Outlaws vs. All-Stars: Schatz Wins Brad Doty Classic
Rolls out of Attica Raceway Park with his 14th win of the season
ATTICA, Ohio – July 12, 2016 – It was a battle between the All-Star Circuit of Champions regulars and World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series regulars in Tuesday night’s Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park as Donny Schatz charged forward and persevered to score his 14th series win of the season.
It was Schatz’s first win at Attica since 2011.
“I just had to be calm and cool through that race,” Schatz said. “Early on those guys were going at it pretty hard. 40 laps, you’ve got to be smart at the beginning. A lot of guys passed a lot of cars tonight.”
“I’m just happier than hell that we won the Brad Doty Classic!”
A stout field of 53 cars made the trip to Attica for the Brad Doty Classic – the largest field so far for a World of Outlaws event in 2016.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VICTORY LANE INTERVIEWS AND SEE FULL RESULTS FROM THE OHIO LOGISTICS BRAD DOTY CLASSIC AT ATTICA RACEWAY PARK
Through qualifying and Heat races, six series regulars missed the feature. Brad Sweet made a strong run through the C main and the Last Chance Showdown to earn his position in the main event. Daryn Pittman, who faced engine trouble during qualifying and failed to make the feature, opted to take a provisional. Byron Reed received the Attica track provisional.
The green flag dropped on the 40-lap Brad Doty Classic with Aussie James McFadden leading Danny Holtgraver. Sheldon Haudenschild made the early charge and was fighting McFadden for the lead in his No. 93 Southern Pacific Farms/Wintermeyer Auto Salvage car when a caution flew.
On the restart, Joey Saldana charged forward but had his hands full with Holtgraver and reigning All-Star Circuit of Champions champion, Dale Blaney. Blaney, who started in 10th, settled into the third spot.
Haudenschild, from Wooster, Ohio, finally found a way around McFadden. As the two worked to complete lap 13, Haudenschild took the spot off of turn four.
By the midway point, Haudenschild was pulling away as Blaney worked to run down McFadden and Schatz and Pittman continued their charges through the field. A three-way battle for second ensued between Blaney, Schatz and McFadden. After a multi-lap battle, McFadden held on but it was short-lived.
With just 12 laps to go, Haudenschild pulled out to a three and a half second lead when McFadden brought out the caution. When the race returned to green, Haudenschild led Schatz, Blaney and Saldana. Schatz quickly took over the top spot with Blaney settling into second and Haudenschild fighting with Saldana and then Pittman for the fourth spot.
Through the closing laps, Schatz and Blaney maintained a consistent gap between them as Pittman battled side-by-side with Haudenschild for third. When the checkered flag flew, it was Schatz, who started 15th, Blaney, who started in 10th and Pittman, who started in 25th, on the night’s podium.
“This whole Bad Boy Off Road/Chevrolet Performance team, we didn’t start the year off the way we wanted,” Schatz said. “When people kept asking us what we thought of our season, we said average. But when you look at what we did last year, anything is going to be average.
“These guys are digging. I’m digging. I’m doing everything I can. I hate running the cushion but I just run the cushion. That’s what you’ve got to do to be able to win races, you’ve got to be able to move around the race track. These guys are getting the job done and I’m just the lucky guy who gets to drive it.”
Blaney, the most recent winner of an Outlaws feature at Attica said the track conditions allowed for the push through the field with workable lanes across the turns.
Blaney said the good run was what he and his team needed.
“We haven’t really been struggling, we’ve been running decent, but we haven’t been getting the finishes that we deserve,” Blaney said. “Great night for all of us – Muddy and Big Game, CH Motorsports and everybody who is involved with this team.”
“Proud to run second at this race.”
Pittman came away from the event as the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger. After advancing 22 positions through the field, Pittman said he was disappointed at missing the feature but was confident in his team as they prepare for the Kings Royal this weekend.
“It just shows the attitude of this Great Clips team – they didn’t quit,” Pittman said. “Things go bad for you and it was just the perfect storm to have a disastrous night.”
“I’ve never missed a race in this No. 9 car, so that’s three-and-a-half years that, honestly, I’m pretty sad of losing that streak… my confidence is high going into this weekend that our car is still good and no matter where we start, hopefully we can get up there and finish respectable.”