News Director 
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Achieving success his first night out, ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, Donny Schatz opened his 2022 campaign with a trip to the top of the podium, scoring a victory during the first of three nights of DIRTcar Nationals competition at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida, on Thursday, February 10.
Mastering adverse track conditions as the result of wet weather leading up to the DIRTcar Nationals, and forced to outduel late challenges from defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, Schatz led all 25 circuits aboard the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Advance Auto Parts/Carquest/Ford Motor Company/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Digital Ally/Absolute Automation and Security/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts/No. 15 sprint car, securing a $10,000 payday, as well as a 303rd victory with the Greatest Show On Dirt.
“It all starts with night one and you really need to get that first win out of the way as soon as possible,” Schatz said after his fifth career season-opening victory. “Starting on the outside was a blessing for us with the way it rolled out. I didn’t want to run down in the rough stuff, but there at the end I knew I had to if I wanted to win.
“It’s been a big change,” he detailed on the continued expansion at TSR. “These guys have never lost focus, though, and I think we’ve been showing how much better we are. One of the parts about this sport that still drives me is our partners, they’re always by our side, win or lose. It makes it more special when we deliver the wins they deserve.”
In addition to his season-opening triumph, Schatz capped his three-day Volusia Speedway Park campaign with a pair of additional top-ten outcomes, finishing seventh and sixth in consecutive fashion. In Schatz’ seventh-place score Friday, the Fargo, North Dakota, native advanced five positions, actually flirting with the top-five on multiple occasions before settling for two spots out.
With all results considered, Schatz is currently second in the World of Outlaws championship standings, trailing DIRTcar Nationals champion and Saturday night winner, David Gravel, by 14 markers.
ON DECK:
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing will continue their 2022 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with a two-day swing through Mississippi and Louisiana on Friday and Saturday, February 25-26. Action will kick-off at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi, on Friday, followed by “Dirt on the Rev” at The Rev in Monroe, Louisiana, on Saturday.
