INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (December 8, 2023) – There has been no lack of rumors, news, and announcements in the world of sprint car racing this off-season. Schedules have been posted and plans are being made for the upcoming 2024 campaign. Today at the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis, Donny Schatz confirmed his 2024 plans.
The Fargo, N.D. driver has committed to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series with Tony Stewart Racing for what will be his 28th consecutive year on the road with the Greatest Show on Dirt.
“It was kind of an easy decision for me,” said Schatz shortly after his announcement in an interview with Ralph Sheheen of SPEED SPORT. “I didn’t even know there was a decision really. We’ve run the same race cars since 2000, we use a lot of the same products – there is not a lot of changing going on for us. I was very fortunate at a young age to get to know Ted Johnson and got to be one of Ted’s guys. Even though he’s not around anymore, I still see his vision in the same light. I think a lot of fans do, too.”
Schatz said he and the TSR team are zeroed in on getting back on top of the World of Outlaws standings.
“I think we’re more focused on the World of Outlaws championship than we have been for years. We’ve had a really rocky three or four years and last year was probably even worse. But we were able to put a finger on a lot of those things. It’s one thing here and one thing there,” Schatz noted. “There were a lot of outside factors as well. I need to be a better person as a leader with my guys. Everybody feeds off the driver and the driver’s probably not the most positive person every night when things aren’t 100 percent.
“That takes its toll on everybody else and it takes its toll on performance. I have that fixed and I think my guys understand it,” added Schatz. “My guys have stuck with me through a lot of things and Ford has done a great job of getting us in the direction we want to go. And now we got all those pieces in the right spot.”
The 86-race World of Outlaws schedule will kick off in Florida in February for the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park February 7-10. Highlights on the Outlaw schedule this season include four events paying $100,000 or more to win, including the King’s Royal at Eldora Speedway, High Bank Nationals at Huset’s Speedway, the new Huset’s High Bank Hustle which will pay $100,000 the Thursday before the $250,000-to-win High Bank Nationals, and the Knoxville Nationals.
The Dennis Roth Classic will highlight the West Coast swing with an $83,000-to-win payday.
The Outlaws will return to Schatz’s home state of North Dakota for three events – the traditional June date at River Cities on the 7th, followed by a return visit to the Grand Forks bullring on August 23rd for the second leg of the Northern Tour, and a stop at Red River Valley Speedway the following night for the Duel in the Dakotas.