Donny Schatz Scores A Second In WoO Sprints Morgan Cup Finale At The Grove; NJ Start Ahead
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Donny Schatz’ visit to the Keystone State gradually improved as the extended weekend progressed, first earning a KSE Hard Charger Award during competition at Lincoln Speedway by improving the most feature positions, followed by a pair of top-ten performances at the world-famous Williams Grove Speedway, one of which a podium run during the $12,000-to-win Morgan Cup finale.
Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 15 sprint car, kicked off his week in Pennsylvania Posse Country by finishing 11th during the Gettysburg Clash at the ‘Fabulous’ Lincoln Speedway on Wednesday, May 15. Although the result snapped Schatz’ 14-race top-ten streak, the 11th place performance did commence from the inside of row 13. Schatz was forced to utilize a World of Outlaws provisional starting position after not qualifying for main event competition through the evening’s Last Chance Showdown, ultimately setting up his KSE Hard Charger performance.
The Fargo, North Dakota-native continued his trek through Pennsylvania with the two-day Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday and Saturday, May 17 & 18. Schatz finished eighth and second, respectively, during The Grove doubleheader, nearly attaining this third victory of the 2019 season during Saturday’s Morgan Cup finale.
After starting from the pole position, Schatz earned the initial jump and led the first 12 circuits, keeping a pair of local favorites, Lance Dewease and Danny Dietrich, at bay as the laps counted down. Unfortunately for Schatz, lapped traffic proved to be his demise, as Dewease soon caught the tail tank of the ten-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, eventually sneaking underneath Schatz as the pair battled through turns three and four on lap 13. Despite losing the top spot, Schatz kept pace and maintained the second position until the final checkers flew.
Schatz earned his main event pole position by way of heat race victory, soon followed by a dash triumph.
“Lance [Dewease] was really good here tonight. He was better than us and that’s all there is to it,” Donny Schatz said at Williams Grove Speedway, who is currently on top of the World of Outlaws championship standings by a margin of 26 points. “Hats off to this Tony Stewart Racing team. I haven’t felt good at Williams Grove Speedway in a long time, but tonight I felt really good. I’m happy for them and I’m happy for their efforts. We’ll keep working hard and move forward from here.”
Donny Schatz will continue his 2019 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with a full slate of action through Memorial Day weekend, first visiting Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, N.J., on Tuesday, May 21, followed by a doubleheader at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C., on Friday and Saturday, May 24 & 25. The busy week will cap off with a Monday night visit to Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway on Monday, May 27.
Fans are reminded that Donny Schatz will appear at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in Kannapolis, N.C., on Thursday, May 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Schatz will sign autographs, take photos with customers and will be joined at SHR by his traveling merchandise trailer which will be open for the duration of the event.
