Donny Schatz pockets $10k "Down Under;" Tony Stewart 7t

[NickHolt]

Donny Schatz pockets $10k down under - Tony Stewart 7th

 

Concord, NC (December 28, 2009) - Back in Victory Lane: Donny Schatz returned to action on Sunday at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia and won a duel over Garry Brazier in the annual $10,000 to-win Valvoline Sprint Car Grand Prix, which was postponed a day by rain. For Schatz the win was the 32nd of his career at the track. He has won at least one race at Parramatta every year since 2000. Schatz began the event on Sunday by turning in the fastest lap in time trials of the 43 cars that took to the track. He followed that up with a second-place finish in the first heat race and also finished second in the dash. He lined up sixth for the A-Feature quickly getting to the front in the scheduled 30-lap race which wound up running 27 laps due to time constraints and impending weather.

 

Also competing at Parramatta City Raceway on Sunday was Schatz's car owner, Tony Stewart, who finished seventh after lining up 25th. Schatz, the four-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, will be back in action at the track on Tuesday as well as Friday and Saturday in the annual $50,000 to-win Scott Darley Memorial, which he has won a record seven times in his career. Stewart will also be in action in all of those events.

 

“I'm glad to be back, Mother Nature didn't cooperate last night and we're here tonight, we got a great race in and are glad to get the win,” said Schatz, following the victory. “This is a terrific track, one of the best I've raced on and Garry (Rush-car owner) always makes us feel at home.”

 

Racing Down Under: Craig Dollansky began an extended tour of Australia on Monday competing with the World Series Sprintcars at Borderline Speedway in the sixth round of their season during their annual Speedweek. The native of Elk River, Minnesota will be back in action on Wednesday at Avalon Raceway with the World Series and then will race at Sungold Premier Stadium Speedway on New Year's Day also with the World Series.