Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

RETURN TO FORM: Donny Schatz dominates at Wilmot Raceway
The 10-time Series champion claimed his first World of Outlaws Wilmot Raceway win

WILMOT, WI – July 13, 2019 – Donny Schatz couldn’t hold back the emotion any longer.

With his arms raised and cheeks pushed up by a grin, Schatz yelled with a childlike giggle “Hell yeah, I won at Wilmot! That’s off the books.”

The 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion and now 287-time Series winner claimed his first victory at Wilmot Raceway Saturday night – and fourth win of the season.

“The older you get, you probably put more of a fine-tooth comb on places you haven’t won at and this was one of them,” Schatz said.

Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team unloaded Saturday evening with the finest comb they could build. He set the pace in Hot Laps and then Qualified second behind Series points leader Brad Sweet.

In his Drydene Heat race, Schatz won by 1.4 sec. He backed that performance up by winning the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash with a 2.7 sec. lead at the finish.

Dominating the night was not enough to convince Schatz he would excel in the Feature, though. He admitted he didn’t know what to expect from the 1/3-mile track, anticipating lap times to drop during the Feature.

On the initial start, outside polesitter Daryn Pittman made a charge at Schatz for the lead. He kept pace with the reigning champion down the back stretch and dove underneath him in turn three. The two entered turn four side-by-side – the closest anyone came all night to passing Schatz. But the Fargo, N.D.-native had the better run off the corner and cleared Pittman down the front stretch.

For the remaining 39 laps, the only time drivers got close enough to see the bumper of Schatz's Toco Warranty No. 15 car was during a caution on Lap 13 for a car going off track in turn two. After that, Schatz spent his night methodically navigating lap traffic.

However, Friday night’s Feature winner at Hartford Speedway, David Gravel, was not going to let Schatz cruised to the victory. Gravel, Sweet and Pittman traded positions in the top-four all night. After battling side-by-side for several laps, having to be gentle on the throttle through the tight slick corners, Sweet eventually passed Pittman for second on Lap 16. Gravel did the same a lap later, moving past the Roth Motorsports No. 83 car for third.

With 10 laps to go, Gravel finally put together a strong enough lap to work his way by Sweet and try to track down Schatz.

At that point there was about a two second gap between Schatz and second-place. Gravel slowly closed it lap by lap. Every lap car that halted Schatz’s momentum was a few more tenths of a second gained by Gravel.

By the time the white flag came out, Gravel had made up close to a second on Schatz. It wasn’t enough, though. He ran out of time.

“I couldn't get by Daryn very quick and then couldn't get by Brad,” Gravel said. “Then it was just a little too late to make a charge a Donny."

He and his Jason Johnson Racing team were happy with the run, though, leaving the weekend with a win and runner-up finish.

By taking the win Schatz finally broke his winless streak he’s had since the end of May when he won at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

“I’m sure somebody was coming there at the end,” Schatz said. “I was kind of hanging. We could get through a few lap cars, but then when I had to move around in (turns) one and two I wasn’t as good. But glad to get a win. It’s been a while. Always feels good to get the win, especially here in Wisconsin.”

Schatz's win put a small dent in Sweet’s point lead over him – he's now 38 points behind the Kasey Kahne Racing driver.

Sweet still leads the Series as the winningest driver with nine wins, so far. Schatz’s fourth victory of the year ties him with Gravel as the third winningest driver, behind Logan Schuchart, who has five wins.

For the past four years, Schatz has had double digit wins at this point in the season. He’s also amassed 20 or more wins in a year since 2013. After winning at Wilmot, he acknowledged the level of competition in the World of Outlaws right now makes those statistics hard to live up to.

“I don’t know how many guys there are capable of winning 20 races in a year,” Schatz said. “There’s some. But it’s hard to live up to them standards and there’s a lot of fast race cars out here right now. The parity in this sport is pretty crazy and to keep up with it is even more so.”

That hasn’t stopped he and his team from striving to do so, though. They continue to make changes and try new things with the car, he said.

At the moment, they’ve found a feel Schatz likes. He’s now eager to carry his winning momentum into the upcoming weeks of prestigious and big paying races. And with another grin and a chuckle, Schatz said he’s even looking forward to going to Tri-State Speedway in October – another track he hasn’t one at.

UP NEXT:

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, July 16 will venture to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio for the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic. To purchase tickets and get more information go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on www.DIRTVision.com.

Race Results: 7/13/19 – Wilmot Raceway

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1][$10,000]; 2. 41-David Gravel [4][$5,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$3,200]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [2][$2,800]; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding [5][$2,500]; 6. 2-Carson Macedo [9][$2,300]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [7][$2,200]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14][$2,100]; 9. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,050]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [13][$2,000]; 11. 9-James McFadden [8][$1,500]; 12. 5-Shane Stewart [11][$1,200]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$1,100]; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17][$1,050]; 15. 7-Jason Sides [10][$1,000]; 16. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [16][$900]; 17. 68-Dave Uttech [18][$800]; 18. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski [19][$800]; 19. 19T-Todd Daun [21][$800]; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder [20][$800]; 21. 23-Russel Borland [15][$800]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$800]; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen [23][$800];
Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-40;
KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+6]

Qualifying – 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.563; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.587; 3. 41-David Gravel, 12.595; 4. 18-Ian Madsen, 12.602; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 12.604; 6. 83-Daryn Pittman, 12.637; 7. 7-Jason Sides, 12.671; 8. 9-James McFadden, 12.746; 9. 17B-Bill Balog, 12.75; 10. 19-Brent Marks, 12.791; 11. 5-Shane Stewart, 12.817; 12. 23-Russel Borland, 12.824; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.827; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.827; 15. 2-Carson Macedo, 12.844; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 12.861; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.982; 18. 68-Dave Uttech, 12.982; 19. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer, 13.131; 20. 43-Jereme Schroeder, 13.49; 21. 19T-Todd Daun, 13.491; 22. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski, 14.626; 23. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen, NT

DRYDENE Heat #1 (10 Laps) – 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [2]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [5]; 4. 7-Jason Sides [3]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [4]; 6. 7TW-Brandon Wimmer [7]; 7. 14AJ-Wayne Modjeski [8]; 8. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]

DRYDENE Heat #2 (10 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 7S-Tim Kaeding [2]; 3. 9-James McFadden [3]; 4. 5-Shane Stewart [4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 7. 43-Jereme Schroeder [7]; 8. 17BX-Jordan Paulsen [8]

DRYDENE Heat #3 (10 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [1]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [2]; 3. 2-Carson Macedo [5]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog [3]; 5. 23-Russel Borland [4]; 6. 68-Dave Uttech [6]; 7. 19T-Todd Daun [7]

DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash (8 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 2. 83-Daryn Pittman [4]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 4. 41-David Gravel [3]; 5. 7S-Tim Kaeding [5]; 6. 18-Ian Madsen [6]

Contact: Nick Graziano
World of Outlaws PR
ngraziano@dirtcar.com

Please click here for the original World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series article

EYE ON THE PRIZE: David Gravel makes late race pass to win at Hartford Speedway
Gravel sneaks under Logan Schuchart on a late race restart to take the lead and win his fourth race of the season

HARTFORD, MI – July 12, 2019 – Repeated speeches about strong podium runs and satisfying runner-up finishes became commonplace for David Gravel the past two months. A fourth win of the year was in his grasp on several occasions but lost in the closing stage of the race.

The same story was playing out again in the final three laps of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature at Hartford Speedway Friday night. But behind the façade of being content with another podium was the raging fire to win again.

“You never want to finish second. You want to win these races,” Gravel said.

On the final restart of the race, with three laps to go, Gravel let the fire loose. He had worked too hard to put himself in a winning position and lose it again.

Gravel won his Drydene Heat race and finished second in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash – putting him on the front row for the 30-lap Feature. He had an advantage over the entire field, too – he’s the only driver to have won on the track’s 3/8-mile configuration.

On the initial start Gravel lost second-place to 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, who snuck under the Watertown, Conn.-native in turn one and cleared him down the back stretch. However, the red flag came out before a lap was completed.

Several cars were involved in an accident on the back stretch, including Series points leader Brad Sweet. The lengthy red flag period – to tow three cars off the track – allowed Sweet’s Kasey Kahne Racing team, along with team members from several other teams, to get the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 car fixed and back on track before the race went green again.

Since a lap was not complete, drivers lined back up in their initial starting order, putting Gravel back in second-place. This time, his lesson was learned. When the green flag flew again Gravel dove to the bottom of turn one, blocking any attempt by Schatz for another pass. It also allowed him to get a run underneath leader Carson Macedo down the back stretch and into turn three.

Gravel had his nose in front of Macedo exiting turn four, but Macedo had the better run off the corner and charged back to the lead down the front stretch.

From there, Macedo held command of the lead for the next seven laps before the caution flew again for a slowed Bill Balog. When the race restarted, Gravel, again, put pressure on Macedo. Inches were left between their bumper for the next two laps. Gravel dived underneath the rookie in turn three but like before Macedo prevailed.

They stayed first and second, respectively, to the halfway point of the Feature. In that time, Logan Schuchart quietly worked his way from ninth to third with the top two in sight.

With 14 laps to go, Gravel, not willing to settle for second, capitalized on a strong run. While Macedo searched for traction on the high side, Gravel had already found it on the bottom. He powered by Macedo and officially took the lead with 13 laps to go.

“Carson had a good pace. I think he just got free halfway through,” Gravel said. “I just kept working him, working him, trying to keep the pressure up, hoping he would spin his tires and kind of wear his stuff out. Luckily we were able to get by him.”

Gravel’s fortunes looked to have finally turned in his favor. Instead of losing the race in the second half of the event, he was on track to win it. However, with nine laps to go, the “dun dun” of an imaginary bass played in your head. The Shark Racing No. 1s of Logan Schuchart was closing. Fast.

Cruising around the high side of the track, Schuchart caught Gravel with four laps to go and sped around him with ease through turns one and two. Before Schuchart could run away with his fifth win of the season, the caution came out again for Tim Kaeding coming to a stop in turn four.

With three laps to go and Schuchart now backed up to Gravel, the Jason Johnson Racing driver had one last chance to harness his fire to win.

Gravel timed the restart just right, sneaking a nose underneath Schuchart as they raced down the front stretch. On their charge into turn one, Gravel dove to the bottom leaving no time for Schuchart to attempt a block. They exited turn two side-by-side and remained that way down the backstretch.

When they made it to turn three Gravel, again, launched his car into the corner, pulling ahead of Schuchart, and maintained the run off turn four to clear Schuchart for the lead.

He could throw away the runner-up speech. The win at Hartford Speedway was his.

“We’ve been wanting to win so bad,” Gravel said. “Finally getting the win, we’ve been so close. As a driver I’ve let a couple of wins get away. Just happy I can get another win. You never know when your next one is going to be.”

While Gravel celebrated a special victory – which he got to do with Jason Johnson’s son, Jaxx, for the first time this year in Victory Lane – Schuchart had to settle for another runner-up finish.

“That stings a little bit," Schuchart said. "We had one like that last week, we lost the race at the end and did it again tonight. Last week I feel like I blame that on myself. Tonight, the guys did a fantastic job... We qualified bad, didn’t give up and raced hard all night.”

He didn’t leave Michigan without some kind of win, though. His charge from ninth to second earned him the KSE Hard Charger award.

Sweet also had an impressive charge after getting involved in the wreck – which required his front axle to be replaced and his top wing to be replaced – at the start of the race. He restarted at the back of the field and methodically made his way to sixth-place by the end of the race.

“Had a pretty nasty vibration. I think we bent a rear axle,” Sweet said. “Honestly, a good salvage for us. Hung in there and tried not to shake my teeth out… Luckily, we were able to over come it. I think that’s a good sign for us to overcome that adversity tonight.”

He maintains his points lead over Schatz – who finished third – now 44 points over the reigning champion. Gravel still sits third in points – 130 points behind Sweet.

Gravel's win at Hartford was his second at track – the first driver to win more than one race at the speedway – his fourth win of the season and 43rd career World of Outlaws win – placing him 16th on the all-time wins list, passing Andy Hillenburg.

“Hopefully we’ll get some more (wins) and get this thing rolling for the month of money,” Gravel said.

UP NEXT:

The World of Outlaws on Saturday, July 13, will venture to Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wis. for the Badger 40. For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on www.DIRTVision.com.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 41-David Gravel [2][$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [9][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [3][$3,200]; 4. 2-Carson Macedo [1][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [10][$2,500]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet [7][$2,300]; 7. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$2,200]; 8. 9-James McFadden [13][$2,100]; 9. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$2,050]; 10. 5-Shane Stewart [8][$2,000]; 11. 19-Brent Marks [14][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Tim Kaeding [4][$1,200]; 13. 83-Daryn Pittman [17][$1,100]; 14. 7-Jason Sides [5][$1,050]; 15. 81-Lee Jacobs [16][$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [22][$900]; 17. 17B-Bill Balog [12][$800]; 18. 23-Russel Borland [19][$800]; 19. 97-Max Stambaugh [11][$800]; 20. 2L-Landon Lalonde [18][$800]; 21. 28-Brian Paulus [21][$800]; 22. 39-Tyler Rankin [20][$800]; 23. 71H-Ryan Ruhl [23][$800]; Lap Leaders: Carson Macedo 1-16; David Gravel 17-26, 28-30; Logan Schuchart 27;
KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+7]

Qualifying – 1. 7S-Tim Kaeding, 14.014; 2. 2-Carson Macedo, 14.53; 3. 7-Jason Sides, 14.664; 4. 9-James McFadden, 14.702; 5. 71H-Ryan Ruhl, 14.714; 6. 5-Shane Stewart, 14.787; 7. 18-Ian Madsen, 14.823; 8. 49-Brad Sweet, 14.824; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 14.859; 10. 17B-Bill Balog, 14.882; 11. 41-David Gravel, 14.915; 12. 19-Brent Marks, 14.948; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.122; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 15.202; 15. 97-Max Stambaugh, 15.206; 16. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.363; 17. 81-Lee Jacobs, 15.492; 18. 83-Daryn Pittman, 15.578; 19. 2L-Landon Lalonde, 15.653; 20. 1A-Jacob Allen, 15.702; 21. 39-Tyler Rankin, 15.893; 22. 28-Brian Paulus, 16.232; 23. 23-Russel Borland, 16.326