Donny Schatz Highlights Recent WoO Stretch With Good Finish In Pevely
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Nine-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, Donny Schatz, earned back-to-back top-ten finishes with the Greatest Show On Dirt during the recent weekend, highlighting the two-race stretch with a podium run on the highbanks of Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri.
For Schatz, the pair of top-ten finishes propels his World of Outlaws top-ten count to 10 in 11 starts, still maintaining a grasp on the World of Outlaws championship lead by 72 markers over Wooster, Ohio, native, Sheldon Haudenschild.
Schatz, pilot of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/No. 15 sprint car, launched the recent weekend with a visit to the Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. As the result of his qualifying time, 20th fastest overall, and a fourth place finish during his respective heat race, the Fargo, N.D., native was forced to start deep within the field, ultimately advancing from the outside of row eight to finish eighth in just 40 circuits.
Nearly dominating the entire program on Saturday night at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, Donny Schatz set the second fastest time during his respective group of qualifying time trials, won his heat race, and won the Craftsman Club Dash, all before finishing second during the 40-lap main event.
Schatz, who started from the pole-position due to his dash victory, faded as far back as fifth after the initial green, but recovered in the closing circuits to secure the runner-up spot. A late-caution with five circuits remaining gave Schatz one last opportunity to retake command, but the thin, narrow lane around the bottom of speedway made it too difficult to squeeze underneath race leader, Daryn Pittman.
“I think we had something for Daryn (Pittman) at the end, but we ran out of time and race track,” Donny Schatz explained about his I-55 start. “When the track gets locked-down like that, you are pretty much bound to one lane. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the start that we needed so we had to dig ourselves out of a hole. Regardless, another great effort by this No. 15 team. We’ll keep digging and try again in Texas.”
Schatz was scheduled to compete with the World of Outlaws at the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., on Sunday, April 22, but inclement weather just before hot laps forced the program to be cancelled.
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing will continue their 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series campaign with a trio of starts in the Lone Star State, ready to do battle during three events in four days beginning Wednesday evening at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas. Schatz will conclude his final Texas visit of the season with the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite on Friday and Saturday, April 27-28.
