NEW EGYPT, NJ --Donny Schatz continued his winning ways capturing the victory at New Egypt Speedway. Following on the heels of his big win Saturday at the Williams Grove Speedway Summer Nationals, Schatz again battled with Danny Lasoski to win in the 30-lap World of Outlaws A-main at the New Jersey oval. Schatz also won the event in 2001.
"This is a habit I want to keep repeating," said Schatz. "My guys just keep giving me awesome race cars that will perform anywhere I need it to run on the track. It was a great battle again with Danny (Lasoski), very typical of how we both usually race-me on the top and him on the bottom.
"It came down to a matter of how the traffic was going to affect us. About half-way through the race, Danny got bottled up for just a second while I had clear track on the cushion and got around him. From that point, I had to take advantage of every opening in traffic to pull away. It was a great race, I hope the fans enjoyed it because it was great fun from my seat.
"Our ParkerStores team has really gelled the past few weeks and our results are the proof. I am so proud of my guys, these wins are as much theirs as they are mine."
After a complete restart following a first lap crash involving Greg Hodnett, uninjured in the accident, Lasoski took advantage of his pole starting spot to dive to the bottom line and lead the field through turn one. Starting on the outside of the third row gave Schatz the perfect opportunity to move right to the top of the track and take advantage of the cushion.
The pair quickly caught lapped traffic on the 4/10 mile slightly banked oval. On lap 17, Schatz took the lead from Lasoski on the high side in turns three and four. The race slowed again for a caution flag on lap 27 at which time Schatz had lapped all the way up to tenth place in the field. Following Schatz and Lasoski across the finish line were Paul McMahon, Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana.
Schatz had a great qualifying effort turning the second fastest time of the 35 cars entered in the one-day event. He finished third in his heat race and third in the dash landing him in the sixth starting spot for the feature.
Next stop for the ParkerStores team is July 30 at Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH. On July 31 when Schatz is in Indianapolis running the USAC Silver Crown race, Danny Wood will again jump in the cockpit of the #15 ParkerStores car at K-C Raceway, Chillicothe, OH. Schatz will again pilot the bright yellow machine on August 3 at PowerCom Raceway, Beaver Dam, WI and August 6 at Hartford Speedway Park, Hartford, MI before the team heads back to Eldora Speedway for the Historic Big One to defend their 2002 win.
For up-to-the-minute 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
July 26 Summer Nationals Feature Williams Grove Speedway 1 1
July 28 New Egypt Feature New Egypt Speedway 6 1
