LAS VEGAS – Donny Schatz and the ParkerStore World of Outlaws team came into the 2004 WoO season with the goal being consistency. With five nights of racing already in the books, Schatz and the team have shown good consistency by scoring four strong finishes (2 third place finishes, a fourth and a seventh) aboard the #15 ParkerStore J&J. Friday night’s third place run at the Las Vegas Outlaw Nationals Presented by J.D. Byrider was a good way to conclude a busy couple of nights.

“We always seem to be at our best at feature time and this weekend, I’d say that was the case again,” said Schatz following Friday’s event. “We had some bad luck on Thursday night, but everyone worked their tales off, and we came away with a positive weekend. I may have been a little too cautious in the feature Friday because of what happened Thursday night, but we’re getting better every race.”

Schatz and the team (Crew chief Tyler Swank, Team manager Dave Yingst and Crewman Chad Lambert) bounced back from a tough night in the opener, by storming to a solid third place run in the 30-lap “A” feature event. The #15 team was encouraged by new developments with its Shaver Engine package, which dramatically improved their qualifying efforts. Schatz qualified second in the opener and broke the single-lap record on the half-mile dirt oval before ultimately again ending up second fastest overall.

In Thursday’s 25-lap preliminary feature event, Schatz started eighth and exchanged sixth place with Steve Kinser during the races early stages. While the two battled on lap six, Kinser dove under a lapped car, which forced the lapped car to go high right in the line of Schatz. He tried to steer left to miss the slowing sprinter, but clipped enough of the left rear to send his car into the first turn wall. Damage was too severe to return and he was credited with a 22nd place finish.

“You know some nights out there things like that are going to happen,” claimed Schatz. “When some guys see the green car come by, they kind move out of the way and this time, I was right there. It happens and hopefully, we won’t have any other problems like that for a while.”

The team came back on Friday and began with another solid qualifying run. The ParkerStore team replaced the motor prior to the Dash, but didn’t quite have the car ready to fire when the race was ready to begin. After finding the loose connection, Schatz was forced to start the Dash event eighth instead of sixth.

“We had a little mishap in changing the motor that cost us,” said Schatz. “When you’re trying to change motors in a short amount of time, there are a lot of things that have to get done. We’re pretty organized, but those quick engine changes are pretty stressful. We’ll be better next time, but losing those two spots in the dash may have cost us a shot at the win. Everyone is working really hard on this team and we’ll be fine.”

In the feature, Schatz hustled his way to front passing Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer and Danny Lasoski. He closed in on leaders Steve Kinser and Craig Dollansky during the final 10 laps of the race. With just over two laps remaining, Schatz was able to nose under Dollansky’s #7 to get into second place, but couldn’t hold the spot. He maintained third following Kinser, who claimed his 499th career WoO victory and Dollansky past the stripe. The finish moved the team into sixth place in the season standings.

The ParkerStore team will travel east this week towards Texas as Schatz will return to the high-banks of Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, TX for a two-night program beginning Friday. Schatz continues to pursue his first victory of the 2004 WoO season at a track where he finished second last fall. The 26 year-old has been successful in Texas in March before winning his first race of the 1999 season at Battleground Speedway, just outside of Houston.

“We’re leaving Las Vegas with a lot of confidence,” concluded Schatz. “I can’t remember the last time when I pulled in after qualifying, and see a smile on the car-owner’s face (Danny Schatz) and the engine builder’s face (Ron Shaver). We found something in the package, and I think we got something for everyone in qualifying. If you can start up there, it increases your chances of winning, which we need to do ASAP.”

“I had a great time at Lone Star last year until I got together with a lapped car. That gave Steve (Kinser) a chance to get me and he did. They have some great fans there and I hope they all come out again. We’ve got a two-night show and our goal is to get locked in on Friday night by finishing fourth or better. On Saturday, I just hope we can be as dominate as were there last fall and come home with a win this time.”