Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Donny Schatz has been on a statistical tear thus far in 2024, and that proved to be the case yet again Friday night at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, Missouri, where the ten-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion finished second in the Wildcat Showdown, commencing the program from the inside of row four.
Although just shy of attaining the ultimate goal, Schatz, ace of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing, Carquest, Advance Auto Parts, Ford Performance, Curb Records, Sage Fruit, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts, Mobil 1, No. 15 sprint car, certainly made things interesting, getting one last shot at eventual winner, David Gravel, in a restart with four circuits remaining. Gravel ultimately withstood Schatz’ last-ditch effort, outrunning the Fargo, North Dakota, native by just over a second.
Arguably, Schatz may have been in a better position to win if it was not for an A-Main open red.
“My guys did a great job,” Schatz said. “I felt like we were coming there in traffic, and that momentum kind of went away on the open red. We had to make an adjustment. That’s what you have to do. You have to go for it. We went for it, and it helped me in one corner and hurt me in the other.”
Unfortunately, Donny Schatz’ 2024 World of Outlaws top-ten streak came to an end Saturday at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, Oklahoma, finishing 11th in the $20,000-to-win Jason Johnson Classic. He advanced four positions after starting 15th, ending the program just short of an 11th consecutive top ten.
Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing and Donny Schatz will continue their 2024 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series campaign with a doubleheader at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri, on Friday and Saturday, April 12-13.