Sprint

AUS: Donny Schatz King's Challenge summary

Donny Schatz Takes King's Challenge MT. GAMBIER (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) -- Donny Schatz returned to Australia this week with one goal in mind: Win three more features. On Friday night, the World of Outlaws Sprint Series star from Fargo, ...

Edited: Jan 31, 2005, 11:13 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Donny Schatz Takes King's Challenge

MT. GAMBIER (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) -- Donny Schatz returned to Australia this week with one goal in mind: Win three more features. On Friday night, the World of Outlaws Sprint Series star from Fargo, ND, accomplished the first leg by dominating the King's Challenge at Borderline Speedway in Mt. Gambier, South Australia, driving his #15 ParkerStore J&J with Shaver power.

Schatz won Friday's feature event after earning the pole position. He qualified sixth in the field and following a tough run in the third heat, he raced from 8th to win the sixth heat race. The heat win earned Schatz a spot in the Hoosier Tires Pole Shootout, which he won after starting third and racing past fellow Outlaws Daryn Pittman and Tim Kaeding.

The 27 year-old has been one of the hottest sprint car drivers in the world during the past six months winning major Outlaw races to conclude the 2004 season and more recently winning five times on Australian soil during a ten-race stint. His recent success included not only the Outlaws Down Under finale at Parramatta City Raceway, but also his fourth $50,000-to-win Sprintcar International. Those wins helped persuade Schatz to return to Australia this weekend for a chance to capture the prestigious Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Premier Speedway for the third time in his career.

"We weren't sure about the format if it would help us or not having to qualify," continued Schatz, who be in his familiar #15 ParkerStore J&J on Saturday and Sunday night. "In the end, it's all about having the best car in the 40-lap feature. We learned a lot racing at Parramatta and Warrnambool is a little different. Having a legend like Garry Rush in your corner is a major plus for us and there shouldn't be too many surprises."

"We just hope to go out and do our best each night," continued Schatz. "The Classic is like our Knoxville Nationals and it brings out the best in everyone over there. We're excited to be in the event, and as added bonus we'll get to race in the World Challenge again at the Nationals."

By competing in the Classic, Schatz will be eligible to participate in the Clean-O World Challenge presented by www.fleetbuyinggroup.com during this year's Knoxville Nationals in August. Schatz won the Challenge after starting in the last row in 2001 and 2002.

Following this weekend's event, Schatz will return home and get prepared for the World of Outlaws Sprint Series first race of 2005 in the United States, February 11 and 13 at Volusia Raceway Park in Barberville, FL.

Keep up with the latest news on Donny Schatz by visiting www.donnyschatz.com and www.parker.com/racing.

-psr-

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Late Models continue IRP tradition

Next article BAR Valencia test summary 2005-01-25/28

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits

General

Misc General

2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits

Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

22 min

Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP

Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

44 min

Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy

MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

3 h

MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts