Donny Schatz
| Donny Schatz | |
|---|---|
 Schatz at the 2007 Kings Royal | |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Born |
August 10, 1977 Minot, North Dakota |
| World of Outlaws career | |
| Debut season | 1997 |
| Current team | Tony Stewart Racing |
| Car no. | 15 |
| Engine | A4MP |
| Championships | 8 |
| Championship titles | |
| 2006–2009, 2012, 2014-2016 | World of Outlaws |
Donny Schatz (born August 10, 1977 in Minot, North Dakota) is a World of Outlaws sprint car driver. Schatz started his racing career at 11 in go karts and moved to 410 sprints as a 15-year-old at Red River Valley Speedway. Schatz moved to 358 sprints and The World of Outlaws series three seasons later as an 18-year-old. He won the 1997 World of Outlaws rookie of the year, and picked up his first A-feature win in 1998.
Career
World of Outlaws
Since winning the 1997 WoO Rookie of The Year Award, Schatz has gone on to win 8 driver points championships 2006–2009, 2012, and 2014-2016.[1] Prestigious wins include the Knoxville Nationals nine times, (2006–09, 2011–15),[2] the 2007, 2009 and 2016 King's Royal at Eldora Speedway,[3] the 2006 and 2007 Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, the 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2007 National Open at William's Grove Speedway, and the inaugural World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2008. He also holds the record for farthest in the field a winner of the Knoxville Nationals has started, when he won from the 21st starting position in 2013. He became only the second driver to win the points championship four years in a row, with the other being Steve Kinser.[1] Since 2006 he has recorded a top two points finish, with three second places to go along with the eighth championships. In 2008 he moved to Tony Stewart Racing, and continues to drive for that team today. As of the end of the 2016 season Schatz has 229 WoO wins, third most all-time behind Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell.
Australia
Schatz has spent time racing in Australia during his career. He won the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria in 2002, and was runner up in the 1999/2000 and 2001/02 World Series Sprintcars series.
Personal life
He was a 1995 graduate of Minot High School. He currently lives in Fargo, North Dakota. He and his wife, Erica, have a daughter, Savanna. Among Schatz's hobbies includes hunting.
References
- 1 2 "World of Outlaws History" at worldofoutlaws.com
- ↑ "Knoxville Nationals All-Time Winners" at coracingworld.com
- ↑ "Kings Royal All-Time Winners" at coracingworld.com
External links
- Schatz's website
- Donny Schatz driver statistics at Racing-Reference
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Steve Kinser |
World of Outlaws Champion 2006-2009 |
Succeeded by Jason Meyers |
| Preceded by Jason Meyers |
World of Outlaws Champion 2012 |
Succeeded by Daryn Pittman |
| Preceded by Daryn Pittman |
World of Outlaws Champion 2014-2016 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by Joey Saldana |
World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year 1997 |
Succeeded by Dale Blaney |
| Preceded by Kraig Kinser Tim Shaffer |
Knoxville Nationals Winner 2006-2009 2011-2015 |
Succeeded by Tim Shaffer Jason Johnson |
| Preceded by Joey Saldana Daryn Pittman |
Kings Royal Winner 2007 2009 |
Succeeded by Daryn Pittman Steve Kinser |