BAKERSFIELD, CA (February 27) - The number of miles between Barberville (FL) and Bakersfield (CA) might be the longest spread between racing weekends on this year's World of Outlaws Sprint Series schedule. Two weeks ago, Donny Schatz and his ParkerStore team battled an uphill climb after a tough qualifying lap in Barberville (at Volusia Raceway Park) and went through the same experience on Saturday night (at Bakersfield Speedway). Schatz battled back after the early struggle and charged through the field to post an eighth place finish in the 35-lap race. The impressive race from the back came after finishing second in Friday's event at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, CA.

The emphasis on qualifying has become clear after only four nights of racing. In the first race at Volusia on February 11, he qualified eighth, won the Dash event and led a good portion of the feature before a burnt coil wire cost him a shot at victory. The second night at Volusia, Schatz qualified 24th and started deep in the field and came home 15th.

This past weekend, the 27 year-old Fargo, ND racer had a similar qualifying experience. On Friday night, he earned his first "Fast Qualifier Award" pacing the 36-car field averaging close to 104 mph at the Thunderbowl bullring. That qualifying effort put him in line for a position in the dash, which this season will only consist of six cars in each race. Schatz transferred through his heat race and finished second in the first dash event. In Friday's 35-lap feature event, he kept his #15 ParkerStore J&J with Shaver power within striking distance, but couldn't make a bid for the lead on eventual winner Tim Shaffer. The second place finish was his second podium finish of the season.

On Saturday, an early draw in qualifying proved to be a disadvantage as Schatz ended up 21st in the field of 36. He finished second in his heat race and then started the feature event on the outside of row 10. The yellow and black #15 came through the field, but was slowed trying to pass a few cars en route to the front. The tight Bakersfield Speedway proved to be a challenge of who could get through traffic best. Schatz got to eighth place as Craig Dollansky took home the checkered flag.

The consecutive top ten finishes will offer the team a chance to continue their consistency next weekend at the Cactus Classic at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, AZ. Schatz finished third in last year's Cactus Classic finale and has a two career wins at the half-mile oval, both came when he swept the Western World in the fall of 1999.