Donny Schatz got up close and personal with a couple of gators Sunday at Volusia (Paul Arch Photo)
BARBERVILLE, FL – February 11, 2018 – Donny Schatz is starting 2018 firing on all cylinders, which is bad news for the rest of the competition. Schatz fought off a pesky Brian Brown early in the race and held off charges from Sheldon Haudenschild and Brad Sweet late to capture his fourth win in five nights at Volusia Speedway Park. Schatz, who has won just about everything to win in Sprint Car racing, captured his first ever DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator Championship.
Brian Brown won the Craftsman Club Dash earning the pole of the 30-lap Feature alongside Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender Parker Price-Miller. Brown was strong leading the opening circuit before Schatz flew underneath the FVP No.21 to lead lap two.
Rico Abreu brought out the lone yellow flag of the Feature on lap six. On the ensuing restart, Brown muscled his way back by Schatz to lead laps seven and eight before Schatz overtook him once again to lead lap nine and the rest of the way, despite challenges from Haudenschild and Sweet.
“We slowed down in traffic a lot,” Schatz said in Victory Lane. “We thought we had a solid car in the Dash, but this is the time to learn,” said the driver who won four of five Features at DIRTcar Nationals. “Sometimes you win some you shouldn’t, I think we were lucky we started up front,” a humble Schatz added before being awarded his first ever Big Gator trophy.
Friday night’s Feature winner Sheldon Haudenschild worked forward from his 13th starting spot into the top three on lap 12 and moved by Brown into second on lap 16. Haudenschild, who is in his first year with the Stenhouse Jr. – Marshall Racing No.17, brought the capacity crowd to their feet as he closed in on the Tony Stewart Racing No.15 but couldn’t pull the trigger.
“Catching Donny Schatz and passing Donny Schatz are two completely different things,” Sheldon said with a smile. While Sheldon had his eyes set on the No.15, Brad Sweet powered his NAPA Racing No.49 around the cushion, eventually overtaking Sheldon in turn two with five laps remaining.
Sweet closed on Schatz, but was never able to mount a series charge and settled for second - his fourth podium in five nights. “My guys worked hard all week and we are still chasing the 15. He makes us better though and we’ll take second,” Sweet said.
Jason Johnson finished his strong week with a fourth-place finish and 15th-starting Chad Kemenah completed the top five. Haudenschild picked up KSE Hard Charger honors advancing 10 positions.
That completes the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series portion of the 47th Annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. The Outlaws return to action in two weeks in Texas at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, TX on Friday, February 23, 2018 and then LoneStar Speedway in Kilgore, TX the following night Saturday, February 24. If you can’t make it to the track, you can catch all the action live on DIRTVision.com!