Donny Schatz Survives Stockton; Set To Close Out For California Swing Of 2018
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – After losing the Friday night program to Mother Nature, the second time in as many weeks that weather has interfered with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on the West Coast, Donny Schatz’s one-day visit to the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., resulted in a performance outside of the top-ten; his first finish outside of the top-ten in a winged sprint car in 2018.
The driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/No. 15 machine finished 14th on Saturday night during the 30-lap main event, surviving a narrow and rugged, yet quick racing surface to advance two positions after starting 16th. The nine-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion solidified himself on the A-main starting grid by finishing fourth during his respective heat race, after timing 10th during the second segment of qualifying time trials.
“Not our best performance of the year, but we’ll shake this one off and move forward,” Donny Schatz explained, the current World of Outlaws championship point leader. “Surfaces like that can be tricky and don’t really mix well with my driving style. I’m just glad to have Ricky Warner back out on the road with us. He is a big part of this team and we’re sure glad to have him back.”
With the previously scheduled appearance at Placerville (Calif.) Speedway on Wednesday, March 21, postponed until September due to impending weather, Donny Schatz will continue his World of Outlaws championship-seeking campaign on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, with visits to Ocean (Calif.) Speedway and Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway, respectively.
Schatz finished sixth during his most recent visit to Ocean Speedway in 2016, earning a KSE Hard Charger Award in the process for advancing 12 positions. Ironically enough, Schatz also earned a KSE Hard Charger Award during his last visit to Bakersfield Speedway in 2016. The Fargo, N.D., native finished fifth after starting 17th.
