Pair Of World Finals Podiums Not Enough; Donny Schatz Finishes Second For 2019 WoO Title
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Despite ending his 2019 World Finals weekend on an impressive and consistent note, earning back-to-back podium performances at The Dirt Track at Charlotte including a runner-up finish to kick-off the weekend on Friday, November 8, Fargo, North Dakota’s Donny Schatz finished just shy of the ultimate goal and missed attaining an eleventh World of Outlaws championship by four points – the closest championship finish in Series history.
Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/J&J Auto Racing/No. 15 sprint car, finished second and third during his World Finals starts, rallying ahead from sixth to finish second on Friday, followed by a hard-fought battle to third from eighth on Saturday. Considering the championship margin was two points entering the final night of competition at The Dirt Track, Schatz needed to finish at least two positions ahead of championship contender, Brad Sweet, during Saturday’s A-Main to clinch the overall title; Sweet finished second.
“We dug everything we could. I drove it as hard as I could,” Schatz said. “Andy Durham, who built this engine did a great job. He told me earlier tonight, ‘Just run it. Pretend that there’s a fan blade there and you’re trying to trim your toenails.’ I did that. It just wasn’t good enough.”
Not going down without a fight, Schatz did everything he could to find speed during the 30-lap feature program on Saturday, and at one point, drove by Sweet to earn the championship advantage. Unfortunately for Schatz, a slip up the race track while exiting turn four gave Sweet an opening to get back by the ten-time champion.
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing concluded their 2019 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season with a head-turning 65 top-ten feature finishes in 72 feature starts, 48 of which resulting in finishes inside the top-five. In addition, Schatz captured 11 feature victories in 2019, most recently at the ‘Speed Palace’ that is Port Royal Speedway.
