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Another Dominate Night for Schatz as he wins at Monster Meltdown

Schatz scores his 18th win of the season and fourth in a row during night one of the Monster Meltdown at Skagit Speedway
ALGER, Wash. - Aug. 29, 2014 - With another dominate performance during night one of the Monster Meltdown at Skagit Speedway on Friday night, Donny Schatz continued a podium streak that began on July 19 and World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win streak that now stretches four races.

Schatz, who won 23 races last season with his STP/Armor All team, is proving especially formidable this season as his 18th win of the season extended his championship points lead over second place Daryn Pittman to 197.

"It always feels good to win," Schatz said. "Especially out here at a place we've not been so swell. Hats off to the whole STP team - these guys should be up here (on the podium). They're doing a phenomenal job. They give me a racecar every night that's capable of winning and it's done that. It's an awful fun position to be in."

Luck was on Schatz's side throughout the night. The dash inversion draw put him on the outside pole for the dash and ultimately helped him to the same starting position in the A main. Then, during the feature, Schatz had trouble just before an open red flag.

"We got to lapped traffic before that red and it just kind of started to get tight, I couldn't stay on the bottom, I was driving across the racetrack and the guys told me there was more air in the left rear than there was in the right rear when we stopped. We had some sort of bleeder issue and got it fixed up and went on."

With 66 A mains in the books so far this season, Schatz is slightly ahead of his wins pace from last season - he had 17 up to this point. The last driver to score more than 23 wins in a single season was Steve Kinser in 2003.

The green flag fell on the 25-lap, $8,000 to win A main with Cody Darrah and Schatz on the front row. Schatz jumped out front after battling Darrah through turns one and two but a caution flew on lap one as last year's champion Pittman spun in turn four. The field reset and again Schatz jumped to the lead. As he did that, a battle for second took over, as Darrah fought to hold the position over Brad Sweet who by that point had moved into third. On lap three, Sweet took over the position.

A red flag hit the early portion of the race on lap four after contact between Austen Wheatley and Trey Starks. When the race returned to green Schatz led Sweet, Darrah and Madsen.

On lap 16, as Madsen just fought his way past Darrah for third, a red flag flew as contact left Darrah on his roof and Kraig Kinser done for the night. Both drivers were OK. With the extended red, World of Outlaws officials opened up the track to the teams, giving Schatz and others the opportunity to make minor adjustments.

A final restart, with just nine to go, had Schatz leading Sweet and Madsen to the green flag. Schatz jumped out to a commanding lead as a battle ensued for second. In the closing laps, Madsen discovered the middle line worked well for him through one and two, and the top line in three and four. This gave him the momentum he needed to get around Sweet, who was running the bottom, and take over the second spot.

Schatz won with Madsen in second, Sweet in third, Joey Saldana in fourth and Paul McMahan in fifth.

Madsen said the final red flag was frustrating for him as he closed in on the leaders in his American Racing Custom Wheels car.

"Brad and Donny weren't that far ahead of me (at the red)," Madsen said. "But obviously that's sprint car racing. Then you've got to go back and attack because it's a double file restart."

"Excellent run - I just really want to thank (crew chief Tyler Swank), (and crew members) Chris (Bowe) and Brandon (Ikenberry) for the great job they've been doing… it was kind of a frustrating race because just when we felt like we would get going the yellows kept coming out but that's the way it works sometimes. It was just great to get a top three."

Sweet, who has 23 top-fives and five wins in his SureTest Supplies car this season, said if he had the opportunity to replay the final laps of Friday night's feature over, he would have obviously moved to the top in turns three and four to stop Madsen's momentum.

"He was searching around and Kerry's been good all year and really aggressive," Sweet said.

He said he was looking forward to the lapped traffic but cautions stifled that. With Schatz so good in open air on the restarts, Sweet said the No. 15 was the car to beat.

"(A podium finish is) nice - the SureTest car, we've been in a bit of a slump, so it's nice to be back on the front straightaway."

Barry Martinez was the night's KSE Hard Charger recipient after advancing nine positions to finish in 13th.

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series finishes up the Monster Meltdown at Skagit Speedway on Sat., Aug. 30. The Outlaws then head south to Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. on Sept. 1 before events in Oregon and California.

SKAGIT SPEEDWAY NOTES: Donny Schatz scored his 18th win of the season and fourth in a row… Donny Schatz is ahead of his 23 win pace last year - the last driver to score more than 23 wins in one season was Steve Kinser in 2003… Schatz has not finished outside the top-three since July 18… Shane Stewart scored the quick time of the night - his fourth of the season… Barry Martinez was the KSE Hard Charger of the night, advancing 9 positions to finish in 13th.

SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 18 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 19, Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 27, I-96 Speedway on May 31, River Cities Speedway on June 20, 34 Raceway on June 27, Cedar Lake Speedway on June 29, Lernerville Speedway on July 15, Autodrome Drummond on July 26, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 27, Ohsweken Speedway on July 29, Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 9, Junction Motor Speedway on Aug. 12, Nodak Speedway on Aug. 17, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 and Skagit Speedway on Aug. 29); Daryn Pittman - 12 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Calistoga Speedway on April 6, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 19, Williams Grove Speedway on May 16 and May 17, Orange County Fair Speedway, May 18, New Egypt Speedway, May 20, Dodge City Raceway Park on July 4 and 5, Lincoln Speedway on July 17, Fulton Speedway on July 23 and River Cities Speedway on Aug. 15); Kerry Madsen - 5 (Stockton Dirt track on March 22, El Paso Speedway Park on April 15, Lakeside Speedway on June 7, Eldora Speedway on July 12 and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Aug. 3); Joey Saldana - 5 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 12, Salina Highbanks on April 25, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 23, I-80 Speedway on June 6 and Jackson Speedway on June 13); Brad Sweet - 5 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Tucson International Raceway on March 8, Calistoga Speedway on April 5, Knoxville Raceway on June 14 and Beaver Dam Raceway on June 28); David Gravel - 4 (Merced Speedway on March 28, Eldora Speedway on May 3, Wilmot Raceway on May 9 and Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 20); Paul McMahan - 4 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 5, Tri-State Speedway on May 10, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 9 and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Aug. 1); Cody Darrah - 2 (Kings Speedway on April 11 and Lernerville Speedway on July 15); Sammy Swindell - 2 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on April 26 and Eldora Speedway on July 11); Rico Abreu - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15); Christopher Bell - 1 (Jacksonville Speedway on May 7); Dale Blaney - 1 (Attica Raceway Park on May 30); Lance Dewease - 1 (July 20 at Williams Grove Speedway); Greg Hodnett - 1 (July 18 at Williams Grove Speedway);Roger Crockett - 1 (I-94 Speedway on June 21); Mark Dobmeier - 1 (Huset's Speedway on July 2);Steve Kinser - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16); Stevie Smith - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 14); Shane Stewart - 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 2).

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