Donny Schatz Back In Victory Lane At Volusia
Feb 09, 2008
Courtesy www.worldofoutlaws.com
BARBERVILLE, FL by Bryan Autullo – All Star PR Director
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions wrapped up their Florida swing with 51 cars signed in at Volusia Speedway Park on night number three of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. The heat races were stacked as they have been the entire week with the best drivers in the country doing battle on the fast half mile. The best of the All Stars and Outlaws combined for another night of heart stopping action before the All Stars pull up their stakes and head back North.
Donny Schatz proved once again why he is the two time defending Outlaw champion by knocking out the competition for the second time in just three races as he bested the stellar field. Many of the drivers have compared the level of competition at Volusia this week to the Knoxville Nationals as many top notch drivers have spent time in the B and C mains.
“It’s good to get back to Victory Lane, “ said Schatz. “These guys deserve this, they have been working real hard. Our Chevrolet engine got us a good lap in qualifying tonight. We’re doing some playing the last couple of nights and we’ll go back to basics tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be back in Victory Lane. “ Schatz jumped out to the lead at the initial green flag leading Lance Dewease and Joey Saldana to the line. Jason Meyers was close behind and took the third spot by lap 15. Saldana began to get a handle on the track and moved back into the third spot by lap 18. While Schatz ran and hid from the rest of the field, Craig Dollansky was making a charge to the front and moved into the third spot on lap 21 as Dewease tried to gain ground on Schatz in traffic.
The red flag flew for Kraig Kinser who turned over the Tony Stewart owned ride in turn three on lap 23. The running order at the restart was Schatz, Dewease, Saldana, Dollansky, Meyers, and Fred Rahmer. Saldana tried to make things tough on Schatz moving up to second on lap 25 and running down the leader in traffic. Saldana made a last effort on the final lap closing to within two car lengths of Schatz, but ran out of laps and settled for second. Meyers would cross the line third, followed by Dewease and Dollansky who rounded out the Top 5.
Schatz went on to say, “We ran a whole different thing tonight than we have and we said we would commit to it tonight and do it, no matter if we win or lose. I had to drive as hard as I could and some nights you have to do that. It helps me get better and you become more diversified as a driver. “ Heat race number one was won by Donny Schatz who got by Randy Hannagan on lap 6 and went on to victory. Jac Haudenschild and Stevie Smith went at it hard in heat race number two with Smith coming out on top. Craig Dollansky passed Tony Bruce Jr. for the win in heat number three as Chad Kemenah just got by Wolfe for the transfer spot. Heat race number four was won by Dale Blaney as Jason Meyers put Greg Wilson in the B-main at the line.
C-main action got off to a fast start with last night’s winner Wayne Johnson running side by side with Tim Shaffer. Shaffer took the lead early as Terry McCarl got by Paul May early for third. After a lap 6 caution the running order was Shaffer, Johnson, McCarl, Ben Gregg, and May. After the retart, Shaffer pulled out to a good lead and took it to the checkered flag with May just getting by Gregg at the line for the transfer spot.
Cody Darrah ran away and hid from Lucas Wolfe in the B-main, but the action back through the pack was furious as Shane Stewart spent most of the race dodging in and out of cars putting slide jobs on half of the field on his way to the front, threading the needle several times as the crowd was on their feet. Darrah won as Chad Hillier just got by Greg Wilson by a nose wing at the flag stand. Wolfe finished second with Stewart coming home third.
The O’Reilly All Star Dash was won by Lance Dewease, but the race was slowed on lap one as Fred Rahmer, Randy Hannagan, and Dewease went three wide in turn three with Rahmer getting tagged and breaking a front end. Dewease picked up the dash win which pays season points to the top six qualifying All Star members who transfer out of their heat race.
The O’Reilly All Stars will resume the 2008 season at Attica Raceway Park on April 4th.
