Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Despite a last minute Covid-19-induced schedule change that sent the Greatest Show On Dirt back to the Sunshine State rather than venture across the United States for a full slate on the west coast, ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, Donny Schatz, was unrattled by the disturbance and continued his consistent ways, this time nailing down back-to-back top-fives during visits to Volusia Speedway Park and East Bay Raceway Park on March 5-6.
Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Carquest Auto Parts/Curb Records/Ford Performance/Sage Fruit/Digital Ally/Advance Auto Parts/Rush Truck Centers/Absolute Automation and Security/Hunt Brothers Pizza/J&J Auto Racing/No. 15 sprint car, finished fourth during each of his top-five appearances highlighted with a four-spot jump at Volusia to kick-off the weekend on Friday. A third-place run during his respective heat race set the tone for the remainder of the evening.
The following night at East Bay, the first Outlaw visit to the Tampa-area venue in nearly 40 years, Schatz finished exactly where he started, but the Fargo, North Dakota-native was a force the entire distance. The ten-time Series champion raced as high as second during the evening’s main event, battling hard with defending Outlaw champion, Brad Sweet, and current Series point leader, Carson Macedo. The end result was Schatz’ third top-five result in four World of Outlaws starts.
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing will continue their 2021 campaign with a two-race sweep through Mississippi and Louisiana, first visiting Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi, on Friday, March 12, followed by action at The Rev – Revolution Park Speedway – in Monroe, Louisiana, on Saturday, March 13.
Schatz will enter the upcoming events tied for fourth in the current World of Outlaws standings, just 24-points shy of the championship lead. If a victory can be secured during the coming weekend, it will push Schatz to the 300 mark on the all-time Series win list, a threshold only two other drivers have surpassed in World of Outlaws history.