Schatz takes 1/3 Mile Nationals

BY JASON ORTH / For the Lincoln Journal Star

EAGLE — Donny Schatz of Fargo, N.D., took advantage of two late race breaks to win the 40-lap 1/3 Mile Nationals Friday night at Eagle Raceway.

Working the low groove, Schatz worked his way through traffic to take the lead after a lap-36 restart. Just one week earlier, Schatz suffered burns to his face and neck at a race in Chico, Calif.

Friday’s win was his 13th of the season and was the furthest back any driver has come to win an Outlaws A feature this season.

Brooke Tatnell took the early lead from the pole position with Chad Blonde and Craig Dollansky applying pressure early. Brian Brown, Daryn Pittman and Terry McCarl fought for fifth place on the dusty surface.

The red flag flew on lap 13 as Wayne Johnson tipped over in turn four.

With the lapped car of Lincoln’s Billy Alley sandwiched between first and second, Tatnell again got the jump on the field and pulled out to a straightaway lead.

Schatz had pulled up to sixth place by lap 15 and entered the chase for fifth place.

Still working what was left of the bottom groove, Schatz was able to muscle under the traffic, passed third-place Blonde and began to close in on second-place Dollansky.

Unlike the other drivers, Schatz still found traction in the low groove and blew past Dollansky with 11 laps remaining.

With seven laps to go, cones marking the start-finish line were hit and thrown onto the track, bringing out the yellow flag. Tatnell was on point for the restart with the lapped cars of Dusty Zomer and Seth Brahmer between himself and Schatz.

When the green flew, Schatz sped past Brahmer. With four laps remaining, Schatz passed Zomer and got his biggest break of the night when Joey Saldana, son of Lincoln racing legend Joe Saldana, rolled in turn four after tangling with Jason Martin to bring out the red flag.

With no lapped traffic as a cushion, Schatz pulled alongside Tatnell with three laps left. Tatnell moved down to block Schatz in turn one, but went back up top for the next set of turns.

On the next lap, Tatnell got up into the loose dirt above the cushion, and Schatz powered underneath coming out of turn two. Tatnell pulled alongside to take the white flag, but Schatz had the fast line and pulled away for the win.

“Anyone could have driven the car tonight, I was just lucky to be the one behind the wheel,” Schatz said.

Chris Alcorn won the modified A feature ahead of Jordan Grabouski, Scott Bivens, Doug Deterding and Rik Gropp.

World of Outlaws A feature results: 1. Donny Schatz; 2. Brooke Tatnell; 3. Craig Dollansky; 4. Daryn Pittman; 5. Chad Blonde; 6. Randy Hannagan; 7. Justin Henderson; 8. Terry McCarl; 9. Jac Haudenschild; 10. Brian Brown.