HAGERSTOWN, MD- Donny Schatz and his ParkerStores team started the annual Pennsylvania Swing by winning the Wirtgen Shootout Preliminary feature and ended the weekend on the sideline after crashing at Hagerstown. Sandwiched between "the Thrill of Victory and Agony of Defeat" was a night when "The Minot Missile" looked to be on a mission to win back-to-back features at "The Grove", and also in front of a national audience. TNN: The National Network was on hand Friday night, but Mother Nature was the winner as steady ready rain forced the race to be postponed to July.

"Weekend's like this drive you crazy," said Schatz. "We were on top of the world and had a great chance to win on national television to wrecking a car that has been really good for us. Both Friday and Saturday we really didn't have a chance to beat the circumstances. Rain took a great chance away from us Friday and on Saturday, I just found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The best thing we can do is put it in our rearview mirror hope for the best in Charlotte."

Schatz dominated Thursday's WoO program at the legendary Wililams Grove Speedway, which is located near Mechanicsburg, PA. After qualifying third, Schatz drove the ParkerStores J&J to a heat race victory and a runner-up finish in the Channellock Dash. He passed early-leader Danny Lasoski on lap three and never looked back. On Friday the team picked up where they left off, as Schatz won the Channellock Dash and earned the poll position for the 30-lap "A" Feature.

Saturday's program at Hagerstown (MD) Speedway was a tough one for the Minot, ND - native. He qualified 13th in the field and started the First Heat race in fifth. A fifth place finish started Schatz 13th in the "A" Feature. After a quick start, Schatz was battling Lance Dewease and Craig Dollanksy. On lap 12, disaster struck as Dollansky's left rear tire blew. When the #7 slowed, he left Schatz with no where to go, and the #15 car jumped over the back of Dollansky's car and did a series of flips. Schatz was fine after the crash, but severe damage ended the race. He was credited with a 23rd place finish and dropped to ninth in the WoO standings.

Next week, the ParkerStore team will travel to Charlotte (NC) for two nights of action at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Dirt Track. TNN: The National Network will air both races live beginning at 9 PM (ET).

(Article by Bill Klingbeil)
(Photo by Allan Holland)