With Husets Victory, Donny Schatz Wins Two Races at Two Separate Tracks in One Day
The win is the 13th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season for Schatz and his 185th career win
BRANDON, S.D. – June 14, 2015 – Less than 20 hours after he stood in victory lane at Knoxville Raceway in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Donny Schatz did it again Sunday night at Huset’s Speedway, scoring his 13th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature win of the season.
It is just the second time an Outlaws driver has accomplished the feat.
“Hats off to this Bad Boy Buggies team, these guys do a phenomenal job day in and day out,” said an emotional Schatz in victory lane. “It’s been a long night for these teams – I know they’re ready for bed. They didn’t roll into town until the wee hours of the morning. I got one guy from Watertown, so a Huset’s win is big.”
Schatz joins Sammy Swindell in the record books. Swindell took home wins at the famed Moody Mile in Syracuse, N.Y. and Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y. on the same day in 1992.
The night could have had a very different outcome if not for some traffic and bad timing.
Paul McMahan led the field through the early going with Schatz and Daryn Pittman on his tail. Schatz got around Pittman to take over second on the third lap, but Pittman battled back on lap 8, throwing a slider on Schatz in turn three to retake the spot.
As McMahan, Pittman and Schatz worked their way through lapped traffic, the gap between the top-five closed. Schatz lost his spot to Shane Stewart on lap 15.
Four laps later, as McMahan and Pittman continued to work their way through traffic, the car in front of McMahan checked up to avoid contact with another car. With nowhere to go, McMahan made contact and spun, collecting Pittman on the exit of turn 2. The caution flag flew with the top-two cars turned around on track.
When the field returned to green, Stewart, who had been sitting third, took over the top spot. Schatz, Lasoski, David Gravel and Kraig Kinser made up the rest of the top five. Stewart led the next six laps until Schatz caught him on the front stretch and battled by to lead the next lap. One more caution flag waved, but Stewart wasn’t able to catch Schatz.
“We were really good early trying to get around guys but it was just a matter of time before the rubber laid down,” Schatz said. “We slipped up there and Daryn got by and then Shane got by. You just have to be patient. You’ve got to try to put yourself in a position to get back or force them into making a mistake… We had to get Shane back and that’s pretty tough to do. A lot of it is this race team – I’m just the lucky guy who gets to drive it.”
A frustrated Stewart said he was disappointed with the finish for his No. 2 Larson Marks Racing team after the opportunity he was given earlier in the feature.
“After getting the huge gift that I got, you hate losing a race like that,” Stewart said. “Just got a little bit high and you just can’t screw up when he’s behind you. I hate it for my guys. They gave me a good car.”
Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, battled forward from a sixth place starting position. The podium finish was the fifth top-five run for Lasoski with the Outlaws this season. He won at I-80 Speedway 10 days ago.
“Anytime we come here to Sioux Falls, it’s like a third home for me,” Lasoski said. “I love coming back here for the great fans here. I wish we could have gotten this GoMuddy.com car a couple of better spots.”