FARGO, ND ~ September 10, 2003 ~ When the World of Outlaws opted to change Hollywood Hills Speedway, San Felipe, NM from a two-day event to a one-night race on September 13, the conflict that existed with the USAC Silver Crown event at Tulsa Fairgrounds Speedway, Tulsa, OK was erased. As a result of the schedule change, Donny Schatz will travel from the New Mexico WoO event to drive the #115 ParkerStores J&J on the dirt at Tulsa.

“I was disappointed that I wouldn't have a chance to drive the new J & J Silver Crown dirt car chassis with the conflicts in the WoO and USAC schedules,” said Schatz. “But now, thanks to this change, I will be in the R.E. Technologies Racing #115 ParkerStores car at the Tulsa USAC show. A key component of the success of our ParkerStores WoO team is our use of J & J chassis. This will be the first time the J&J chassis will be in USAC dirt competition.”

“The RE Technologies team tested the J&J chassis at Tulsa with Jerry Coons, Jr. and were very happy with the results. I am excited that this opportunity opened up for me to get in one more USAC race this season. We have made the commitment to focus on the ParkerStores WoO program and make a strong run for the series championship in 2004, but as a driver, I always want to race so getting a chance to get another USAC race in before the end of the year is great. It just gives us an opportunity to give our longtime sponsor ParkerStores more exposure.”

The New Mexico race is the culmination of a one month swing for the World of Outlaws in the Western United States that included two, three-day events at Calistoga and Chico, CA. Schatz rallied to a seventh place finish in the Saturday finale of the annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico.

The North Dakota driver went into the Saturday night final 13th in points based on his preliminary night results Thursday night. He started the 40-lap A-feature in 14th spot, on the outside of the seventh row and battled his way to the seventh finishing position behind race winner Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Paul McMahan, Jason Meyers, Jason Sides and Sammy Swindell.

“We tried some different things with our engines at Chico to get ready for next season,” stated Schatz. “To make a strong run for the championship next year, we wanted to make sure we have our bases covered. The car was really good on Saturday night. But Silver Dollar is a little quarter-mile track and you catch the slower cars and start lapping in a hurry so it becomes a juggling act of moving forward through the field, holding off guys who are charging behind you and maneuvering through the lapped cars. We would have liked to have better results but sometimes you have to take what you can get and move on to the next race.”

Following the one-night event at Hollywood Hills Speedway, the World of Outlaws traveling series for winged sprint cars will compete in the Short Track Nationals two-day event at Eagle Raceway, Eagle NE. Talladega Short Track, AL and Port Royal Speedway, PA are next on the agenda before the Williams Grove National Open on October 3-4.