Knoxville, IA — Aug. 12, 2006 — By Chris Dolack, VP Public Relations
He had been so close but just couldn’t make the jump one step up the
podium.
Four times in the most prestigious sprint car race in the world,
Donny Schatz saw the checkered flag wave from the runner-up position.
Four times he had to check his emotions as he looked up the podium
and saw somebody else celebrating. On Saturday night at the 46th
Annual Super Clean Knoxville Nationals, Schatz made sure this time
around the A-main would be a four-gone conclusion.
He finally let those bottled up emotions loose with a double fist
pump in Knoxville Raceway’s Victory Lane after winning the 30-lap
main event aired live on television. Schatz, the World of Outlaws
Sprint Series championship points leader from Fargo, N.D., started on
the pole and raced back and forth with fellow Outlaws competitor Joey
Saldana. The two swapped grooves high and low before Schatz slid in
front on Lap 13 and drove away, leaving no doubt on a final 10-lap
sprint to the finish whose name should be written on the $140,000
winner’s check.
Saldana battled Jason Johnson to finish second in the Mopar-powered
Dodge/Curb Records JEI that featured the country band Bomshel during
the Knoxville Nationals. Johnson, who won the second qualifying-night
feature was third followed by Danny Lasoski’s Roth Motorsports Eagle
and Jason Meyers’ Elite Landscaping Maxim.
“It hasn’t really hit me,” said Schatz, who leads the World of
Outlaws with 11 victories this season. “I’m as excited as I’ve ever
been in my life. This is one of the defining moments of my life. It
honestly has not hit me yet. When you put the helmet on it’s time
block everything else out and I feel like I still have to take the
helmet off and let the emotions go. I’m normally an emotional person
and I tried to block out all the emotions this weekend. This is it.
It doesn’t get any bigger than this. It doesn’t get any better.
Still restraining his emotions, Schatz revealed that he had been
aiming to win a race for the past few weeks just to dedicate it to
the World of Outlaws founder.
“Ted Johnson has undergone cancer treatment recently,” Schatz said.
“I’ve been trying to win a race to dedicate to him. He’s the man who
made the World of Outlaws what it is today. He’s been big in my heart
the past 10 years. I’ve probably been closer to him the two years
since he’s been gone [from owning the series] than I was before he
was gone, but I want him to know we’re thinking about him, we’re
praying for him and we’re wishing him luck because he’s beat it for
30 years and he’s pretty sure he’s going to beat it again. I want to
dedicate this win to him.”
After leading 18 laps on Saturday night in the ParkerStore J&J,
Schatz has now led 49 laps in his career during the A-main event at
the Knoxville Nationals. He also finished second on Wednesday night
during the first qualifying A-main and led the Knoxville Nationals
points going into the scrambles on Friday, where he also finished
second to earn a few more points to put himself on the pole for the
main event on Saturday.
Still, when a crash on the front stretch with 10 laps to go brought
out a red flag, Schatz was confident in knowing he had the car to beat.
“It gave me the opportunity to say you’ve got it, don’t screw it up,”
he said.
Schatz credits crew chief Ricky Warner for his remarkable run over
the past year. Since joining the team during the 2005 Knoxville
Nationals, Schatz has posted 16 main event victories, but none bigger
than Saturday night’s win. Warner, a good friend of driver Steve King
who lost his life from injuries suffered in a crash during the
qualifying feature on Wednesday night, turns the wrenches on the car
so Schatz can pay attention to track conditions knowing he’ll have a
machine that can win just about every night.
“We both have the same desires and that’s to win,” Schatz said.
“That’s all he wants to do. Ricky was very close with Steve King and
I think it was very hard for Ricky to focus on what the job was at
hand, but there is nobody in this sport that’s still going today that
has Ricky’s focus and dedication and drive. He has the capabilities
to see things that I can’t possibly feel. He knows how to get the
motors running optimum. He’s made this program the best that it can
be. I can’t thank the crew enough. They work so hard to do this for
me. I think a lot of days, the things I ask of them they’d rather
quit and go fishing to get away from me, but we all have that desire
to be the best we possibly can be and he drives us toward that.”
Afterward, Donny’s biggest fan stood to the side, taking in
everything and hiding his emotions just as well. His dad, Danny, is a
former racer and it was clear he couldn’t have been more proud as
Donny stood at the top of the podium in front of the massive crowd.
“I feel good that he’s accomplished what he has worked very hard to
do,” Danny Schatz said. “For me, it’s great to have the win. I enjoy
every win just as much.
“I guess I realize he won and I’m doing better than I thought I
would. I felt like after we started going through lapped traffic,
there was nobody going to beat us unless we had a flat tire or run
over somebody, and Don was pretty careful when he came up to them. I
don’t think he knew how far ahead he was, but he was a half a lap at
the first yellow and a half a lap at the end of the race.”
Saldana, who is second in the World of Outlaws championship
standings, was trying to become just the second father-and-son to be
crowned champions of the Knoxville Nationals. His dad, Joe, won the
1970 running of sprint car racing’s biggest event, but he doesn’t
offer advice to Joey or the Kasey Kahne Racing team.
“He doesn’t say anything,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind., who won
the $50,000 Kings Royal last month at Eldora Speedway. “He just wants
me to have fun and hopefully run good. He just stays back and wants
me to do good.”
Johnson, who has dominated this season in a 360-sprint car, picked up
his first 410 victory on Thursday and charged to the first podium
finish of his career at Knoxville.
“To see three young guys up here, I think it’s really great,” said
Johnson, of Eunice, La. “Maybe the sport is coming around with a
different future and picking up more and more fans. Schatz has a ton
of fans. It’s going through a new era where times are changing.”
Johnson also was very good friends with King. His crew donned King’s
team’s Ethanol-sponsored crew uniforms on Saturday night.
“To think this on Wednesday night and be in the hospital at 7 in the
morning with Steve, I never thought I’d be on the podium with a
chance to express my condolences to the King family,” Johnson said.
“We talked to them today and they asked if we could wear their
Ethanol uniforms and I said, ‘Sure, we’d do it.’ Steve and I were
really good friends. We talked every Thursday and Sunday. I know he
also was really good friends with Donny Schatz’s crew chief Ricky
Warner. It’s really hard to lose a great friend and focus. I always
seemed to choke up in the past few years here but it seemed like this
just put me in a different mindset. I’m just feeling sorry for the
King family and missing Steve.”
World of Outlaws Sprint Series drivers Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman
and Terry McCarl posted A-main finishes with Dollansky driving the
Karavan Trailers/Team Race Chic Maxim to seventh, Pittman driving the
Titan Garages & Carports Maxim to 10th and McCarl bringing the Big
Game Treestands Eagle to the checkered flag in 19th.
Next up for the World of Outlaws Sprints Series is a return to Black
Hills Speedway on Thursday in Rapid City, S.D., before what will no
doubt be a massive victory celebration on Saturday at Nodak Speedway
in Minot, N.D., where Schatz grew up before moving to Fargo.
“That’s where it all started for me,” Schatz said. “My dad used to
bring me down here to the Nationals, and we would watch the World of
Outlaws races in Fargo. I got to race a lot around home. That’s where
the family business was and that’s what made it possible for me to
get in one of these racecars. I have a lot of respect and gratitude
for where I come from and it’s an absolute pleasure for me to go back
there next week with the World of Outlaws and put on a show for the
hometown fans and bring the best this sport has to offer.”
Knoxville Nationals Final Night Statistical Report, Knoxville (Iowa)
Raceway, Aug. 12, 2006
E Feature, 10 laps, 2:44.4
1. John Lambertz, Sioux Falls SD
2. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can.
3. Bob Bennett, Lewisberry PA
4. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA
5. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI
6. Rich Bubak, Golden Co
7. Dan Shetler, Johnstown PA
8. Dale Howard, Byhalia MS
9. Brian Carlson, Linden IN
10. Jerry Brey, Billings MT
11. Greg Jones, Earlham IA;
D Feature, 12 laps, No Time
1. Brock Mayes, Bucyrus OH
2. Dean Jacobs, Wooster OH
3. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND
4. Danny Smith, Danville IN
5. Kelly Kinser, Bloomington IN
6. Robert Ballou, Rocklin CA
7. Kyle Hirst, Elk Grove CA
8. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA
9. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS
10. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA
11. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD
12. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can.
13. Chad Hillier, Sedro Woolley WA
14. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA
15. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO
16. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM
17. Becca Anderson, Houston DE
18. John Lambertz, Sioux Falls SD
19. Bob Bennett, Lewisberry PA
20. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA
21. Neil Shepherd, Warsaw IN
22. Tim Hunter, Millersburg OH;
C Feature, 15 laps, No Time
1. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH
2. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust.
3. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN
4. Lance Dewease, Fayetteville PA
5. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD
6. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust.
7. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA
8. Dean Jacobs, Wooster OH
9. Jesse Hockett, Warsaw MO
10. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS
11. Dion Hindi, Albuquerque NM
12. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN
13. Jon Corbin, Carrollton MO
14. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD
15. Brock Mayes, Bucyrus OH
16. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI
17. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA
18. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA
19. Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell IA
20. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA
21. PJ Chesson, Far Hills NJ
22. Jason Martin, Liberal KS.
B Feature, 22 laps, No Time
1. Jeff Shepard, Upperco MD
2. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK
3. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA
4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO
5. Travis Rilat, Forney TX
6. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO
7. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust.
8. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN
9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch MS
11. Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge OH
12. Jonathan Allard, Chico CA
13. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH
14. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK
15. Chad Layton, Harrisburg PA
16. Todd Shaffer, Millerstown PA
17. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA
18. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust.
19. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH
20. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust.
21. Brandon Wimmer, Fairmont IN
22. Gary Wright, Hooks TX;
A Feature, 30 laps, No Time
1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND
2. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN
3. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA
4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO
5. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA
6. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN
7. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN
8. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK
9. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE
10. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK
11. Paul McMahan, Nashville TN
12. Fred Rahmer, Salfordville PA
13. Jeff Shepard, Upperco MD
14. Tim Kaeding, San Jose CA
15. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD
16. Ed Lynch Jr., Apollo PA
17. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK
18. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN
19. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA
20. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE
21. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL
22. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS
23. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA
24. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA.
Lap Leaders: Saldana 1-3, 5-12; Schatz 4, 13-30.
He had been so close but just couldn’t make the jump one step up the
podium.
Four times in the most prestigious sprint car race in the world,
Donny Schatz saw the checkered flag wave from the runner-up position.
Four times he had to check his emotions as he looked up the podium
and saw somebody else celebrating. On Saturday night at the 46th
Annual Super Clean Knoxville Nationals, Schatz made sure this time
around the A-main would be a four-gone conclusion.
He finally let those bottled up emotions loose with a double fist
pump in Knoxville Raceway’s Victory Lane after winning the 30-lap
main event aired live on television. Schatz, the World of Outlaws
Sprint Series championship points leader from Fargo, N.D., started on
the pole and raced back and forth with fellow Outlaws competitor Joey
Saldana. The two swapped grooves high and low before Schatz slid in
front on Lap 13 and drove away, leaving no doubt on a final 10-lap
sprint to the finish whose name should be written on the $140,000
winner’s check.
Saldana battled Jason Johnson to finish second in the Mopar-powered
Dodge/Curb Records JEI that featured the country band Bomshel during
the Knoxville Nationals. Johnson, who won the second qualifying-night
feature was third followed by Danny Lasoski’s Roth Motorsports Eagle
and Jason Meyers’ Elite Landscaping Maxim.
“It hasn’t really hit me,” said Schatz, who leads the World of
Outlaws with 11 victories this season. “I’m as excited as I’ve ever
been in my life. This is one of the defining moments of my life. It
honestly has not hit me yet. When you put the helmet on it’s time
block everything else out and I feel like I still have to take the
helmet off and let the emotions go. I’m normally an emotional person
and I tried to block out all the emotions this weekend. This is it.
It doesn’t get any bigger than this. It doesn’t get any better.
Still restraining his emotions, Schatz revealed that he had been
aiming to win a race for the past few weeks just to dedicate it to
the World of Outlaws founder.
“Ted Johnson has undergone cancer treatment recently,” Schatz said.
“I’ve been trying to win a race to dedicate to him. He’s the man who
made the World of Outlaws what it is today. He’s been big in my heart
the past 10 years. I’ve probably been closer to him the two years
since he’s been gone [from owning the series] than I was before he
was gone, but I want him to know we’re thinking about him, we’re
praying for him and we’re wishing him luck because he’s beat it for
30 years and he’s pretty sure he’s going to beat it again. I want to
dedicate this win to him.”
After leading 18 laps on Saturday night in the ParkerStore J&J,
Schatz has now led 49 laps in his career during the A-main event at
the Knoxville Nationals. He also finished second on Wednesday night
during the first qualifying A-main and led the Knoxville Nationals
points going into the scrambles on Friday, where he also finished
second to earn a few more points to put himself on the pole for the
main event on Saturday.
Still, when a crash on the front stretch with 10 laps to go brought
out a red flag, Schatz was confident in knowing he had the car to beat.
“It gave me the opportunity to say you’ve got it, don’t screw it up,”
he said.
Schatz credits crew chief Ricky Warner for his remarkable run over
the past year. Since joining the team during the 2005 Knoxville
Nationals, Schatz has posted 16 main event victories, but none bigger
than Saturday night’s win. Warner, a good friend of driver Steve King
who lost his life from injuries suffered in a crash during the
qualifying feature on Wednesday night, turns the wrenches on the car
so Schatz can pay attention to track conditions knowing he’ll have a
machine that can win just about every night.
“We both have the same desires and that’s to win,” Schatz said.
“That’s all he wants to do. Ricky was very close with Steve King and
I think it was very hard for Ricky to focus on what the job was at
hand, but there is nobody in this sport that’s still going today that
has Ricky’s focus and dedication and drive. He has the capabilities
to see things that I can’t possibly feel. He knows how to get the
motors running optimum. He’s made this program the best that it can
be. I can’t thank the crew enough. They work so hard to do this for
me. I think a lot of days, the things I ask of them they’d rather
quit and go fishing to get away from me, but we all have that desire
to be the best we possibly can be and he drives us toward that.”
Afterward, Donny’s biggest fan stood to the side, taking in
everything and hiding his emotions just as well. His dad, Danny, is a
former racer and it was clear he couldn’t have been more proud as
Donny stood at the top of the podium in front of the massive crowd.
“I feel good that he’s accomplished what he has worked very hard to
do,” Danny Schatz said. “For me, it’s great to have the win. I enjoy
every win just as much.
“I guess I realize he won and I’m doing better than I thought I
would. I felt like after we started going through lapped traffic,
there was nobody going to beat us unless we had a flat tire or run
over somebody, and Don was pretty careful when he came up to them. I
don’t think he knew how far ahead he was, but he was a half a lap at
the first yellow and a half a lap at the end of the race.”
Saldana, who is second in the World of Outlaws championship
standings, was trying to become just the second father-and-son to be
crowned champions of the Knoxville Nationals. His dad, Joe, won the
1970 running of sprint car racing’s biggest event, but he doesn’t
offer advice to Joey or the Kasey Kahne Racing team.
“He doesn’t say anything,” said Saldana, of Brownsburg, Ind., who won
the $50,000 Kings Royal last month at Eldora Speedway. “He just wants
me to have fun and hopefully run good. He just stays back and wants
me to do good.”
Johnson, who has dominated this season in a 360-sprint car, picked up
his first 410 victory on Thursday and charged to the first podium
finish of his career at Knoxville.
“To see three young guys up here, I think it’s really great,” said
Johnson, of Eunice, La. “Maybe the sport is coming around with a
different future and picking up more and more fans. Schatz has a ton
of fans. It’s going through a new era where times are changing.”
Johnson also was very good friends with King. His crew donned King’s
team’s Ethanol-sponsored crew uniforms on Saturday night.
“To think this on Wednesday night and be in the hospital at 7 in the
morning with Steve, I never thought I’d be on the podium with a
chance to express my condolences to the King family,” Johnson said.
“We talked to them today and they asked if we could wear their
Ethanol uniforms and I said, ‘Sure, we’d do it.’ Steve and I were
really good friends. We talked every Thursday and Sunday. I know he
also was really good friends with Donny Schatz’s crew chief Ricky
Warner. It’s really hard to lose a great friend and focus. I always
seemed to choke up in the past few years here but it seemed like this
just put me in a different mindset. I’m just feeling sorry for the
King family and missing Steve.”
World of Outlaws Sprint Series drivers Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman
and Terry McCarl posted A-main finishes with Dollansky driving the
Karavan Trailers/Team Race Chic Maxim to seventh, Pittman driving the
Titan Garages & Carports Maxim to 10th and McCarl bringing the Big
Game Treestands Eagle to the checkered flag in 19th.
Next up for the World of Outlaws Sprints Series is a return to Black
Hills Speedway on Thursday in Rapid City, S.D., before what will no
doubt be a massive victory celebration on Saturday at Nodak Speedway
in Minot, N.D., where Schatz grew up before moving to Fargo.
“That’s where it all started for me,” Schatz said. “My dad used to
bring me down here to the Nationals, and we would watch the World of
Outlaws races in Fargo. I got to race a lot around home. That’s where
the family business was and that’s what made it possible for me to
get in one of these racecars. I have a lot of respect and gratitude
for where I come from and it’s an absolute pleasure for me to go back
there next week with the World of Outlaws and put on a show for the
hometown fans and bring the best this sport has to offer.”
Knoxville Nationals Final Night Statistical Report, Knoxville (Iowa)
Raceway, Aug. 12, 2006
E Feature, 10 laps, 2:44.4
1. John Lambertz, Sioux Falls SD
2. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can.
3. Bob Bennett, Lewisberry PA
4. Mike Moore, Des Moines IA
5. Kim Mock, Pleasant Prairie WI
6. Rich Bubak, Golden Co
7. Dan Shetler, Johnstown PA
8. Dale Howard, Byhalia MS
9. Brian Carlson, Linden IN
10. Jerry Brey, Billings MT
11. Greg Jones, Earlham IA;
D Feature, 12 laps, No Time
1. Brock Mayes, Bucyrus OH
2. Dean Jacobs, Wooster OH
3. Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks ND
4. Danny Smith, Danville IN
5. Kelly Kinser, Bloomington IN
6. Robert Ballou, Rocklin CA
7. Kyle Hirst, Elk Grove CA
8. Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA
9. Jan Howard, Byhalia MS
10. Tim St. Arnold, Des Moines IA
11. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD
12. Toni Lutar, White Rock, BC, Can.
13. Chad Hillier, Sedro Woolley WA
14. Matt Moro, Ankeny IA
15. Jerrod Hull, Sikeston MO
16. James Mosher, Albuquerque NM
17. Becca Anderson, Houston DE
18. John Lambertz, Sioux Falls SD
19. Bob Bennett, Lewisberry PA
20. Chris Walraven, Knoxville IA
21. Neil Shepherd, Warsaw IN
22. Tim Hunter, Millersburg OH;
C Feature, 15 laps, No Time
1. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH
2. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust.
3. Jason Sides, Bartlett TN
4. Lance Dewease, Fayetteville PA
5. Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls SD
6. Trevor Green, (R) Adelaide, SA, Aust.
7. Calvin Landis, Knoxville IA
8. Dean Jacobs, Wooster OH
9. Jesse Hockett, Warsaw MO
10. Luke Cranston, Ness City KS
11. Dion Hindi, Albuquerque NM
12. Travis Whitney, Champlin MN
13. Jon Corbin, Carrollton MO
14. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD
15. Brock Mayes, Bucyrus OH
16. Jeremy Campbell, Monroe MI
17. Brian Ellenberger, Butler PA
18. Rager Phillips, (R) Pleasantville IA
19. Dennis Moore Jr., Grinnell IA
20. Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City IA
21. PJ Chesson, Far Hills NJ
22. Jason Martin, Liberal KS.
B Feature, 22 laps, No Time
1. Jeff Shepard, Upperco MD
2. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK
3. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA
4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO
5. Travis Rilat, Forney TX
6. Brian Brown, Grain Valley MO
7. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust.
8. Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro IN
9. Ricky Logan, Little Rock AR
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch MS
11. Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge OH
12. Jonathan Allard, Chico CA
13. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster OH
14. Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow OK
15. Chad Layton, Harrisburg PA
16. Todd Shaffer, Millerstown PA
17. Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg PA
18. Kerry Madsen, Sydney, NSW, Aust.
19. Chad Kemenah, Findlay OH
20. Skip Jackson, Sydney, NSW, Aust.
21. Brandon Wimmer, Fairmont IN
22. Gary Wright, Hooks TX;
A Feature, 30 laps, No Time
1. Donny Schatz, Fargo ND
2. Joey Saldana, Brownsburg IN
3. Jason Johnson, Eunice LA
4. Danny Lasoski, Dover MO
5. Jason Meyers, Clovis CA
6. Steve Kinser, Bloomington IN
7. Craig Dollansky, Elk River MN
8. Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City OK
9. Don Droud Jr., Lincoln NE
10. Daryn Pittman, Owasso OK
11. Paul McMahan, Nashville TN
12. Fred Rahmer, Salfordville PA
13. Jeff Shepard, Upperco MD
14. Tim Kaeding, San Jose CA
15. Dusty Zomer, (R) Brandon SD
16. Ed Lynch Jr., Apollo PA
17. Shane Stewart, Bixby OK
18. Sammy Swindell, Germantown TN
19. Terry McCarl, Altoona IA
20. Billy Alley, Lincoln NE
21. Kaley Gharst, Decatur IL
22. Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal KS
23. Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg PA
24. Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon WA.
Lap Leaders: Saldana 1-3, 5-12; Schatz 4, 13-30.
