Trent Gower photo.

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (October 14, 2023) – Donny Schatz raced to his fourth win of the season on Saturday night at Lakeside Speedway with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. 

Schatz started second for the 25-lap feature, but fell back to sixth in the early stages of the race. Schatz switched between running the high and low grooves before settling on the bottom of the big half-mile oval. 

The 10-time series champion then began to pick off positions one by one, getting by Gio Scelzi for third with 10 laps to go. Schatz used the low groove in turn four to drive by current point leader Brad Sweet to take second with seven to go before setting his sights on Gravel for the lead. 

Schatz reeled in Gravel on lap 24 and hit the bottom in turns three and four once again. As he did, Gravel got held up by traffic, which also allowed Sweet to close up on him. Schatz drove off the corner with a four car length lead as he drove under the white flag. 

Schatz ran the final circuit uncontested to claim his third career Lakeside Speedway win. 

“We unloaded fast. We were right up there in hot laps and qualifying, so that always helps. I was really delirious to start the feature. It was really greasy on the top and I knew it was going to come in at some point, but I’ve tore up enough stuff and I didn’t want to be the guy to find out,” said Schatz of the moisture put down on the high groove, which ultimately caused an hour-plus delay to work the track back in. 

“Thank goodness we got (the feature) in before the rain came. It all worked out for us tonight.”

The win comes off a tough weekend in Pennsylvania for Schatz, which took him out of the battle for fourth in the points for the time being. 

“If you call that a rough stretch, I don’t want to know what you call a disaster,” said a matter-of-fact Schatz to World of Outlaws pit reporter Chase Raudman. “It’s not for a lack of trying. Everybody works hard. We’ll take these wins, but you also have to take the lickens too. We just have to do our best and some nights don’t even feel like they are satisfactory. Nights like tonight help us.”

Up next, the World of Outlaws will head to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas for a doubleheader weekend. 

Schatz and the entire Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing team would like to thank all of their great partners for their continued support!

Carquest Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, Curb Records, Ford Performance, Sage Fruit, Mobil 1, Absolute Automation & Security, Nivel Parts & Manufacturing,  Hunt Brothers Pizza,  J&J Auto Racing, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts

World of Outlaws Stats:
Races: 66
Wins: 4
Top Fives: 21
Top Tens: 40