly wins 63rd annual event, Troy Wagaman gets track title

2025-10-05 14:08

Mechanicsburg - Sheldon Haudenschild out-raced Bill Balog to prove triumphant in Saturday night's 40-lap, 63rd annual J & S Classics National Open for World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Williams Grove Speedway.

The prestigious payday was worth $75,000 for the Ohio native in what was his second career win at the historic oval.

Throughout the night, polesitter Bill Balog's No. 17 machine proved to be a few tenths of a second faster than all other cars in action each time he hit the track and his speed was evident.

Both he and Haudenschild started on the front row of the Open with Haudenschild trailing Balog for the first six laps before fourth starter Buddy Kofoid drove into the second spot.

Balog hit traffic with a two second lead on the eighth tour and found his advantage down to just over a second with a quarter of the race completed as heavy traffic was in play.

Third starter Danny Dietrich drove low in the third turn to get third away from Haudenschild on the 13th tour just before Haudenschild took the spot back and the caution flag unfurled for a slowing Connor Morrell.

That yellow with 14 laps down turned red for refueling and Haudenschild capitalized on the restart to get by Kofoid for second before the final caution of the race appeared for a faltering David Gravel on lap 15.

A two-time Open winner, Gravel suddenly slowed in the second turn but then restarted just as suddenly but not before losing several spots.

Danny Dietrich blasted to the outside of Haudenschild and Kofoid in the first corner on the restart and motored into second but Haudenschild was far from backing off for the spot as Kofoid faded.

He dogged Dietrich for the next 12 circuits before battling back into second on the 29th tour before setting his sights on Balog who had again hit the rear of the field two laps earlier.

With 10 laps to go Balog was circling the high cushion with a .694 second lead over the field.

Haudenschild took his first swipe at the leader with seven to go by attempting a low side blast in the third turn that failed to deliver but a lap later Balog tripped on the first turn cushion, giving Haudenschild new life.

Sheldon used the bobble to nose into the lead around the inside only to see Balog muster all of his speed and blow back around as the pair hit the backstretch.

Unbelievably, the next time around Balog did the exact same thing on the cushion as he traversed the first corner and this time when he bobbled up top, Haudenschild got too far around on the inside and Balog wasn't able to repeat his move to again reclaim control.

Haudenschild crossed the line with the lead with four laps to go and Balog in hot pursuit to get the lead back.

With two to go the pair was nose to tail as they passed the flag stand and just after the white flag Balog went for all the marbles.

With every bit of speed he had left in his car Balog thrust his car around the cushion as he blasted through the first and second turns.

And he drew alongside Haudenschild for the win as the duo started down the backstretch.

But Haudenschild used a bit of squeeze play as the pair headed for the bridge, forcing Balog to back out and surrender the top spot yet again.

And then while Haudenschild drove off to the big win Dietrich also got by Balog to finish second.

After starting fifth, Daryn Pittman was a high as third with 10 laps to go before settling for fourth aboard the Kreitz No. 69K.

Kofoid completed the race in the fifth spot.

Sixth through 10th went to Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Chase Dietz, Brent Marks and Ryan Timms.

Troy Wagaman Jr. won the 2025 Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint car track title by virtue of finishing 20th in the field.

Heats went to Gravel, Carson Macedo, Balog and Pittman.

Lance Dewease won the B Main and TJ Stutts won the C Main.

Balog earned the pole for the National Open by winning the dash.

A six-time National Open champion, Donny Schatz won the non-qualifiers race.

Gravel set fast time over the 56-car field for the second night in a row, turning in a lap of 16.687 seconds.

The National Open was the final event on the 2025 schedule at Williams Grove Speedway.

Opening day for the 2026 season is slated for Sunday afternoon, March 22 at 2 pm, featuring the 410 sprint cars.

Feature Finish

10/4/25

410 sprint cars, 25 laps: 1. Sheldon Haudenschild, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Bill Balog, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Buddy Kofoid, 6. David Gravel, 7. Logan Schuchart, 8. Chase Dietz, 9. Brent Marks, 10. Ryan Timms, 11. Carson Macedo, 12. Justin Whittall, 13. Tyler Ross, 14. Gio Scelzi, 15. Justin Peck, 16. Cameron Smith, 17. Lance Dewease, 18. Logan Rumsey, 19. Donny Schatz, 20. Troy Wagaman Jr., 21. Hunter Schuerenberg, 22. Garet Williamson, 23. Gerard McIntyre J r., 24. Brock Zearfoss, 25. Conner Morrell, 26. Lucas Wolfe, 27. Freddie Rahmer

DNQ: Chris Windom, Kody Hartlaub, Cory Eliason, Parker Price Miller, Chad Trout, Matt Campbell, Cole Macedo, TJ Stutts, Austin Bishop, Jordan Thomas, Dylan Cisney, Kerry Madsen, Ryan Newton, Daison Pursley, Ashton Torgerson, Kaleb Johnson, Brent Shearer, Skylar Gee, Dylan Norris, Kyle Spence, Gage Pulkrabek, Samuel Miller, Bill Rose, Zach Hampton, JJ Loss, Doug Hammaker, Devon Borden, Troy Fraker, Olivia Thayer