Trent Gower photo.
Fargo, N.D. (March 19, 2024) – Donny Schatz continued a strong start to the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season last weekend at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas as he remained within striking distance of the top of the series standings with another late race comeback and a podium finish in the CarQuest / Ford Performance No. 15.
Schatz started the two-night Texas Two-Step at Cotton Bowl with a fifth row starting spot in the first 30-lap main event of the weekend. Schatz had climbed up as high as sixth before the midway point but was caught up in a three-car pileup in turns one and two on lap 18.
The crew worked fast to repair Schatz’s damaged mount to rejoin the race at the rear of the field. It only took three trips around the three-tenths mile oval to regain a spot inside the top ten and remained in that bracket for the duration of the race, finishing ninth.
Schatz started night two fifth quick in qualifying and with a second place run in the heat race. Schatz went on to win the dash from the outside of the front row to earn the pole position for the final 30-lapper of the weekend.
“We took a big swing for the dash,” Schatz said post-race. “It was really good and then in the feature, just putting a full fuel load in there, kind of caught us off a little bit but we’re working on it. The guys are digging for CarQuest’s 50th anniversary. We would like to have won it but third’s better than fourth and you gotta think about the big picture. Overall it was a pretty decent night. This isn’t one of my best tracks.
“It didn’t look like we were going to get to race and we got two great nights of racing,” said Schatz, noting the unfavorable forecast leading up to the weekend’s events. “Thanks to everybody for being here and everybody working hard to get in a good show and it was pretty good racing all the way through the night.”
Schatz, who held a podium spot for all 30 circuits on Saturday, held off Gravel and Logan Schuchart late to finish third, his fifth top five in seven races to start the 2024 campaign. Schatz finished the weekend third in the series standings just 18 markers behind Gio Scelzi for the top spot.
This weekend brings a brand new set of challenges as Schatz and most series regulars will be visiting a pair of tracks for the first time. Friday night, the series makes its debut at Big O Speedway in Ennis, Texas before heading to Kennedale Speedway Park on Saturday. Both tracks are listed as quarter-mile ovals and sit just over a half hour from the Dallas metro.
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, J&J Auto Racing, Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts
2024 Stats:
Races: 7
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 7