(Photo: Donny Schatz during action in California – Matt Hill Credit)
Donny Schatz survives Stockton; Ocean and Bakersfield to close out first California swing of 2018
Dates: March 17th
Event: FVP Platinum Battery Western Spring Shootout
Series: World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series
Track: Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, Calif.)
Donny Schatz A-Main Finish (Start): 14th (16th)
World of Outlaws Championship Standings (as of 3/17): 1st – 1004 points (46-point margin over second place, Sheldon Haudenschild)
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (March 19, 2018) – 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.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Fans are encouraged to follow the progress of Schatz, Tony Stewart Racing and the No. 15 Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/J&J Auto Racing motorsports team on the Web and on social media. More information can be found at www.tonystewartracing.com, as well as at www.donnyschatzmotorsports.com.
Tony Stewart Racing: Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing or on Twitter and Instagram @TonyStewart_Rcg.
Donny Schatz: Facebook at www.facebook.com/DonnySchatz or on Twitter and Instagram @DonnySchatz.
Watch Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing live on www.dirtvision.com during each and every World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event in 2018.
| 2018 Donny Schatz / Tony Stewart Racing Statistics: (thru 3/17/2018) |
| Total Races: 9 |
| Total Wins: 5 |
| Total Top-5s: 8 |
| Total Top-10s: 8 |
| World of Outlaws Races: 7 |
| World of Outlaws Wins: 3 |
| World of Outlaws Top-5s: 6 |
| World of Outlaws Top-10s: 6 |
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CONTACT:
Tyler Altmeyer
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com