Donny Schatz Sweeps #LetsRaceTwo Weekend At Eldora Speedway
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Continuing his impressive march toward a tenth World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship, Fargo, North Dakota’s Donny Schatz went two for three during his recent three-race stretch with The Greatest Show On Dirt, sweeping #LetsRaceTwo weekend at the world-famous Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, followed by an impressive charge from 12th to finish fifth at the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana.
For Schatz, the pair of victories at “The Big E” bumped his World of Outlaws win total to eight in 2018, continuing a spectacular display of consistency that now includes 18 top-ten finishes in 19 World of Outlaws starts.
Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/No. 15 sprint car, kicked-off his weekend at Eldora Speedway with a victory on Friday evening, May 11. After starting third on the feature grid by way of dash result, the nine-time and defending World of Outlaws champion worked his way to the front of the field by lap 13, actually inheriting the top spot after race leader, Aaron Reutzel, made contact with the turn one wall, eventually sending the Texas native on a wild ride.
Schatz’s performance at Eldora Speedway on Saturday was nearly perfect, not only leading 26 of the 30 circuits to claim a second consecutive $10,000 payday, but setting up his pole position with a heat race victory and a dash victory, each after setting the third fastest time during qualifying time trials.
Although not ending his night on top of the podium at Tri-State Speedway, Schatz displayed patience and perseverance, ultimately ending his campaign at the high-paced, high-banked, quarter-mile oval with a top-five finish after starting 12th. Schatz started mid-pack after finishing third during his respective heat race.
“To put together a weekend like that says so much about this race team. I’m privileged to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of guys. They make my job look easy, that is for sure,” Donny Schatz said. “Our goal at the beginning of the year was to put ourselves in a position to win every race. I think we’ve been close to that. Another championship is our long term goal, but for now we are focused on winning races.”
Up next on the schedule, Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing will make their first Pennsylvania appearance of the 2018 season, joining the notorious Pennsylvania Posse during visits to Lincoln Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Schatz, certainly no stranger to winning in the Keystone State, will begin his first Central Pennsylvania swing of the year with a stop at Lincoln Speedway for the Gettysburg Clash on Wednesday, May 16. The weekend will conclude with the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday and Saturday, May 18-19. The weekend finale at The Grove will award a $12,000 top prize, as well as a $5,000 bonus for claiming the Morgan Cup trophy.
