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

Schatz has been driving car #W so far in the WOO western tour. Who is the owner of W? Also it appears he has not been earning enough winnings to pay for the fuel in his Cessna Citation corporate jet.

Kevin Koslowski owner, with Paul Silva on the wrenches.  The reason they're running bad is because Schatz is not fast anymore.  I know guys like Strawser would love to see him succeed with one of the best wrenches in the world so he could prove that Schatz is not the reason behind his own success, but Schatz was the reason for his own success, and he's just past his prime.  Period.  He was 13th last night.  Put him in the 15 car, he would be 13th.  Put him in the 15 car with the Ford in it---he would be 13th.  Put him in Rico's car last night with RW on the wrenches, he would have been 13th.   

He could still win a race or 2, but it will be a night in which he is able to qualify the car well.  

Schatz will go down in history of one of the best winged race car drivers. He is still in the top ten still very good . Currently 6th in WOO points just there are some great drivers in their prime. You have to make the Dash and that takes a good qualifing attempt. Much respect is being shown by some owners for his past accomplishments

100%

I'd really like to disagree with you, but he's been in three different cars since leaving the 15 and has not improved his results at all.   I'm still hoping he will but I'm more skeptical now than ever before.   

I agree with much of what you said.  I also disagree vehmently with some of what you said.

Yes, Donny isn't as fast as he was.  I think the change in the tires, wings,shocks....etc all have an impact.  Donny has been loyal to the same products for years, which created consistency.  He was also a big guy with shocks when he was winng alot.  I think the cominbination that works for him has changed due to change in tires, wings...etc.   These cars aren't 2010 and you don't see many guys on J/J's either.  Donny is 47 and yes it matters, but if we want to have the conversation that he is the greatest of all time, then he better win into his 50's because Steve and Sammy were doing that. So yes, father time never loses, and at the sametime I don't believe its the sole reason for his slowdown.   Granted, Donny doesn't just race for a living so he may be getting pulled in different directions with the family business, the girls racing...etc  

To say Donny was the sole reason behind his own success is totally misguided.  I've put on this board before the data to dispell this myth and you can go search it up. The data is out there it tells a story.  I believe you didn't want to hear it then and still don't believe it, but Ricky was critical in Donny's success.  Lets give credit where it is due.   Donny won on an average 5 races a year prior to 2006 with the WoO.  Insert Ricky and they average, IIRC, 18 wins a year over that 12 year span.  Donny chooses to go a different direction and and he has averaged 5 wins a year post Ricky and is trending down.   Make any excuse you want about the Ford or multiple crew chiefs, TSR...etc, whatever, but Steve still won without Karl.   Karl won without Steve.  Ricky is still winning with Rico.  You tell me what piece of the equation isn't winning? 

It's easy to blame age, but I think we should do some math here.   Sammy is 69 years old.   In 2010, if I remember the year correctly, Sammy blew a tire coming down to take the white flag while leading the Knoxville Nationals.   That was 15 years ago, which means he would have been 54 in that time frame and he was winning a lot back then.   That means he was 7 years older than Donny is right now.   I'm thinking age might be a factor, but maybe a small one.    

Nolan Ryan was 46 years old when he retired, and he pitched at a high level until that time.  Sandy Koufax was 30 when he retired.

Tom Brady retired at 45 and John Elway 38. 

Jeff Gordon retired at 44 with a very noticeable decline in ability over the past few years, even after having much success with the departure with Ray Evernham.  Many other nascar stars were at a high level through their 40's.  

It hits all different.  I believe it was Tony Stewart that said the reaction time in a sprint car declines markedly for most in their 40's.  It did for Sammy and Kinser, but not near as much as most.  

I just think its sad that he's not in the 15 anymore.....even if its a different owner. I associate Schatz with 15, just like Kinsey #11 & Sammy #1

I guess I was wrong about the Ford...

You're not alone on the Ford. I predicted an immediate 10 spot improvement. That happened once, maybe. 
Will there be a return of the Schatz 15 in 2026?

In the past few years we've seen some guys that we knew were going to be good, become really good. 

Budd, Gravel, Macedo, then Logan, and Sheldon. Kind of crazy to think that Sheldon has more consistency that Donny. 

And there are guys that are younger that are going to get better and better, while Donny slowly slides. 

We all know the importance of keeping the key group of guys together over the years, which is no longer the case with DS.

I kind of feel like we're beating a dead horse here.... 

Keep It Real

Beating a dead horse?  You mean this isn't the first time in history someone's dominance ended when new young talent was introduced?  Huh.  Who would have thought?  

I wiil be waiting on this dead horse to jump up kick somebody in the ass like a few others have done after they were pronounced dead.

He will for sure.  He's still got some wins left in him, no doubt.  Not 30 a year though.  Not even if Ricky and Jesus decided to wrench for him in 2026.    

I recall the October 2013 National Open where a washed up driver won the race in the 20s...after a testy to say the least separation from the Clemens crap sorry car.

Motivation is often a neutralizer for a while.....I recall a very motivated Fred Rahmer having a great 2013 season culminated by the greatest imho in my teen years Lynn Paxton esque move retiring immediately after winning the 2013 National open!

I believe in the right circumstances Donnie can win - however not at the 2008-2018 levels.  I do believe the young guns have passed many this year.

I'm going to say it louder for the kids in the back.   There is a story here in the data. 

The combination of him and Ricky were very potent for a 12 year period.  Could he win 10+ races in any future year again, yes, but he doesn't have the right combination of people/pieces around him that fits what he needs in a race car.  Ricky knew what he needed/wanted and could make those adjustments to fit him.  Does anyone know why he  was fast on Hard Knox Friday  at Knoxville?? Guess who was lurking in his pits.....wait for it.... Ricky!!!!!!   

This data shows its not because he all the sudden got a year or two older.  Thats a massive drop off in the last 6 years, 22 wins to 0.    Compared  to Stee Kinser who had 20 wins at age 51.   Everyone ages different and I'd be the first to say Steve aged way harder than Donny at the same chronorical age due to the change in the lifestyle of being on the road. 

Yes, this horse is dead, I can't wait till people realize its dead and move on. 

One of those "W's" in the Red area is a Knoxville Nationals... 2022