Familiar Names Complete Tony Stewart Racing’s 2025 Crew Lineup
Donny Schatz and the No. 15 To Chase 11th Title with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Jan. 4, 2025) – With the start of a new year, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Sprint Car will see new faces step into crew roles as the team kicks-off its 25th season in 2025. While the driver behind the wheel remains the same as 10-Time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series (WoO) Champion Donny Schatz returns to the No. 15 entry for a run at his 11th series title, the team will host a mix of familiar and new faces behind the wrenches.
Five-year TSR veteran Todd Devnich will step into the role of crew chief for the No. 15 team, marking his first season as the team’s leader. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., Devnich’s roots in racing span nearly 30 years. Cutting his teeth in sprint car racing in the late 1990s, Devnich started his professional racing career working for legendary car owner Craig Cormack on the No. 1BK entry in 1997. Working with Schatz for the 1998, 1999 and 2000 WoO seasons on his family owned team, Devnich was part of the team when Schatz picked up his first career WoO series victory at Cottage Grove (Ore.) Speedway in 1998. He continued to grow his experience from 2000 to 2004 while working for the Elden Racing sprint car team.
In 2004, Devnich moved to North Carolina to work for Evernham Motorsports alongside another familiar name and TSR alum, Rick Warner. When Warner decided to return to his sprint car roots, Devnich assumed the role of car chief for Evernham Motorsports, working with drivers such as Kasey Kahne and Bill Elliott. In 2012, Devnich’s career saw him move to Hendrick Motorsports, where he worked as a car chief in the NASCAR Cup Series ranks until deciding to return to his dirt racing roots in 2020 when he came to TSR in the role of car chief on the No. 14 winged sprint car entry of Tony Stewart.
While he’s no stranger to racing of all forms, Devnich is relishing the opportunity to work with Schatz in the capacity of crew chief.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of stepping into the role of crew chief, especially getting to do so with a driver of Donny Schatz’s caliber and with a team like Tony Stewart Racing,” Devnich said.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with many crew chiefs across the sport who’ve served as mentors, such as Dave Yingst, Steve Swenson, Rick Warner, Kenny Francis and Keith Rodden just to name a few. They were great to learn from and provided a solid foundation of knowledge that I’m fortunate to have had exposure to.
“It’s going to be a new challenge and one that I’m ready to tackle head on every day. I also appreciate the confidence that Tony [Stewart] and Donny [Schatz] have that I’m up to the task as we take on the 2025 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule.”
Joining TSR in the car chief role on the No. 15 entry for this season will be long-time sprint car industry veteran Gary Patellaro. Hailing from San Jose, Calif., and known as “Woodman” throughout the team ranks, Patellaro got his introduction to the sport via his uncle, the late Billy Albini, a respected west coast crew chief. Starting his career in the sport in 1988, Patellaro worked alongside Albini as part of the dynastic Brent Kaeding Racing team in California for nearly a decade. Following a hiatus from the late 1990s to 2010, Patellaro reentered the sprint car racing scene in 2010 working with the Kaeding and Brian Matherly owned teams on the west coast.
Working his way through the national team ranks, Patellaro spent time with Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) on the No. 9 entry alongside drivers Daryn Pittman, Kahne and McFadden. In 2021, Patellaro moved to the Roth Motorsports No. 83 team with McFadden as they competed with both the WoO Sprint Series and High Limit Racing Series through the 2024 racing season.
In the role of tire specialist for TSR this season, Nebraska newcomer Ian Lyon will join the No. 15 team. Having spent most of his life around the sport, Lyon comes to TSR with a background in 360ci and 410ci winged sprint car racing. Lyon’s experience includes time spent working with driver Don Droud, Jr., as he competed at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway and with various series throughout the Midwest.
Committing to the 2025 WoO Sprint Car Series, Schatz and the No. 15 team will commence the season at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., on Feb. 5 – 8 as the series roars back to action for four nights of racing to open the DIRTcar Nationals. For those who can’t make the journey to the Sunshine State, DIRTvision will provide coverage of every lap from Florida as well as every other series event in 2025. For more information regarding DIRTvision, please visit www.dirtvision.com.
For details pertaining to the WoO Sprint Car Series, please visit www.worldofoutlaws.com. For event information, gate times and ticket prices for the DIRTcar Nationals, please visit www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com and www.dirtcarnationals.com. For more information regarding Donny Schatz, please visit www.donnyschatzmotorsports.com.
About Tony Stewart Racing Sprint Car
Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is the multi-title winning sprint car team owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. Since its inception in 2001, the organization has captured 27 owners’ titles – 14 in USAC, nine in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series, and six in the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget Racing Series. From its headquarters in Brownsburg, Indiana, TSR fields the No. 15 sprint car for 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz on the full World of Outlaws schedule, as well as in other select sprint car races throughout the United States. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.TonyStewartRacing.com and on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok. #25In25
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