Schatz became the first driver to win back-to-back races without participating in the Dash
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - July 1, 2015 - If Donny Schatz has a point to prove, it is that it does not matter where he starts, he will always be a threat to win. He certainly did that Wednesday night at the O'Reilly Auto Parts presents the Outlaws at Lakeside Speedway where, after charging forward from 10th, the six-time and reigning series champion battled past Joey Saldana in the closing laps of the feature to score his 18th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season.
It was Schatz's first ever win at Lakeside.
"We've never actually run very good here," Schatz said. "This Bad Boy Buggies race team just worked hard on it trying to figure out what we do at all these places where we haven't been good. We've had a real balanced race car everywhere we've been. Hats off to them."
Tonight's win added another mark in the record books for Schatz who became the first driver to score back-to-back wins without participating in the dash. Schatz won at Beaver Dam last Saturday after starting in 10th.
David Gravel led the field to the green flag with Joey Saldana on his outside. The two drivers drag raced side by side into turn one with the advantage to Saldana as they exited. Through the opening laps, Saldana built up a sizable lead. He caught the back of the field on lap five.
As he and the cars behind began working through traffic the distance between all of them closed. By lap eight, third place Kerry Madsen had his hands full, fending off the 51 of Paul McMahan and trying to get around Gravel, then in second. As the three drivers battled, Schatz, who had moved into the fifth position by the third circuit, was poised to make moves. Madsen took over the second spot on lap 11 while McMahan and Schatz followed around Gravel. The next lap by, Schatz took over third.
The first yellow of the night came out on lap 13 as the No. 21 FVP car driven by Brian Brown slowed to a stop in turn 3. When the field returned to green, Schatz got around Madsen for the second position.
Saldana maintained and built his lead through the next seven laps, but as he caught the back of the field once again, Schatz closed the gap and began looking for a way around. He finally got his opportunity on lap 27 as Saldana was slowed up by a lapped car off of turn four. Schatz dove low and took the position as the two went into turn one.
One more yellow flew, but Saldana was not able to get around Schatz on the green-white-checkered finish that ended the 30 lap feature.
"That green-white-checkered was the fastest I felt all night," Schatz said. "This place is tricky to get through traffic like that. It was really fast on the top - I didn't know if we were going to be able to do it. We just caught traffic and put ourselves in a good spot."
After overcoming a little adversity in the form of a flat trailer tire before they got to track earlier in the day, Saldana and his No. 71m Motter Equipment team maintained laser consistency throughout the night.
"It was a great night," Saldana said. "The guys worked hard to make it and the whole night was really good. We were stuck in second - second in qualifying, second in heat, second in the dash and feature. It's a really good solid night for us and something for the team to be proud of."
Madsen, who ran as high as second Wednesday night after starting in sixth, said his car was good but Schatz was just able to find the better lines through traffic.
"We went on that double file restart there, took a chance and went for the big wide line on the restart and went for the slider down in 1 and 2 there and just gave Donny a good run there," Madsen said. "We had a great racecar we just didn't quite get it done… On to Dodge City. I feel like we're getting some momentum and get some podiums and possible a win here shortly."
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to action this weekend as the series takes on Dodge City Raceway Park and the Boot Hill Showdown on July 3 and 4. For more information on the event and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit http://woosprint.com/boot-hill-showdown.
Follow the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
Lakeside Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: Jason Sides scored quick time tonight with a lap of 13.713. It was his second quick time of the season… Tonight's win was the 18th of the season for Donny Schatz… Brad Sweet was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing 11 positions to finish in eighth… Donny Schatz is the first driver to win back-to-back after starting outside the dash lineup… Tonight was the second podium finish in a row for Joey Saldana.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Steve Kinser; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): N/A; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): David Gravel; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Lincoln Welders ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Edelbrock ($50 cash): David Gravel; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Sides;Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Joey Saldana;KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Brad Sweet; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Donny Schatz;Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Curtis Evans; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jacob Allen; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Curtis Evans.
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 18 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 21, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 28, Placerville Speedway on April 8, Calistoga Speedway on April 12, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 26, Eldora Speedway on May 8, Eldora Speedway on May 9, Williams Grove Speedway on May 15, Weedsport Speedway on May 17, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 22, Knoxville Raceway on June 13, Huset's Speedway on June 14, Granite City Speedway on June 17, River Cities Speedway on June 19, Dakota State Fair Speedway on June 20, Beaver Dam Raceway on June 27, Lakeside Speedway on July 1); Shane Stewart - 4 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Keller Auto Speedway on April 17, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 1, Crawford County Speedway on June 12); Daryn Pittman - 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Antioch Speedway on March 29, New Egypt Speedway on May 19); Brad Sweet - 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, Calistoga Speedway on April 11, I-96 Speedway on June 25); Rico Abreu - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 22); Paul McMahan - 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 18, Tri-State Speedway on May 3); Christopher Bell - 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on May 2); Dale Blaney - 1 (Attica Raceway Park on May 29); Brian Brown - 1 (USA Raceway on March 7); Greg Hodnett - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 13); Tim Kaeding - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 13); Danny Lasoski - 1 (I-80 Speedway on June 5); Terry McCarl - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5); Joey Saldana - 1 (Kokomo Speedway on June 3).
- administrator on Jul 02, 2015
- Article Date: 7/2/2015