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Shane Stewart Gets His Knight’s Tale at Eldora Speedway

Dominates the Knight Before the Kings Royal to score fifth World of Outlaws victory of the season

ROSSBURG, Ohio - July 17, 2015 - In spite a qualifying draw that sent him out last, there was little doubt Shane Stewart was the driver to beat at Friday night's Knight Before the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway.

After qualifying third, Stewart won the Dash and started on the feature pole. Through two attempts to get the race started, Stewart built healthy leads on his nearest competitor. Sammy Swindell worked to catch the Larson Marks Racing driver as they fought their way through traffic but was never able to get much closer than a couple of car lengths.

In his mirror, a familiar foe emerged for Stewart - Donny Schatz. The two drivers, who have found themselves often battling in the first and second positions as the season has worn on, were poised to do it again Friday night.

On a restart on lap eight, Schatz threw a Hail Mary and drove his No. 15 Bad Boy Buggies car high against the wall in turns one and two. The daring move gave him two positions and moved him into the fourth spot. He battled past Daryn Pittman, then in third on lap 17 and then set his sights on Swindell who he caught and passed six laps later.

With just six laps remaining when the final caution of the night fell, Swindell tried to fight his way back around Schatz but wasn't able to make it happen. He eventually lost the third spot to Pittman.

Schatz tried to close the gap on Stewart's No. 2 Eneos/GoPro car in the closing laps but win number 21 was not to be tonight.

"I'm just really happy to be on the receiving end of having the (No. 15 of Donny Schatz) behind me instead of me being behind the 15, because it's been that way all year," Stewart said in victory lane. "Anytime (Donny Schatz) lines up close to you, you know you've got to be on your 'A' game."

"It's obviously great to win the Knight Before the Kings Royal. All these great fans here. You don't see these big crowds unless you go to the Knoxville Nationals and it's a testament to all the true fans we have that follow the sport."

Tonight's win was the fifth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season for Stewart, the 2005 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. He is second to Schatz in both championship points and in total wins.

For the Fargo, N.D. native and six time series champion, the night did not turn out like he had hoped.

"We did everything we could," Schatz said. "This Bad Boy Buggies team did a phenomenal job and they gave me a great car - still have a little improvement for tomorrow. It felt really good in the top, bottom, middle - we've just got to be a little bit better."

Despite struggles that have plagued the No. 9 Great Clips team this season, third place finisher Daryn Pittman has seen his fortunes on the rise of late with several podium and top-five finishes. The 2013 series champion credited his team for long hours and determination to make things better.

"A win is obviously what you're shooting for," Pittman said. "But for us to feel like we were as fast as we were all night long, stay in the hunt and be right there with (Shane Stewart and Donny Schatz) is better than we have been and makes us excited to come back here tomorrow."

As the series prepares for another night of racing at historic Eldora Speedway on Saturday and of course, the coveted $50,000-to-win Kings Royal title, tonight's winner Stewart said he feels good about the momentum for his team.

"Hopefully this was a good omen for tomorrow."

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Eldora Speedway Notebook

RACE NOTES: Joey Saldana took home the night's overall quick time with a lap of 13.041. It was the 11th quick time of the season for Saldana who is the season's leading qualifier… Shane Stewart was the night's polesitter and scored his fifth World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season… Jason Sides was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing 11 positions to finish in ninth.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Jacob Allen; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Lincoln Welders ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Johnson;Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart;KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Jason Sides; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart; Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Jacob Allen; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Ryan Smith; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jacob Allen.

SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 20 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 21, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 28, Placerville Speedway on April 8, Calistoga Speedway on April 12, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 26, Eldora Speedway on May 8, Eldora Speedway on May 9, Williams Grove Speedway on May 15, Weedsport Speedway on May 17, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 22, Knoxville Raceway on June 13, Huset's Speedway on June 14, Granite City Speedway on June 17, River Cities Speedway on June 19, Dakota State Fair Speedway on June 20, Beaver Dam Raceway on June 27, Lakeside Speedway on July 1, Dodge City Raceway Park on July 4, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 11); Shane Stewart - 5 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Keller Auto Speedway on April 17, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 1, Crawford County Speedway on June 12, Eldora Speedway on July 17); Daryn Pittman - 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Antioch Speedway on March 29, New Egypt Speedway on May 19); Brad Sweet - 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, Calistoga Speedway on April 11, I-96 Speedway on June 25); Rico Abreu - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 22); Paul McMahan - 2 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 18, Tri-State Speedway on May 3); Joey Saldana - 2 (Kokomo Speedway on June 3, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 12); Christopher Bell - 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on May 2); Dale Blaney - 1 (Attica Raceway Park on May 29); Brian Brown - 1 (USA Raceway on March 7); Greg Hodnett - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 13); Tim Kaeding - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 13); Danny Lasoski - 1 (I-80 Speedway on June 5); Terry McCarl - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5); Jason Sides - 1 (Dodge City Raceway Park on July 3).

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