Schatz Wins Summer Nationals at Williams Grove
By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
In the last week, Donny Schatz has accomplished what countless drivers spend an entire career trying to do. He began by winning the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway last Saturday night, earning $50,000 and followed that up with a win in the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway on Wednesday to pocket $30,000.
He extended his win streak to three in the opener of the Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals Presented by Advance Auto Parts at Williams Grove Speedway on Thursday. On Friday night, he finished sixth, but learned a number of valuable things that helped him cap off the week with a win in the finale of the Summer Nationals, which paid $20,000.
“It was a great win,” said Schatz, driver of the ParkerStore J&J. “The last two nights are what got us here and helped us be up front. We had to run the heat race tonight and do a little playing around. We learned a lot about our race car tonight. We learned a lot about tires and that is what we want to do, because the next time we come back here there is even more money on the line. Hopefully we can take that and learn from it and come back next time and be even better.”
Schatz took the lead on the opening lap, after lining up on the outside of the front row. He won a drag race with Paul McMahan down the long front straightaway at the famed half-mile. He dove to the bottom of the track in the first turn and quickly put a few car lengths between him and McMahan.
Steve Kinser shadowed Schatz for the last 20 laps of the event. With the laps winding down he was able to track Schatz down in traffic and made a couple of attempts to pass him. On the 24th lap he looked low on the back straightaway but could not quite clear the leader. As he exited the fourth turn he tried the same move again on the front straightaway. At the line, the margin of victory was just 0.789 seconds with Kinser finishing in the runner-up spot.
“I was faster than everybody tonight,” said Kinser, driver of the Q Oil Maxim. “I ran him (Schatz) down but there wasn’t anywhere to go but the bottom. I tried the middle early. I had one time where I got down under him but there was so much loose stuff down the straightaway that I couldn’t get a hold of it. I had to settle in and follow him.”
McMahan won the Crane Cams Dash to earn the pole for the finale of the Summer Nationals. He fell back to third early in the race and then dropped to fourth after Kinser got around him. He moved back into third on the 12th lap as he got around Joey Saldana. He then chased Kinser for the remainder of the event, getting close to making a pass for the spot several times and finishing third.
“Anytime you can run in the top-three here is great,” said McMahan, driver of the Bass Pro Shops Eagle. “I am getting more comfortable at this place and we are getting more comfortable with the race car day in and day out. It is showing in the results. We came in here and had three Top10’s and two Top-Five’s of those three. The guys are giving me great race cars and it is fun to drive when you have that.”
Joey Saldana quickly moved into the runner-up spot on the second lap of the race in the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI, and closed to within a few car lengths of Schatz. He would wind up fourth in the final rundown.
Danny Lasoski finished fifth in the finale of the Summer Nationals aboard the Roth Motorsports JEI. He fell back to seventh early, before getting around local favorites Doug Esh and Lucas Wolfe.
Esh finished sixth in the Kinard Trucking J&J, with Wolfe in seventh in the Allebach Racing Maxim. Jeff Shepard was eighth in the Zemco Tool & Die Maxim, with Tim Shaffer ninth, in the Casey’s General Store Maxim. Daryn Pittman was 10th in the Titan Garages Maxim.
Schatz and his team had one little hiccup on the night, as they had to change engines after a problem in the dash. With just the B-Main and a short break following the dash, they changed the engine, got it fired and had just enough time to make the changes needed on the car for the 30-lap event.
“We didn’t have much time to change it,” said Schatz. “We had an issue with that engine last night and it went away, but tonight it did not go away. We had to get it out and that put us a little bit behind the eight ball.”
With the finale of the Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals Presented by Advance Auto Parts being the fourth straight night of racing for the World of Outlaws, Schatz was quick to credit his crew for helping him earn the win on Saturday night. After celebrating in victory lane, they quickly began their post-race maintenance routine as they prepared for a five-plus hour drive northeast to Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York for an event on Sunday.
“They are working extremely hard,” said the winner of his team, led by crew chief Dave Lawrence. “They are the best guys out here. It’s an honor to have them working on this car. They are pretty motivated and pumped up right because they are doing the right things. That’s good for them and I get to reap a little benefit off it as well.”
For the third time in the last four events, the race went green-to-checkers with no cautions, and took just over 10-and-a-half minutes. This allowed the front runners to stay close to Schatz as he tried to weave his way through traffic.
“It’s the way we like to see racing,” noted the reigning World of Outlaws champion. “The cream rises to the top. We got down to the rubber first and he (Steve Kinser) pushed us pretty hard. We were good enough to stay in front of him. If it would have been a 40-lap race, I don’t know what would have happened. We tried everything we could and did the best we could and got away with a victory.”
Kinser lined up sixth for the event and after a three-wide battle with Lucas Wolfe and Doug Eash on the back straightaway on the opening lap, he moved into the third spot. After following Joey Saldana for a number of laps, Kinser passed the fellow Indiana driver exiting the fourth turn to move into second. He was a little surprised that with 28 starters in the event that the caution flag did not fly.
“There are definitely good enough drives and good enough cars to do it here,” noted Kinser. “Usually when you are racing that hard and that close together somebody gets into someone. Sometimes it happens where you have no cautions.”
McMahan battled Kinser for second late in the race and inched ahead of him on the backstraightaway, before Kinser battled back on the high side of the track in turns three and four.
“I got a run on Steve (Kinser) and thought I may be able to get second,” said McMahan. “I got to the inside of him, but it’s so dusty down the back straightaway and I lit the tires up and he got back in front of me.”
The World of Outlaws return to action on Sunday, July 22 at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York.
CLEVELAND BROTHERS SUMMER NATIONALS PRESENTED BY ADVANCE AUTO PARTS NIGHT #3 NOTEBOOK
• ACCUMLATED POINTS: The heat line-ups for the finale of the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove were determined by accumulated points earned during the first two nights of the three-day event.
• QUALIFYING WINNERS: Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Paul McMahan, and Lucas Wolfe won heat races… Jac Haudenschild won the C-Main… Jason Meyers won the B-Main… Paul McMahan won the Crane Cams dash.
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• FEATURE WINNERS: There have been 48 World of Outlaws A-Feature events held in 2007. The win list includes: Donny Schatz (February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park, March 3 at Manzanita Speedway, March 16 at Houston Raceway Park, April 28 at Knoxville Raceway, May 17 at Williams Grove Speedway, May 18 at Williams Grove Speedway, May 25 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, June 25 at Black Hills Speedway, July 3 at Huset’s Speedway, July 14 at Eldora Speedway, July 18 at Lernerville Speedway, July 19 at Williams Grove Speedway and July 21 at Williams Grove Speedway), Joey Saldana (February 23 at Thunderbowl Raceway, March 17 at Pike County Speedway, March 24 at Volunteer Speedway, March 31 at Dixie Speedway, April 20 at Attica Raceway Park, June 5 at Kokomo Speedway, June 9 at Eagle Raceway, June 29 at River Cities Speedway and July 7 at I-55 Raceway), Steve Kinser (March 2 at USA Race Park, April 21 at Tri-State Speedway, May 15 at Lernerville Speedway, May 20 at New Egypt Speedway, May 28 at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, June 1 at Sharon Speedway, June 20 at Missouri State Fair Speedway and July 13 at Eldora Speedway), Danny Lasoski (April 6 at Paducah International Raceway, May 23 at Grandview Speedway and June 14 at Tri-City Speedway), Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway, May 11 at U.S. 36 Raceway and June 22 at Dodge City Raceway Park), Daryn Pittman (February 11 at Volusia Speedway Park, May 5 at Riverside International Speedway and June 23 at Dodge City Raceway Park), Jac Haudenschild (June 30 at Red River Valley Speedway and July 11 at Limaland Motorsports Park), Paul McMahan (June 2 at Eldora Speedway and July 1 at Cedar Lake Speedway), Craig Dollansky (May 12 at Lake Ozark Speedway), Tim Kaeding (February 24 at Thunderbowl Raceway), Brian Leppo (July 20 at Williams Grove Speedway), Kerry Madsen (February 10 at Volusia Speedway Park) and Terry McCarl (June 16 at Knoxville Raceway).
• HALF-MILE WINNERS: Williams Grove Speedway is a semi-banked half-mile oval. The World of Outlaws have raced 18 times this season on a track that size. The winners include: Donny Schatz (February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park, March 3 at Manzanita Speedway, April 28 at Knoxville Raceway, May 17 at Williams Grove Speedway, May 18 at Williams Grove Speedway, July 14 at Eldora Speedway, July 19 at Williams Grove Speedway and July 21 at Williams Grove Speedway), Steve Kinser (May 20 at New Egypt Speedway, June 20 at Missouri State Fair Speedway and July 13 at Eldora Speedway), Jac Haudenschild (June 30 at Red River Valley Speedway), Brian Leppo (Williams Grove Speedway), Kerry Madsen (February 10 at Volusia Speedway Park), Terry McCarl (June 16 at Knoxville Raceway), Paul McMahan (June 2 at Eldora Speedway), Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway) and Daryn Pittman (February 11 at Volusia Speedway Park).
•ON TELEVISION: The World of Outlaws “SuperClean Summer of Money” on ESPN2 continues on Sunday, July 22 with the Cleveland Brother Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup from Lernerville Speedway. The event will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 22 at Noon Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Central.
The World of Outlaws will be televised 20 times this season on ESPN2 and SPEED while the World of Outlaws Late Model Series is set for six appearances on SPEED. The one-hour broadcasts will air on Sundays from May 13 to Nov. 4, when the series champions will be crowned during the World Finals from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
• ON THE WEB: The Official World of Outlaws Web site is at http://www.worldofoutlaws.com. Among the features are updated driver biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race statistics, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases. Also, links to the Media Guide and 2007 Official Rulebook can be found at the bottom of the home page.
• LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the series, they can experience the excitement of the World of Outlaws live through the DIRTVision.com Cybercast and on the DIRT Radio Network. To listen to the audio broadcasts, log on to www.DIRTVision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo. Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail webmaster@DIRTVision.com.
• UP NEXT: A stop at Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York on Sunday, July 22.
• UPCOMING EVENTS: The World of Outlaws first visit to Canada since 1982 as they invade Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario on Wednesday, July 25.
World of Outlaws Statistical Report; Cleveland Brothers Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals Presented by Advance Auto Parts; Mechanicsburg, PA; July 21, 2007
Qualifying Points (accumulated over first two nights of racing):
1) 7S-Jason Sides 1037
2) 15-Donny Schatz 1034
3) 20-Paul McMahan 1028
4) 5W-Lucas Wolfe 981
5) 9-Joey Saldana 971
6) 29-Kenny Jacobs 967
7) 6-Tim Shaffer 965
8) 71-Brian Leppo 958
9) 83-Danny Lasoski 935
10) 30-Doug Esh 895
11) 11H-Kerry Madsen 894
12) 1-Jeff Shepard 894
13) 7-Craig Dollansky 883
14) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 874
15) 11-Steve Kinser 870
16) 21P-Brian Montieth 865
17) 17B-Steven Buckwalter 863
18) R19-Jason Solwold 827
19) 25-Lance Dewease 818
20) 14-Jason Meyers 816
21) 21-Daryn Pittman 799
22) 36-Jason Martin 787
23) 10C-Jeremy Campbell 782
24) 22-Greg Hodnett 779
25) 24-Terry McCarl 752
26) 19-Stevie Smith 751
27) 11E-Mike Erdley 744
28) 7K-Keith Kauffman 736
29) 39-TJ Stutts 736
30) 87-Alan Krimes 735
31) 51-Fred Rahmer 729
32) 69K-Donnie Kreitz Jr. 697
33) 88-Todd Shaffer 688
34) D1-Justin Henderson 682
35) 35-Jac Haudenschild 681
36) U1-Chad Layton 677
37) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. 666
38) 1X-Randy Hannagan 646
39) 5C-Chad Hillier 612
40) 9K-Craig Keel 608
41) 59-Jim Siegel 585
42) 8M-Chris Meleason 578
43) 28-Brian Paulus 577
44) 3-Bob Bennett 567
45) 18X-Ryan Bohkle 540
46) 8K-Chad Kemenah 522
47) 93-Jonathan Eriksen 494
48) 18-Brian Carlson 480
49) O7-Mark Smith 452
50) 6W-Josh Wells 452
51) 30S-Steve Clabaugh 323
52) 30C-Michael Carber 263
53) 10N-Niki Young 258
54) 8-Rich Eichelberger 205
55) 35A-Alan Cole 204
Heat 1 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 9-Joey Saldana
2) 83-Danny Lasoski
3) 21-Daryn Pittman
4) 7-Craig Dollansky
5) 24-Terry McCarl
6) 17B-Steven Buckwalter
7) 1X-Randy Hannagan
8) 87-Alan Krimes
9) 28-Brian Paulus
10) 7S-Jason Sides
11) D1-Justin Henderson
Heat 2 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 15-Donny Schatz
2) 29-Kenny Jacobs
3) 30-Doug Esh
4) 19-Stevie Smith
5) 51-Fred Rahmer
6) R19-Jason Solwold
7) 35-Jac Haudenschild
8) 8K-Chad Kemenah
9) 36-Jason Martin
10) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
11) 5C-Chad Hillier
Heat 3 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 20-Paul McMahan
2) 11-Steve Kinser
3) 6-Tim Shaffer
4) U1-Chad Layton
5) 11H-Kerry Madsen
6) 25-Lance Dewease
7) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
8) 69K-Donnie Kreitz Jr.
9) 9K-Craig Keel
10) 93-Jonathan Eriksen
11) 11E-Mike Erdley
Heat 4 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 5W-Lucas Wolfe
2) 71-Brian Leppo
3) 1-Jeff Shepard
4) 21P-Brian Montieth
5) 22-Greg Hodnett
6) 88-Todd Shaffer
7) 14-Jason Meyers
8) 39-TJ Stutts
9) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
10) 59-Jim Siegel
11) 18-Brian Carlson
Crane Cams Dash (6 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature)
1) 20-Paul McMahan
2) 15-Donny Schatz
3) 5W-Lucas Wolfe
4) 9-Joey Saldana
5) 83-Danny Lasoski
6) 11-Steve Kinser
7) 29-Kenny Jacobs
8) 30-Doug Esh
9) 6-Tim Shaffer
10) 71-Brian Leppo
C-main (10 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to B-main)
1) 35-Jac Haudenschild
2) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
3) 5C-Chad Hillier [$125]
4) 1X-Randy Hannagan [$125]
5) 59-Jim Siegel [$125]
6) 9K-Craig Keel [$100]
7) 28-Brian Paulus [$100]
8) 8K-Chad Kemenah [$100]
9) 93-Jonathan Eriksen [$100]
10) 18-Brian Carlson [$100]
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 14-Jason Meyers
2) 7S-Jason Sides
3) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
4) 87-Alan Krimes
5) 25-Lance Dewease [$200]
6) R19-Jason Solwold [$180]
7) 88-Todd Shaffer [$175]
8) 69K-Donnie Kreitz Jr. [$160]
9) 35-Jac Haudenschild [$150]
10) 10C-Jeremy Campbell [$150]
11) D1-Justin Henderson [$150]
12) 17B-Steven Buckwalter [$150]
13) 39-TJ Stutts [$150]
14) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. [$150]
15) 36-Jason Martin [$150]
16) 11E-Mike Erdley [$150]
A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]
1) 15-Donny Schatz[2] [$20,000]
2) 11-Steve Kinser[6] [$12,000]
3) 20-Paul McMahan[1] [$6,000]
4) 9-Joey Saldana[4] [$5,250]
5) 83-Danny Lasoski[5] [$4,500]
6) 30-Doug Esh[8] [$4,000]
7) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[3] [$3,500]
8) 1-Jeff Shepard[13] [$3,000]
9) 6-Tim Shaffer[9] [$2,750]
10) 21-Daryn Pittman[18] [$2,500]
11) 24-Terry McCarl[20] [$2,300]
12) 14-Jason Meyers[17] [$2,250]
13) U1-Chad Layton[24] [$2,000]
14) 51-Fred Rahmer[23] [$1,600]
15) 11H-Kerry Madsen[12] [$1,500]
16) 87-Alan Krimes[22] [$1,300]
17) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[15] [$1,250]
18) 7-Craig Dollansky[14] [$1,050]
19) 19-Stevie Smith[21] [$1,050]
20) 22-Greg Hodnett[19] [$1,050]
21) 29-Kenny Jacobs[7] [$1,000]
22) 35-Jac Haudenschild[27] [$100]
23) 88-Todd Shaffer[26] [$0]
24) R19-Jason Solwold[25] [$0]
25) 7S-Jason Sides[11] [$900]
26) 21P-Brian Montieth[16] [$900]
27) 25-Lance Dewease[28] [$0]
28) 71-Brian Leppo[10] [$900]
Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: Terry McCarl
Note: Jason Solwold and Jac Haudenschild used World of Outlaws provisionals to start the A-Feature. Todd Shaffer and Lance Dewease used Williams Grove Speedway track provisionals to start the A-Feature.
2007 STAT ATTACK
There have been 48 World of Outlaws A-Feature events this season.
A-Feature winners (13 different drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Wins
1- #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 13
2- #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 9
3- #11 Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN – 8
4- #83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - 3
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 3