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

Maybe he's going late model racing.

If I remember correctly in 2021 he trashed 2 of Tony's cars at the Kings Royal week.

Tony may not care but it will be a whole lot easier to wreck $12,000 a night than win it.

I will agree to disagree on this take and that is what should be on forums....my reason for disagreeing comes from the perspective of a former crew guy.  Whereas, our driver really didn't tear up much equipment; however, on those very rare nights where the car came in on a wrecker and had to be put on jack stands so we could somehow get it to roll into the trailer were not fun.  If something like this would have occurred more frequently it would have gotten very old...very quickly.

Now the second part.....perspective or the adage beauty is in the eye of the beholder..... below is the finishing order for the nationals.  We both believe Knoxville is the granddaddy of them all.   You often aptly declare Knoxville the best and many times and correctly sign the praises of Kyle Larson and Rico and Brad Sweet.......2 of the 3 finished behind the "uncompetitive" #15.  There is no debate the 15 has NOT been up to Donny or Tony's standards those standards are what took that team from good to great...but to say it hasn't been competietive i think is a stretch.

From just my perspective an 11th place finish at the granddaddy of them all would reflect a competitiveness many teams would long for.  i personally cheer for Double D always liked him & he is always one fans whether they like him or not want to watch him race....i think he is having an awesome year and a competitive year by most standards - he did not make the field.

regarding Knoxville being the best track - i still believe it is one of the best tracks in the world - but some here often point out passes for the lead determine good track or good race.....despite 150 consecutive Amain laps without a pass for the lead i still would attend this place every possible time i could.

1. 10-Ryan Timms[1]; 2. 24R-Rico Abreu[7]; 3. 2-David Gravel[21]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[3]; 6. 14BC-Corey Day[6]; 7. 7BC-Giovanni Scelzi[14]; 8. 23-Garet Williamson[11]; 9. 88-Austin McCarl[12]; 10. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[5]; 11. 15-Donny Schatz[20]; 12. 19-Brent Marks[17]; 13. 4C-Cameron Martin[15]; 14. 26-Justin Peck[10]; 15. 18-Emerson Axsom[8]; 16. 71P-Parker Price Miller[19]; 17. 21T-James McFadden[18]; 18. 2C-Cole Macedo[23]; 19. (DNF) 57-Kyle Larson[9];20. (DNF) 49-Brad Sweet[4]; 21. (DNF) 83-Michael Kofoid[22]; 22. (DNF) 14-Spencer Bayston[16]; 23. (DNF) 3L-Daryn Pittman[24]; 24. (DNF) 17B-Bill Balog[13]

So where does this go from here? Does Schatz just drop off of the Outlaw Tour? Does he have his own stuff or what???

So based upon a couple of recent interviews sounds like Tony still wants to race on dirt.

Will keep the 15 number until after this season, for points. 

Keep It Real

That is a big IF!!  If the over under is one or less, I'll take the under.  Doubtful in my opinion that he will win more than 1.  Yes, that is one more than Donny, but I'll bet the repair bill will be more this remaining part of the year then the first part of the year.  Would love if he proved me wrong!

While most, if not all reading this would feel I'm harping on Kerry, I have witnessed too many instances over the last year or 2 when he races with the Outlaws that he seems to put the car in vulnerable places or does not have the awareness of cars around him.  

Of course, if Tony is planning on shutting down his dirt sprint car operation at the end of the year, he'll have some spare parts for the remaining races!!

I have ZERO inside info on this, just going by what I see around Fargo. His nieces both have sprint cars. Rumor around here was they were going to make their WOO debut next weekend when they are in Grand Forks and Fargo. I am hoping he would race one of those at least for the two races in his home state next weekend if he doesn't get a ride before then. His nieces also both each have a late models. Other than that, I have no idea how much equiptment he personally owns. 

On a different note, and this is just a theory, could this cause a shift in the WOO/HL battle? Tony was never in "love" with the WOO. I think he just left his car their because Donny was proud to be a outlaw. Now that he doesn't have Donny, would he move his car to HL. Eldora is a Flo track. Could this be the end of the WOO Kings Royal sanction with a move to HL for all Edora events? 

I've predicted the HL will have to start scheduling against, or stealing the big shows from the WoO.  I know 2026 KR is supposedly sewn up by WoO.  HL will take the 2027 KR from the WoO.  They aren't going to take them down, without becoming them.  

An outlandish & unlikely thought popped into my head: Schatz to the 69K!

Not outlandish at all that is the 69k is the 1st car that popped into my mind! I mean heck everyone else drives it why not king Donnie Schatz!! 

I doubt the 15 goes to the HL for the remainder of this season. The year end point money would be given up. Next year it would not surprise me to have no TSR with the WoO, either cuzit doesn't exist or it's HL. Probably the first, my guess.

Saw a video that suggested that Donny fired Ricky Warner back in the day. Any truth to that?

Same video predicts Gio to TSR for 2026.

In response to your comment on how "some here often point out passes for the lead determine good track or good race"....that is unfortunate for them.  This year was one of the more memorable Nationals in recent years, the racing in the entire event was great, battles for transfers in the heats, and B-mains each night were fierce, and yet not on pass for Saturday night's lead.  There didn't have to be a single pass for the lead for this to be a great race/event.  

Like you, I could attend this place every possible time I could!   (which is why I put a seasonal RV in the North Campground and skipped attending other tracks the past 2 years)  

Donny will be regarded as one of the best. TSR is one of the best funded teams and has been one of the best teams. For some reason qualifing speed has been lacking. His A main performance at Nationals is over shadowed by Timms amazing run from pole. Donny can still win but there are several young guns that are willing to do what it takes to win and take risks that can result in DNFs . Age is a factor also and as good as some of the top drivers were none immune from Father Time. 

I'm hoping Forbrook!

Any good car owner would have nothing to lose by putting him in a car. #1. It's Donny Schatz!, #2. He rarely ever tears up equipment, #3. It could possibly solve some unanswered questions from the TSR / Schatz team.

With no inside info, this could be a possibility.  With the family business to run and his nieces racing I could see Donny running Knoxville weekly and assorted other shows in the area.  Forbrook and Donny weekly at Knoxville could be fun to watch.  

I doubt Stewart wants to ruin a good thing. Unless Flo buys Eldora I can't see them blocking the Outlaws from sanctioning the Kings Royal. I also can't imagine the WoO wouldn't have a response to it. It wouldn't be entirely effective and would hurt the WoO more than it would Eldora but there would be a response.

But I do agree with you, if HL ever wants to become the dominant brand, they need a crown jewel. 

Big Game Motorsports is bringing out a second car for Schatz to run the next 7 World of Outlaws races.

http://www.insidelinepromotions.com/news/?i=179530

Ask Frank

Best 2 car team since Schatz and Steve kinser....awesome