Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I have even more respect for this guy...

Started out in the A main like a freaking bullet, takes the lead, gets passed back... beatin and bangin duel to win another Nationals.  Looks like it's over but on the last 1/2 o the last lap makes one more very close attempt to regain the lead only to come up a bit short.  When it's over, he shows a bit of his frustration with Johnson but in the interview - total class act.  It was great for a different guy to win this year, but Donny showed off and on the track what he's such a champion

I basically like Donny.   I was ready to see someone else win the Nationals though.   I'm an ASCS fan who has watched Johnson come up from 360 racing to become one of the best.    But being honest here, Schatz is the best.   Sprint car racing needs someone to be the best, and I'm glad we have someone like Donny who raises the bar.   You're right too, he seems to be a class act.    Watching the replays of the video I don't think Johnson did anything that any driver wouldn't do to win that race.    Donny was a class act in the interview, and once he cooled off a little I'm sure he realizes that any driver in the field would have done those things to win the race.   

I would agree with this. I am not a Donny hater or a fan however a couple years back it was sure fun watching him run through the field. It is tough to win that race, let alone that many times. I am sure he will win Nationals again.....Unless he's Tiger Woods

Both cars had polished wheels

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

Years from now, we will look back on this run by Schatz, 9 Nationals wins currently, multiple WoO titles, etc. etc., and will put him up there with the best of the best.

He drives smart, is efficient, keeps the rear wheels under him, doesn't scrub off speed, hits his marks and just plain wins. He doesn't seem to drive dirty and really has a desire to win every time he gets in the car. How many times has he come from the back in an A Main and stormed to the front to win?  

He's a good one for sure. But happy to see a new winner this year. Jason Johnson earned it! Just a spectacular Nationals for him this year.  

And both had Chevy engines!

Fascinating stuff guys

Final 5 laps. Like Schatz said, he gave props to Johnson for finding a way to win.

If Johnson wouldn't have slid Schatz so hard and made him get out of it so much, who knows.

Schatz still almost caught him coming to the checkered flag.

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

+1

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

Hats off to Donny! Ran hard, lost, good sportsmanship

The last slider that Johnson put on Donny in turn 1, Donny hit the brakes hard, so hard you could see the front end dip. 

He could have given Jason the bumper & took him out or them both out. Very clean. 

Just dam good hard racing at its finest...

One of the best races and also Schatz handled it well.Great for sprint car racing similar to Ricos win at Chili Bowl most are glad to see a new winner.To me one of the stories was Larsen and also a feel good story for the #47 team as things lined up and they made the A.Not many better guys than Gil Sooner. No matter what happens Knoxville will remain on top due to tradition,track prep,and safety crew.People race there  because they want to to.Its not about the money even though that helps.

My thoughts exactly

Great to see all of these positive comments about Donny. He really is the best and not just on the track. He may be a little shy but take a walk through the pits on any given night after the races and you'll see him standing by his hauler with a line of people in front of him signing autographs and taking pictures with his fans. I've said it a hundred times before but not only is he one of the most gifted sprint car drivers to ever strap in but he's unbelievably clean. As several others said, he could've EASILY gave Jason a shove and went on to win yet another Nationals championship but he didn't. He races with heart, courage, class and dignity and off the track, he conducts himself like a true champion. We couldn't ask for a better representative for our sport.

every driver in the A main and fan in the stands can thank Donny for not driving like the winner did "to win"...or the place would have broken down in tears...clearly the fastest car to make up ground like that on the last lap - further proof that when the $ is on the line, the WoO is all but a one team series.

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

BINGO - turn him into the wall because "this is the Knoxville Nationals"!

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

This tells it all:

Lap Leaders: Pittman 1-10, J. Johnson 11, Pittman 12, Schatz 13-26, J. Johnson 27-43, Schatz 44-45, J. Johnson 46-50

When was the last time a 410 sprint car race list of Lap Leaders took-up so much "ink"? 

If you were fortunate enough to be there, you got your money's worth!

Haha, that's rich even from you Mr, Rear.

Top 4 this year, top 5 last year, but a one team series?

I'd like to think I could have been as graceful as Schatz after that race.  Hats off to a true champion and also happy for Jason Johnson to get that win (and the money). 

 Lawlessness and liberalism equals Hell.  NY City, 
Detroit, Seattle, Chicago, Minnepolis, etc. We saw it. 
Burning hundreds of buildings, a thousand assaults and 
dozens of murders. Getting worser and worser.