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Schatz Red Hot In Cold Florida

Barberville, FL – Donnie Schatz came from last to first to win the O’Reilly All-Star Circuit of Champions 30-lap sprint-car race on a cold Tuesday evening at Volusia Speedway Park. The race marked the opening round of the 39th Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH.

While the race action was incredibly hot, cold weather greeted the hearty fans with the temperature dropping into the high 30s at the end of the night.

At the outset of the feature, Schatz was forced to the rear of the 24-car field after damaging his car in an opening lap accident. When the race action started, the hard-charging North Dakota native couldn’t be denied as he powered his way around the competition, moving into the top-10 quickly, grabbing third place on the 19th lap, second a lap later and into the lead with five to go.

“I didn’t know if I could get back into the race after the crash, but I don’t ever give up,” Schatz said after wracking up his fourth All Star win at VSP. “My guys did a great job in fixing the car.” En route to the spectacular win, Schatz bounced off the walls on several occasions. “I got into the front-stretch wall good three or four times, and that’s why we run the best components made. For all the fans that came out in the cold, this one is for you.”

The winner drove the Tony Stewart Racing Armor All/Chevy/Parker Stores J&J entry.

Second place went to fast qualifier Stevie Smith. “Donnie (Schatz) took me by surprise when he passed me, as I knew he started in the back. It was pretty amazing to come from the back like he did. We will take second.”

Veteran sprint-car driver Sammy Swindell came home third. “I haven’t run a half-mile (track) since the Knoxville Nationals in August, so I am kind of happy with our finish and for my new team.”

Danny Lasoski, celebrating his 50th birthday, took fourth place with Joey Saldana fifth.

Sixth through tenth were Wayne Johnson, Cody Darrah, early leader Lance DeWease, Steve Kinser and Craig Dollansky.

Forth-six cars signed in and Smith took qualifying honors with a rapid lap of 135.829 miles per hour.

Heat winners were Daryn Pittman, Dollansky, Mark Smith and Schatz. Kraig Kinser won the 12-lap consolation race.

Terry McCarl, Glenn Styres and Cale Conley flipped without injury in separate accidents.

Jaret Landers captured the UMP DIRTcar modified race with NASCAR’s Kenny Wallace finishing second. Eighty-two modifieds were on the premises.

Racing resumes Wednesday night for the second of three All Star programs. Thereafter, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars takes to the track for three more races.

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