| Donny Schatz |
After winning three of the first 12 events of the season, Schatz became mired in a self-described slump that was capped by a vicious crash at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, on July 28. Schatz and his STP team returned the following night with a fresh car and promptly won at Cornwall Motor Speedway in Cornwall, Ontario, to snap a 33-race winless streak. It also jumpstarted a torrid pace as Schatz reeled off eight wins, 20 podiums and 24 top fives in a 27-race span through October to build a 176-point advantage in the championship standings heading into the PEAK Motor Oil World Finals Presented by NAPA Auto Parts. During that span, Schatz recorded his sixth $150,000-to-win Goodyear Knoxville Nationals title in the last seven seasons and his unprecedented fifth $50,000-to-win National Open victory. Schatz’s unmatched consistency down the stretch earned him his fifth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship and first since claiming four straight from 2006-09. He also hit double digits in victories for the first time since those championship seasons.
2012 Stats: Previous Racing History: 1993 - WISSOTA Sprint Car Rookie of the Year … 1994 - WISSOTA - 5th in National Points - 8 wins … 1996 - WISSOTA National Champion … Has won the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic in Australia twice (2001 & 2002) … Also is five-time winner of the $50K to win Sprintcar International at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia … Has won at least one race in Australia every year since 1999. Interesting Facts: 2006, 2007 & 2008 - American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association All-America Auto Racing Team - First Team … 1997 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year … Has a pilot’s license and is an avid flyer … During the 2006 season took a flight with the Blue Angels …Enjoys outdoor sports of hunting and fishing along with skiing on both water and snow … Is a second-generation driver as his father, Danny, drove sprint cars. |
Hometown: Minot, N.D.