5/17/2015
Sprint Source
Schatz Scores His 10th Win of 2015 at Weedsport Speedway’s Empire State Challenge
Sparks fly between Kerry Madsen and Chad Kemenah in battle for second
WEEDSPORT, N.Y. - May 17, 2015 - It had been 22 years since the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series last made an appearance at Weedsport Speedway but Donny Schatz looked like an old pro at the track as he scored his 10th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory of the season in dominant fashion on Sunday night.
It was the second series win in a row for Schatz, who picked up win number nine at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night, and his fourth win in the last five races.
"This team should really be standing here," Schatz said in victory lane. "There's three guys who give all their heart and dedication into making sure I get these victories. For these guys, that's awesome. I'm the lucky guy that gets to drive it. I couldn't ask for a better race team or car owner or anybody. It's just pretty awesome to be in this position right now."
Schatz led early and by lap six began working his way through traffic. Chad Kemenah, who started the feature in fourth with his Brilex/Seneca Energy No. 10H car, moved to second by lap two. Schatz built up a large lead early on but as he worked his way through lapped traffic Kemenah closed the distance - it was short lived however.
Through three restarts, Schatz held off challengers. Kerry Madsen, who ran second late in the race worked to close the gap in the waning laps, but was not able to catch Schatz.
"I didn't know what was going to happen there," Schatz said. "I felt really good in the dash and on the start of the feature I felt good in every lap. I got a little bit worse and worse and worse… The first time I got to traffic they were three and four wide. It's fun to try to figure out a spot to get through and we seemed to do an ok job there. Glad to get to victory lane for the Bad Boy team.
Schatz expanded his lead in the championship standings over second place Shane Stewart to 69 points.
The battle for second and third was intense throughout the feature with Kemenah, Madsen, Brad Sweet and Greg Hodnett battling for position. By the end, grass, and later, words flew between Madsen and Kemenah.
Brad Sweet held second, his starting spot, early on, but Kemenah worked his way forward quickly through the opening laps. On the first restart of the night Sweet briefly retook the position as Madsen moved into third but a caution flag flew before a lap was completed and the field reset.
The caution flag flew again on lap 20 as Joey Saldana spun in turn one. Madsen, who ran in fourth, took the third position from Sweet on the restart and then set his sights on Kemenah in second. As the two drivers came around to complete lap 21, Madsen slid Kemenah through turns three and four. Side by side down the front stretch, Madsen and Kemenah nearly made contact. Kemenah lost momentum as he moved low to avoid contact and he slipped back to third.
In victory lane, as the two waited to be interviewed, words were exchanged.
"I don't what that is. It is what it is. I just don't race like that," Kemenah, who finished third, said. "We'll go on to the next one and keep trying."
Madsen, who scored his third podium finish of the year with his No. 29 American Racing Custom Wheels car, said the outside lane worked well for him.
"I could get a good run. I got a good run in one and two," Madsen said of the restart. "It worked well for me.
"For us, we got close to Donny there on a black, slick track, so we're pretty happy about that. Just lost a little tire wear at the end. I pushed really hard in the middle so I probably pushed too hard on the tire but I couldn't be happier for the team - we got a great result here… Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the rest of the year."
Hodnett scored his second quick time of the season and set a new Weedsport Speedway track record after a qualifying lap of 13.401.
New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway welcomes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Tuesday for the Jersey Outlaw Classic. Tickets remain for the event and can be purchased by calling (844) 347-8849 or visiting http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=579&backurl=default.asp . Find out more event information for the Jersey Outlaw Classic at http://woosprint.com/new-egypt-speedway.
Follow the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
Weedsport Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: The last time the Outlaws raced at Weedsport Speedway was 1993. Dave Blaney, the 1995 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, was the most recent winner at the track. He finished 20th tonight… Donny Schatz scored his 10th win of the season tonight… Greg Hodnett scored his second quick time of the season tonight. He also became the new track record holder after a lap of 13.401… Shane Stewart was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing 10 positions to finish eighth.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Jacob Allen; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Stewart Friesen; Lincoln Welders ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Super Flow ($50 cash): Jamie Veal; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Daryn Pittman;KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Shane Stewart; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Donny Schatz;Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Jacob Allen; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): David Gravel; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jacob Allen.
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 10 (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); Shane Stewart - 3 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Keller Auto Speedway on April 17, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 1); 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); Daryn Pittman - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Antioch Speedway on March 29); Brad Sweet - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, Calistoga Speedway on April 11); Christopher Bell - 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on May 2); Brian Brown - 1 (USA Raceway on March 7);Greg Hodnett - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 13); Tim Kaeding - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 13); Terry McCarl - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5).
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