Schatz Moves Past Dollansky Early To Collect Big Money At Eldora

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Donny Schatz made it look easy here Saturday night, romping over a star-studded World of Outlaws field to capture the $50,000-to-win 24th annual Kings Royal by Crown Royal at Eldora Speedway.
Schatz, aboard the Parker Stores J&J sprinter, watched Craig Dollansky leap from the third row into the lead at the outset, but several laps later ran down the leader and took the lead coming off turn four to lead the sixth lap.
After that it was only a matter of the margin of victory. The 40-lap race was interrupted by just one caution, and Schatz ultimately won by nearly half a lap.

“Unbelievable. This is the Kings Royal! We’ve come close in this race a few times, but to finally win it is just unbelievable."
— Donny Schatz

“It was probably good that Craig set a good pace early on, because it got me hustling a little bit, looking for different grooves. I could see the scoreboard now and then, and I knew Jason Meyers was behind me, and I thought he was pushing me all the way around. I had no idea I had a big lead.
“I had already decided to retire this car after tonight, because it’s got maybe 30 races on it. So, now I’ve got a trophy car from my Kings Royal win. I definitely didn’t want to go all the way back home (to North Dakota) without this one.”
Second was Meyers, who continues to post strong, consistent runs as the summer progresses.

HOLDING COURT: Donny Schatz (15) moves past Jason Solwold during Saturday's Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Schatz held on to take the $50,000-to-win World of Outlaws event. (Rick Sherer Photo)

“We have a great race car right now,” praised Meyers, driver of the Primerica Financial Maxim. “The team is doing a great job. I wish we could have started up there a little more…but I don’t know if we would have had anything for Donny anyway.
“We’re excited for a second-place finish at the Kings Royal. What a great way to start the “Month of Money.” We’ll be heading to some tracks where we have done really well, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Third was Terry McCarl, who started 11th in the Big Game Treestands Eagle. “We had a great car all weekend,” said McCarl. “Tonight we started a little too far back. You can’t have Donny Schatz up front with only one caution flag and have a shot at it.
“Usually after a race you think of the things you’d go back and change on the car, and this weekend I can’t think of anything I’d change. We’ve been very competitive, and this is one of the best cars I’ve ever had.”
Fourth was Jason Solwold, trailed by Joey Saldana. The second five were Paul McMahan, Craig Dollansky, Jac Haudenschild, Chad Kemenah and Brian Paulus.