As the World of Outlaws celebrates its 47th season with the 53rd Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals this week, Donny Schatz is determined to invigorate the No. 15 Tony Stewart | Curb-Agajanian Racing team.
The 10-time Outlaw champion has been a headliner in the Greatest Show on Dirt for nearly three decades—the last 17 years driving for Stewart. Schatz has amassed 310 wins throughout his career, but over the last four seasons, he has struggled to amass the double-digit victories that came so easily early on.
Still, the 46-year-old Fargo, North Dakota, native is pragmatic enough to know that, without performance, popularity can only carry a driver so far.
“We have not had the best stretch over the last several years,” Schatz said. “But we’ve learned a lot in the last several months and have our fingers on a lot of things to be able to make some necessary drastic changes. They’re in the areas where we’ve struggled a little bit.
“But the guys have been working awfully hard. I have a lot of faith in them and a lot of hope that we’re going to be contending for a championship in the World of Outlaws this year. We’ve done a lot of testing on and off the race track with stuff and found several things that we’re excited about. Now, all we can do is get to the races and apply what we’ve learned.”
Schatz has been a force at Volusia Speedway Park throughout his career. Since 2007, he has scored 23 sprint car wins at the half-mile dirt track, including 14 WoO victories—more than twice that of the nearest competitor.
In Wednesday night’s season opener, the 2017 DIRTcar Nationals champ finished fourth in hot laps, seventh in Flight B qualifying and third in his heat race. Schatz lined up 10th for the feature and seized sixth place following a final-corner pass.
The former Big Gator winner appeared in top form in the star-studded field. Defending WoO champion Brad Sweet won the A-Main from the pole.
“Our first seven races are at Volusia—with the first four nights being World of Outlaws now since there is no more All-Star (Circuit of Champions) Series—then we have a three-week break,” Schatz said. “It will give us a good opportunity to build on our finishes each night.
“Our expectations are to go out there and leave with a Big Gator by winning seven races but that’s probably a little farfetched. So, we’ll do our best to go out there and get off on the right foot. Getting out of there with a win is definitely the most important, but multiple wins would be even better, because you’ve got to start out on the right foot to end on it.”
After winning five consecutive titles, Sweet is leaving full-time WoO competition in 2024 to oversee and race in the High Limit Sprint Series—the tour he co-owns with his brother-in-law and NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson.
Despite the High Limit series absorbing the All-Star Circuit of Champions tour—a series previously owned by Stewart—Schatz doesn’t believe the Outlaw fields will be diluted.
“I look at it this way–I’ve gone to the World of Outlaws races for the last 28 seasons,” Schatz said. “I don’t know why I should have to answer that question for anyone. I guess some people have other aspirations, have a different opinion on what the direction should be.
“But I’m where I’ve been. This is where I plan to stay. I’ve been part of building this brand, and hopefully, we can continue building it. It’s been a great product. There’s no such thing as the perfect product (laughs), but in racing, there’s a lot of competition. And there’s nothing wrong with competition as well.”
Schatz admits it’s awkward being asked about a competing tour. Yet with the massive success he has enjoyed being an Outlaw, he sees no reason to change course.
“Why would I do anything different,” Schatz asks. “I feel pretty good that there are a lot of great racers out there on both sides of the fence. We’ll just see what happens. All we’re going to do is go to the 85 races we signed up for and that we’ve committed to for years. Hopefully, we’ll see the same fans, we’ll see the same facilities—and see some new facilities as well.
“From a fan standpoint, I think it’s going to be a really good year.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
