Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Although opening the weekend with a finish outside of the top ten, Fargo, North Dakota’s Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing rebounded in a big way the following evening, eventually capping Cedar Lake Speedway’s annual Independence Day Spectacular with a top ten score on Saturday, July 1.
The ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion started fifth on the 35-lap grid, driving on to finish eighth at the checkers, simultaneously solidifying his 18th top ten score of the 2023 World of Outlaws season.
Schatz opened Saturday’s finale with the 13th-fastest time during qualifying time trials, racing on to finish second in his respective heat race. Schatz’ heat race outcome propelled him to the evening’s dash where he finished fifth.
As mentioned, Schatz just missed the top ten in Cedar Lake’s opener on Friday, June 30, finishing 14th after starting in the exact same position. The ace of the Advance Auto Parts, Carquest, Ford Motor Company, Ford Performance, MadJax XSeries, Curb Records, Sage Fruit, Absolute Automation and Security, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts, No. 15 sprint car was involved in an opening lap caution, and despite contact, Schatz was able to drive through.
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing will continue their 2023 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with another swing through the heart of the Midwest, first visiting 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, for the West Burlington Sprint Car Showdown on Friday, July 7, followed by a stop at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wisconsin, for the Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 on Saturday, July 8.