Danny Lasoski Gets 90th Career Win at NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway
Fights fierce battle with Schatz, Brown and Madsen to score the win
GREENWOOD, Neb. – June 5, 2015 – It was nearly two and a half years in the making, but Danny Lasoski finally scored his 90th career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory after he won Friday night at the NAPA Auto Parts Outlaw Showdown at I-80 Speedway.
The win did not come easy, as Lasoski, who last won an Outlaws event in February 2013, waged a fierce battle with Donny Schatz in the feature’s closing laps.
“It’s really special,” said Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion. “Especially here at I-80 Speedway. A lot of hometown fans here.”
In a scene reminiscent of the Outlaws event at Kokomo last Wednesday night, Schatz made it very difficult for the eventual winner. From a 13th place starting position, the reigning series champion, charged late, landing in fifth by lap 20 and then advancing four positions over the next five laps.
As the feature halted on lap 26 for an open red, Schatz sat in second behind Lasoski’s No. 2 GoMuddy.com car.
“We knew if he had passed as many cars as he did, he had to be pretty good,” Lasoski said of Schatz. “I was just going to try to stay in my line and do the best I could and here he came just like always.”
When they returned to green, Lasoski pulled ahead. On the next lap, Schatz looked high off of turn four, but Lasoski blocked the line. The next time around, Schatz pulled the same move, but when Lasoski pulled high, Schatz crossed over on the bottom. With Lasoski on breathing down his neck of him, Schatz led laps 28 and 29. As the two drivers made the final circuit, Lasoski battled back around Schatz to take over the led. Off of turn four Schatz tried again to retake the position but wasn’t able to make it work.
Lasoski took the checkered flag with .077 seconds between him and Schatz.
“Racing that 15, Donny Schatz is a class act,” Lasoski said. That’s the only guy in America you can run side-by-side with and you don’t have to worry about him.”
Schatz, who finished in second, took home the KSE Racing Hard Charger Award after advancing forward 11 positions.
“I did my best,” Schatz said. “I respect my elders but I wish I’d have moved him out of the way a little bit. I really would have liked to have gotten a win tonight.”
Schatz and his Bad Boy Buggies team overcame adversity early on in the night that led to a late qualifying run and penalty.
“That’s what’s expected of this Bad Boy Buggies team. They’re no slouches – they’re the best in the infield,” Schatz said. “I get to drive the best racecar in the pit area. It’s expected of us to win races and do good. No matter where we start, we’ve got to get results. Tonight was a good night. I didn’t feel like we wanted to but we were able to make something out of it and had the opportunity to race for a win. That’s all you can ask for.”
Kerry Madsen led the race early on in the night and after Lasoski took over the lead, he battled Brian Brown to hold onto the spot as Jason Sides gained ground in third. As the feature wore on and Schatz made his charge, Sides slid back to fourth, trading the position with Shane Stewart through the final laps. On the final restart after the open red, Sides lined up behind Stewart. He quickly moved back into fourth and set his sights on Brown.
“(Brian Brown) I think he may have missed the bottom of three and four,” Sides said. “He had been running kind of high and turning it down but I think he may have kind of hit some ruts and pushed up and we snuck underneath him.”
It was the eighth top-five finish of the season for Sides and his No. 7 Wetherington Tractor Service/VRP Shocks team.
Schatz again expanded his lead in the championship standings to 145 over second place Shane Stewart.