ParkerStore team continues
busy trek in blistering heat

Fountain, CO- July 8, 2003 - Rookie of the year candidate, Donny Schatz moved up through the field to finish 11th Friday afternoon at Pikes Peak International Raceway. The finish was Schatz’s best in only four pavement starts in his #115 ParkerStores J&J sponsored ride.

For the second week in a row the teams had to battle extremely hot temperatures. The thermometer read 108 degrees in the shade on Thursday during practice with track temperatures peaking out at 142 degrees. Donny Schatz and Tyler Walker were also working off of 4 hours sleep after traveling from their World of Outlaws event at Sedalia, Missouri the night before. The duo stuck it out and qualified 19th and 13th respectively. Mother Nature did not let up for race day, with temperatures again soaring into the 100-degree range.

As the race started, a few cars got a jump on Schatz. But by the halfway mark, the rookie was making moves of his own, maneuvering the ParkerStores J&J into 14th position. When the checker flag flew, the North Dakota native had finished 11th.

“I felt pretty comfortable in the ParkerStores J&J car today,” smiled Schatz. “We played around with the weightjackers all day. Every time I went out, I learned more and more and we got better and better. We will take the experience that we gained here and hopefully get a top-10 at IRP.”

Walker quickly drove his #35 Curb Records J&J through the field passing Aaron Fike for tenth on lap 22. By lap 31, Tyler Walker had worked his way to 7th position. Hopes for the Curb Records team’s first win of the season were dashed when smoke was seen pouring from the Curb-Agajanian Special on lap 43.

“The Curb Records J&J car was hooked up tonight,” said Walker. “It is a shame that she started smoking but things happen. We will just regroup and go at it again at IRP.”

Walker remains 8th in points. Schatz moved up 7 positions to 30th in the standings and is tied with Bobby East for the Rookie of the Year.

The Weld Racing Silver Crown Series will take a few weeks off before returning to Indianapolis Raceway Park on Thursday, July 31 for the J.D. Byrider 100, part of Kroger Speedfest.

R.E. TECHNOLOGIES TEAM ON TV

The Rocky Mountain Classic will air on Speed Channel, July 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern.

(Photo courtesy of Blake Johnson)