Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing made the best of their three-race sweep in southern Minnesota, not only qualifying for the $25,000-to-win Jackson Nationals finale on Saturday, August 19, but scoring a podium performance in the process, ultimately capping what would be a three-consecutive top-ten weekend for the ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion.
Schatz, 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, finished third in his Jackson Nationals podium outcome, battling ahead a pair of spots after starting on the inside of row three.
As noted, Schatz’ finale result was just one of three impressive displays for the Fargo, North Dakota, native, opening his Jackson Nationals effort with a runner-up performance during preliminary action on Thursday, August 17, followed by an eight-spot rally from 16th to eighth on Friday, August 18. Schatz’ preliminary results were enough to lock into Saturday’s $25,000-to-win finale.
The runner-up result on Thursday was the product of the pole, leading the first few circuits before being overtaken by eventual winner, James McFadden; McFadden took the lead on lap seven.
“Whoever was in front of me, when they went to the bottom you’ve got to go where they’re not,” Schatz explained. “So, we finally got up there and kept a pretty fast pace. I kept trying different things throughout the race to see what my race car was doing to see if I could give my guys some data and feedback that’ll help us get a little bit better. We tried a hundred different things, but nothing seemed to get us going. Still a pretty respectable finish.”
Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing will continue their 2023 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with a trip to North Dakota for two straight nights. First up is the Gerdau presents the 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Friday, August 25. The next brings the Gerdau presents the Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, August 26.