Barberville,FL — Jan. 25, 2009 — After clinching his first World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship in 2006, Donny Schatz didn’t miss a beat to start his title defense in ’07. At Volusia Speedway Park in the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, Schatz powered his way into the winner’s circle for his first World of Outlaws win, and second overall, at the half-mile oval near Daytona Beach, Fla.
An impressive 56-car field was in the pits that night. Like they’ll do in only nine days at Volusia, star drivers from every region in the country had signed in that night.
Schatz started the feature on the pole alongside Kasey Kahne Racing’s Joey Saldana, who got the jump in the first corner and built a lead. The two hit traffic and Schatz began to chip away at the lead and Danny Lasoski, who was running second. Schatz was within striking distance on Lap 12. First he worked past Lasoski, then went low in Turn 1. Saldana fought back with a slide job. Then in the second corner, Schatz charged back and made a pass for the lead that would ultimately give him the win.
Schatz worked through traffic masterfully in a green-to-checkers feature before a packed grandstand. “It was a great night,” Schatz said. “I’m as pumped up as I have ever been. … I want to get racing, and I want to get racing every day and try to get everything we can.”
More memorable moments are sure to occur in only nine days at the 38th running of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, which runs from Feb. 3-14 at the sweeping half-mile oval. With infield trailer heights limited to 9 feet, 6 inches, there are no bad seats in the grandstands at Volusia Speedway Park, which is only 15 miles inland on State Road 40 from Ormond Beach, Fla.
Take advantage of special ‘Super Ticket’ deals that offer seats for all the events contested by each headline division, including six Sprint Car events (All-Star Circuit of Champions on Feb. 3-5, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Feb. 6-8); eight nights of UMP DIRTcar Modified action (Feb. 3-10); six-nights of Dirt Late Model racing (Feb. 9-14); the and four Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar big-block Modified dates (Feb. 11-14).
To reserve your seats, follow the ticket links at http://www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com, http://www.dirtcarnationals.com or call the Volusia Speedway Park office at 386-985-4402.
