BRISBANE, Queensland — Donny Schatz has been traveling to Australia to race during the World of Outlaws’ offseason for over 20 years. However, his 2019-20 swing Down Under was one of the most impressive of his career.
Schatz claimed his 29th career World Series Sprint Car feature win on Friday night, Jan. 10, at Archerfield Speedway on the preliminary night of the Australian Open. Starting fourth on the grid for the main event, Schatz sliced his way into second on the opening lap. Schatz patiently waited for the right time to pounce, taking the lead from Lachlan McHugh with 16 of 25 circuits remaining.
Despite making a bid to retake the lead amid lapped traffic with eight to go, Schatz went relatively unchallenged en route to the win.
Schatz’s Australian swing was set to conclude on Saturday, Jan. 11, with the running of the 50-lap, $20,000-to-win Australian Open at Archerfield Speedway. However, rain forced the postponement of the event.
Up next, Schatz will make his third appearance at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. Schatz’s preliminary qualifying night will be on Friday. The championship night will follow on Saturday.
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The Chili Bowl Nationals is the biggest midget car race in the country and attracts drivers from several disciplines of motorsports including the World of Outlaws and NASCAR.
