BROWNSBURG, Ind. — It was an up and down week for Fargo, North Dakota’s Donny Schatz and his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing sprint car.
Despite some minor hiccups and distractions, the 10-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion highlighted Volusia Speedway Park’s annual DIRTcar Nationals with a podium run against the All Star Circuit of Champions on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
During his podium podium pursuit, Schatz, who wheels the No. 15 sprint car, found himself in a battle for the lead with Lemoore, California’s Carson Macedo on lap 20. Unfortunately, early-race nose wing damage ultimately created havoc for the former All Star Volusia winner. It flipped over completely just as Schatz dived into turn one on lap 21.
Needless to say, Macedo would secure the top spot, forcing Schatz back to second.
“Just the way it goes sometimes … it is what it is,” Schatz said on Wednesday. “It didn’t hurt me too bad until it flipped over completely. The wing post eventually gave out. Hats off to this Tony Stewart Racing/Advance Auto Parts team. They put it all together here tonight.”
In addition to his podium performance, Schatz recorded 14th and 20th-place performances against the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in its season opening programs on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 9-10. Saturday’s DIRTcar Nationals finale dash and feature were ultimately moved to early March for when the series returns, due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Schatz will race for pole position during the Toyota Dash at the DIRTcar Nationals finale in March.
He will have an eighth-place start in the dash.