INDIANAPOLIS – Ten-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz announced Wednesday that he will compete in the 2020 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
Schatz will drive for Mark Cooper, the owner of Spike Chassis, with co-entrant support from Mike Curb of Curb/Agajanian Racing.
Partnering with Sage Fruit and Curb Records, Schatz is set for his third event appearance during the 34th annual Chili Bowl, Jan. 13 to 18 inside the River Spirit Expo Center.
“I’m looking forward to making a return to the Chili Bowl driving for Mark Cooper, who’s been a friend of mine for many years,” said Schatz. “We’ve gotten to know each other through racing in Australia, and when Mark offered me the opportunity to return to the Chili Bowl as part of this team, it was a quick decision. The Spike Chassis stable is always strong and I’m really looking forward to taking another shot at the Chili Bowl with Mark and Derrick Schwabauer.
“I’m also really excited to carry the Sage Fruit and Curb brands on my Chili Bowl car. Both Chuck Sinks and Mike Curb have been huge supporters of our programs at Tony Stewart Racing and it’s a privilege to have them as partners for a special event like the Chili Bowl,” Schatz continued. “Having Mike [Curb] as the co-entrant on my car along with Mark [Cooper], I’d love nothing more than to add a Chili Bowl win to all of our racing resumes.”
Schatz made his first Chili Bowl start in 2017 with Clauson-Marshall Racing, finishing seventh in the first B-main on the final night and just one spot short of transferring into the championship A-main.
In 2018, Schatz returned to Tulsa, where he was relegated to a seventh-place finish in the second D-main on Saturday night following a disappointing DNF in his preliminary A-main.
Cooper is hoping to see Schatz’s Chili Bowl results in 2020 take a turn for the better.
“After a long friendship of helping Donny out with all his racing needs in Australia for 10 years, I asked if it would be possible to get him back to Chili Bowl to promote our new Spike midget chassis,” said Cooper. “He was keen to help us out with promoting the new chassis and to get back to this great event. I’m so proud to have him compete in a Spike Chassis and under our banner for the 2020 Chili Bowl.”
Chuck Sinks, the president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit, is also looking to add a Chili Bowl win to the brand’s racing portfolio to kick off the 2020 season in a big way.
“Sage Fruit has long been a part of the Chili Bowl. I’ve been going to Tulsa for 30 years and have enjoyed it each and every year,” said Sinks. “To be the primary sponsor of the No. 15 Donny Schatz/Mark Cooper/Mike Curb ream for this year’s Chili Bowl will bring a bigger excitement to us knowing that we are a part of such a great partnership.
“Mark Cooper always brings great cars to the Chili Bowl that are capable of winning and to be a part of that team gives us something to look forward to in January.”
The Curb name is synonymous with success in motorsports and the brand has been part of some of the biggest racing triumphs in the history of the sport.
Schatz’s to-date success under the Curb-Agajanian Racing banner includes six World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series titles (2012, 2014-2018) and 182 Outlaw victories.
Both Curb and Schatz hope to add another achievement to their history in January.
“We are proud of our long World of Outlaws partnership with Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart,” said Curb. “We’re also excited to be partnered with Spike Chassis, Mark Cooper and Donny at the world-famous Chili Bowl in 2020 and to add another chapter to our racing history.”
SPEED SPORT’s Chili Bowl coverage is presented by MyRacePass, the official timing and scoring app of the 2020 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. Fans can download the MyRacePass app on their phones to follow all the action during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. For more information on MyRacePass, visit www.myracepass.com and use the hashtag #GetTheApp on Twitter!
