MECHANICSBURG, PA ~ July 25, 2003 ~ From his outside fourth row starting position, Donny Schatz skillfully maneuvered his way to the lead in the 25-lap A-main on night two of the three-day Williams Grove Summer Nationals. The victory will place the North Dakota driver in the top-four points-getters, locking him in to the dash to determine his starting position for the $20,000 to win finale Saturday night. He went into Friday night's competition tied for fourth in the event point standings as of Thursday night's finish. Schatz won the prestigious Williams Grove Speedway event in 2000.
Starting eighth, Schatz methodically picked off one competitor at a time to score his sixth World of Outlaws victory of the season. Known for his prowess around the high grove, Schatz didn't disappoint the capacity crowd. He only dove to the middle or the bottom if there wasn't a clear path around the competition until he took the lead on lap 20 of the 25-lap race. Mike Erdley, Greg Hodnett, Toss Hestor and Jason Sides rounded out the top five.
Thursday night's winner Don Kreitz, Jr., had to take a provisional starting position to join the A-Main field, finishing a disappointing 25th. The other drivers leading the event point standing going into the second night of competition, Keith Kauffman, Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser scored sixth, tenth and 20th respectively in the A-main substantially jumbling the leader board for the Saturday night finale.
"My ParkerStores crew gave me a great car tonight," said Schatz. "I could put it anywhere I needed to work my way around the front runners and through the lapped traffic. The track was good both high and low. Once I got to the front, I stayed high and was able to keep a good rhythm to the checkered flag.
"This will put us solid in the points for the dash tomorrow night. Having a good starting spot for feature will be critical because not only the regular WoO competitors but the Pennsylvania Posse boys as well, will be ready to race when all the money is on the line. There were several strong cars that had problems tonight so they will be on a mission tomorrow night so getting out front will be one thing, staying there will be a whole other challenge. I think we will be ready."
Schatz posted the eighth quickest time of the 42 entries. He started and finished fifth in his heat race. The combination of his qualifying effort and heat race finish put him in the fifth starting position in the second dash. His fourth place finish allowed him to claim the eighth starting spot in the A-Main.
For up-to-date information on Donny Schatz and the ParkerStores team, log on to www.donnyschatz.com.
DONNY SCHATZ 2003 RESULTS
DATE EVENT TRACK STARTING FINISHING POSITION POSITION
Feb 21 Season Opener Kings Speedway 11 9 `
Feb. 22 Perris Auto Speedway Feature Perris Auto Speedway 20 16
Feb. 28 J.D. Byrider Preliminary The Dirt Track @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway 16 16
March 1 J.D. Byrider Outlaw Nationals Feature The Dirt Track @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway 5 8
March 8 Hollywood Hills Preliminary Hollywood Hills Speedway 18 12
March 9 Hollywood Hills Feature Hollywood Hills Speedway 13 9
March 1 State Fair Feature State Fair Speedway 4 1
March 15 Spring Nationals Devil's Bowl Speedway 1 20
March 21 Pike County Feature Pike County Speedway - DRIVER - GARY WRIGHT 15 23
March 22 Texas Shootout Houston Raceway Park - DRIVER - GARY WRIGHT 12 21
March 28 Texas Motor Speedway Preliminary Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track 21 12
March 29 Texas Motor Speedway Feature Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track 25 16
April 4 East Alabama Motor Speedway East Alabama Motor Speedway RAIN OUT
April 5 Talladega Short Track Talladega Short Track 5 12
April 11 Sedalia's State Fair Feature Sedalia's State Fair Speedway 24 10
April 12 I-55 Raceway Feature I-55 Raceway 4 4
April 18 Eldora Preliminary Eldora Speedway 6 1
April 19 Eldora Feature Eldora Speedway 3 22
April 22 Powercom Park Feature The Raceway at Powercom Park 19 9
April 25 Spring Classic Preliminary Knoxville Raceway 3 2
April 26 Spring Classic Feature Knoxville Raceway 2 2
May 2 Great Plains Shootout Preliminary Nebraska Raceway Park 19 5
May 3 Great Plains Shootout Feature Nebraska Raceway Park 5 10
May 6 Lawrenceburg Feature Lawrenceburg Speedway DNS
May 8 Farmer City Feature Farmer City Raceway RAIN OUT
May 9 Terre Haute Feature Terre Haute Action Track 12 21
May 10 Tri-City Feature Tri-City Speedway RAIN OUT
May 13 Delaware Int'l Feature Delaware International Speedway 13 6
May 15 Williams Grove Preliminary Williams Grove Speedway RAIN OUT
May 16 Williams Grove Feature Williams Grove Speedway RAIN OUT
May 19 Hagerstown Feature Hagerstown Speedway 3 3
May 18 Grandview Feature Grandview Speedway 13 11
May 21 Lernerville Feature Lernerville Speedway 2 1
May 23 Outlaws Showdown Preliminary Lowe's Motor Speedway RAIN OUT
May 24 Outlaws Showdown Feature Lowe's Motor Speedway 17 8 Danny Wood 19 15
May 27 Lebanon Valley Feature Lebanon Valley Speedway 8 5
May 28 Rolling Wheels Feature Rolling Wheels Raceway Park 6 2
May 30 Sharon Speedway Feature Sharon Speedway RAIN OUT
May 31 Eldora Feature Eldora Speedway 5 9
June 6 River Cities Feature River Cities Speedway 22 1
June 10 Fox Ridge Feature Fox Ridge Speedway 3 2
June 12 Duel in the Dakotas Preliminary Red River Valley Speedway 9 3
June 13 Duel in the Dakotas Preliminary Red River Valley Speedway 1 1
June 14 Duel in the Dakotas Feature Red River Valley Speedway 3 2
June 18 Huset's Feature Huset's Speedway 15 7
June 20 Joplin 66 Feature Joplin 66 Speedway 14 6
June 21 Lakeside Feature Lakeside Speedway 2 3
June 22 Tri-City Feature Tri-City Speedway 12 3
June 27 Eagle Nationals Preliminary Eagle Raceway- Did not compete due to USAC conflict
June 28 Eagle Nationals Feature Eagle Raceway 16 11
July 2 Sedalia's State Fair Feature Sedalia's State Fair Speedway 10 1
July 4 NAPA Classic Preliminary Knoxville Raceway-Did not compete due to USAC conflict
July 5 NAPA Classic Feature Knoxville Raceway 16 4
July 7 Cedar Lake Feature Cedar Lake Speedway 1 2
July 9 Powercom Feature Powercom Park Raceway Rainout
July 11 Route 66 Feature Route 66 Raceway Rainout
July 12 I-55 Feature I-55 Raceway 7 6
July 13 Terre Haute Feature Terre Haute Action Track -- engine failure 3 19
July 18 Eldora Clash Eldora Speedway 14 5
July 19 Kings Royal Eldora Speedway 6 7
July 22 Silver Cup Feature Lernerville Speedway Rainout
July 24 Summer Nationals Preliminary Williams Grove Speedway 9 6
July 25 Summer Nationals Preliminary Williams Grove Speedway 8 1
