The World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series returned to Princeton (Minn.) Speedway for the first time in three seasons on Saturday night, and Tony Stewart Racing’s (TSR) Donny Schatz continued his domination at the quarter-mile dirt oval. Schatz raced the TSR No. 15 STP/Armor All/Chevrolet J&J to his third consecutive victory at the track by leading the final 13 laps in the 40-lap A-Feature. TSR’s Steve Kinser joined Schatz on the podium by charging from 10th to third behind the wheel of the TSR No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/ Chevrolet Maxim.
In the fall of 2007 and 2008, Schatz was victorious at Princeton and he opened Saturday’s program by turning the third-fastest lap in qualifying. The four-time WoO champion finished fourth in heat three and third in the dash to earn a second-row starting spot in the A-Feature. At the start of the main event, Schatz quickly worked his way into second and followed early leader Mark Dobmeier. He closed on the leader several times and ultimately took advantage of a caution on lap 27. Schatz seized control on the restart and withstood a late challenge from Jason Sides to earn his second WoO A-Feature triumph of 2011. The victory was also his 107th career WoO A-Feature victory, tying him for fourth all-time with Doug Wolfgang.
Kinser started the program by turning the 12th-fastest lap in the field of 26 cars. The 20-time WoO champion won the third heat and raced from 10th to fifth in the dash before stopping with a mechanical failure. The Bass Pro Shops team replaced the engine in the TSR No. 11 for the A-Feature, and “The King of the Outlaws” steadily worked his way from 10th back into the top-five. On lap 33, he was up to fourth and then climbed to third two laps later. Saturday’s result was his 10th finish inside the top-three and second-consecutive third-place finish.
Following Saturday’s event in Minnesota, the TSR teams headed to southeast South Dakota for their annual visit to Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. Mother Nature once again proved to be a factor, forcing the event to be postponed until later in the summer. Sunday’s event was the 10th race in 2011 affected by weather.
Saturday’s victory allowed Schatz to build on his lead in the championship standings to 29 points over Joey Saldana through 24 of 67 events. The Fargo, N.D., resident has earned 3,349 points, two victories, 14 top-fives, and 19 top-10s. Kinser maintained his fourth position in the standings with 3,279 points, five wins, 12 top-fives, and 19 top-10s. The TSR teams will venture to the Plains for the annual Boot Hill Shootout on Friday and Saturday night at Dodge City (Kan.) Raceway Park.
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