Frank Smith photo

FARGO, N.D. (July 30, 2024) – The summer grind of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule is in full effect as the series made its way from Ohio through Pennslyvania as a part of a nine-race swing in 13 days. 

Schatz opened this week’s racing with an eighth place run at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pennsylvania on Wednesday before running 11th in the first of two nights at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night. 

The Tony Stewart / Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 15 team found their stride when the money was on the line on Saturday. 

Schatz was a contender all race long during the $20,000-to-win Summer Nationals finale, leading the first 12 laps from the pole position. Schatz led comfortably early until Daryn Pittman, aboard the Kreitz Racing No. 69K, reeled in the 10-time champion and executed a slide job in turn four on the ninth circuit. Schatz fired back with a crossover to regain the top spot down the front stretch and lead at the line. 

Schatz pulled away again before fourth-place starter David Gravel challenged for the point. 

Gravel took the lead away to lead lap 13, but Schatz came firing back in lapped traffic to lead lap 14 before the yellow flew one lap later. 

Schatz led Gravel on the restart before the current World of Outlaws point leader snuck by on lap 19. 

The final restart came on lap 25 and just like the Kings Royal at Eldora a week ago, it came down to another Gravel / Schatz duel for the big payday. 

Now available: 2024 1:18 scale diecast

Schatz was all over Gravel in the final laps, and seemingly had the fastest car on the track. On the final lap, Schatz looked to the inside of Gravel, but the driver of the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 shut the door. That move broke Schatz’s momentum as he went on to finish second. 

“We were decent. We were okay from the word go, but the longer I ran the looser I got,” said Schatz after the race. “I tried moving the wing and it kind of made me a little bit worse. I tried the top (of the track), I tried the middle. It seemed like that yellow helped cool the tires down a little bit, but I just couldn’t get into the race track like we needed to. We were there, but I guess we’ll have to settle for second tonight.”

The Outlaws made the nearly 5-hour overnight trip from Mechanicsburg, Penn. to Weedsport, New York for Sunday’s event at Weedsport Speedway. 

Schatz shined late in the feature when the track slicked off and was a contender for a podium position, but came home fifth after starting eighth. 

Up next, the series goes from New York to Missouri for the Ironman 55 weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. 

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: 34
Wins: 3
Top Fives: 24
Top Tens: 37