Dates: Thursday through Saturday, June 27th-29th
Event: 41st Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals
Series: World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Track: Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, Minn.)
Donny Schatz A-Main Finishes (Start):
Thursday: 3rd (1st)
Friday: 8th (8th)
Saturday: 2nd (4th)
2019 World of Outlaws Championship Standings: 2nd – 4432 points (72 points behind Brad Sweet)
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 1, 2019) – Although falling one spot short of defending his 2018 Jackson Nationals title, Donny Schatz’ weekend at the state-of-the-art Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., proved to be more than successful, ultimately capping the weekend with three consecutive top-ten performances, two of which podium runs including a second place finish during the $41,000-to-win Jackson Nationals finale.
Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 15 sprint car, kicked-off his three-day Jackson Nationals campaign with a third place performance on Thursday, June 27. Starting from the pole position, Schatz would eventually fade to third, losing a position to David Gravel, as well as eventual winner and World of Outlaws championship contender, Brad Sweet.
Mechanical woes during the start of the evening’s dash forced Donny Schatz to start eighth during Friday’s Jackson Nationals preliminary main event. Unfortunately, Schatz was unable to make up any ground and eventually finished eighth in the running order.
Saving the best result for last, the ten-time and defending World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion concluded his three-day Jackson Motorplex invasion with a second place finish during the weekend finale, a two-position bump after starting fourth on the grid.
Although pressuring race leader and eventual winner, Brad Sweet, during the late stages of the 35-lap program, a caution during the closing laps would ultimately hurt Schatz’ momentum, erasing any possibility to garner the $41,000 payday.
“We didn’t want to leave Jackson with a second place finish, but hats off to Brad Sweet and his guys. They were fast all weekend,” Donny Schatz expressed, who is second in the World of Outlaws championship standings. “To put together three consecutive finishes like we did says a lot about this team. We had to overcome some mechanical issues on Friday, but my guys were able to make that happen and we salvaged a solid finish. I’m proud of everyone involved. We have a lot on our plate during the month of July. I’m ready to get things started.”
Independence Day weekend has plenty in store for the Fargo, North Dakota-native, as Schatz and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing plan to enter three events in four days, all of which kicking off at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, S.D., on Wednesday, July 3.
Action will continue on Friday and Saturday, July 5 & 6, with a two-day stay at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin. Certainly no stranger to action at Cedar Lake, Schatz finished fourth and third, respectively, during his two-day New Richmond trip in 2018.
ADDITIONAL MEDIA:
Fans are encouraged to follow the progress of Donny Schatz, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing and the No. 15 Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/J&J Auto Racing motorsports team on the Web and on social media. More information can be found at www.tonystewartracing.com, as well as at www.donnyschatzmotorsports.com.
Tony Stewart Racing: Facebook at www.facebook.com/TonyStewartRacing or on Twitter and Instagram @TonyStewart_Rcg.
Donny Schatz: Facebook at www.facebook.com/DonnySchatz or on Twitter and Instagram @DonnySchatz.
Watch Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing live during each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event of 2019 at www.dirtvision.com.
2019 Donny Schatz / Tony Stewart Racing Statistics: (thru July 1, 2019)
World of Outlaws Races: 32
World of Outlaws Wins: 3
World of Outlaws Top-5s: 19
World of Outlaws Top-10s: 28
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CONTACT:
Photo: DB3 Inc.
Tyler Altmeyer
Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com