SCHATZ TIES BEST CAREER FINISH AT KING'S ROYAL WITH AN EIGHTH
ROSSBURG, OH - Donny Schatz was hoping the King's Royal would be the race where he finally broke through and won a World of Outlaws race at Eldora Speedway. It didn't work out this time, but the team will be back for the $100,000-to-win Historical Big One in two weeks.
"Everything has to go your way to win a big race like this," said Schatz. "We qualified good, but couldn't get through our heat race. With the track as fast as it was, we just couldn't get going good at the beginning. When we did later in the race, it was too late to catch the guys up front."
After Mother Nature delayed the start of the 18th Annual King's Royal for more than three hours, Schatz qualified the #15 ParkerStores/Featherlite Coaches J&J third in the field of 41 cars. Schatz started sixth in the third heat race and could only manage to gain one position. He needed to finish third to advance to the Dash and "A" Feature. Instead he raced his way into the field by finishing third in the "B" Feature.
Schatz, who started next to eventual-winner Mark Kinser, took a big push heading into the first turn and nearly flipped the #15. Four cars snuck by and Schatz raced in 16th for the first 10 laps. A red-flag on the 10th lap allowed Kenny Woodruff and the ParkerStores crew a chance to make adjustments. The changes worked as the "Minot Missile" charged past eight cars during the remainder of the race.
The team will return to action on Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway near Pittsburgh. The Don Martin Memorial winner will claim the $34,000 first prize.
(Article by Bill Klingbeil)
Results for the 18th Annual Kings Royal
1)Mark Kinser 2)Steve Kinser 3)Andy Hillenburg 4)Craig Dollansky 5)Stevie Smith 6)Danny Wood 7)Paul McMahan 8)Donny Schatz 9)Jason Meyers 10)Joey Saldana 11)Greg Hodnett 12)Dale Blaney 13)Daryn Pittman 14)Randy Hannagan 15)P.J. Chesson 16)James Chesson 17)Danny Lasoski 18)Brad Furr 19)Kasey Kahne 20)Shane Stewart 21)Jeff Sheppard 22)Kenny Jacobs 23)Kyle Sauder 24)Brian Carlson 25)Ed Lynch, Jr.
