Defending Champion Will Leave Family Owned Team, Join McMahan At TSR

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — On Saturday night Donny Schatz won his second-consecutive Knoxville Nationals championship. Also on Saturday came confirmation that Schatz’s days as an owner-operator on the World of Outlaws trail are over.
Schatz will leave his family-owned team behind in 2007 and go to work as a hired driver with Tony Stewart Racing, which will expand to a two-car operation for the 2008 season.
While Schatz’s parents — Danny and Diane — will still field his car through the end of this season, Schatz’s current crew, led by Ricky Warner, and the Tony Stewart No. 20 team, with driver Paul McMahan and crew chief Jimmy Carr, are already working together.
Schatz will continue to drive the No. 15, but a new sponsor, expected to be Armor All, will be on the side of the car, and the two-time NASCAR champion will be footing the bill.
“It all started with Ricky Warner,” said Schatz. “He was hired by Tony and they wanted to do a second team and they have for some time. Ricky came to me and asked me if I was interested and I said, ‘I’m pretty happy with what I have.’ I wasn’t even going to pursue the idea. I didn’t mention it to my family. I said, ‘I’m not interested.’
“My family found out about it and said they thought it was a great opportunity. We’ve won everything there is to win, but there is still a desire to be more successful,” Schatz continued. “This year we won all four of the big races and we would like to finish the year having won them all. It is getting tougher and tougher. My guys are working their tails off and if we could do it with a little less work and a little more fun that makes it a little better for everybody.”
Schatz said a decision has not been made as to which engine and chassis the team may run next year. Schatz has been a long-time supporter of Shaver engines and J&J chassis, while the Stewart team uses Kistler engines and Maxim chassis.
When asked if this could be a springboard to a NASCAR career, Schatz was straightforward.
“I’m a dirt driver. I am over the hill for that. You guys have seen me race on asphalt,” he laughed. “This is my place and this is where I want to be. This is what I do.”