Schatz and crew in victory lane at Route 66 on July 8, 2005.

FARGO, N.D. (October 16, 2024) – The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to the Windy City this weekend for the first time in seven years as the Dirt Oval at Route 66 hosts a World of Outlaws doubleheader. 

Ten-time series champion, Donny Schatz, has competed in all nine previous events at Route 66, collecting five top fives, and seven top tens, with a stout average finish of 5.8. 

Schatz rolls in as the back-to-back and defending race winner at Route 66, winning in 2017 and 2005. 

Schatz’s win in 2005 came after heartbreak at his home track, Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, the week before when he suffered a mechanical issue while leading with three to go. Schatz rebounded at the Joliet, Illinois three-eighths mile as he came from fourth to take the lead from Brian Paulus on a restart with 18 to go to claim what was his fourth win of the ‘05 campaign. 

Twelve years later, the World of Outlaws returned to the Dirt Oval at Route 66 and the result was the same – a Donny Schatz win. 

Schatz’s 2017 win came in a much more exciting fashion as he drove from eighth to momentarily take the lead away from Kraig Kinser on lap 13, but then fell back to third as Kinser and Brad Sweet got by. After a thrilling fight for the lead, Schatz settled into the low groove and slowly picked off both Sweet and Kinser to take the point with five to go. 

Schatz went on to claim his 12th win of the season in what would be a 20-win championship season for the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 team. 

Schatz in victory lane after his 2017 win at Route 66. World of Outlaws photo.

Schatz enters this weekend’s Route 66 Showdown riding the momentum of last Saturday night’s $20,000 victory at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania. The Fargo driver currently sits third in the series point standings. 

Previous World of Outlaws Results at the Dirt Oval at Route 66:
2017 – 1st on June 27 (started 8th; led 5 laps)
2005 – 1st on July 8
2002 – 5th on July 12 (started 11th)
2001 – 7th on July 12 (started 13th); 2nd on July 13 (started 3rd)
2000 – 12th on June 29
1999 – 3rd on May 9; 10th on October 10
1998 – 11th on July 26