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World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
Sharon Speedway | Hartford, Ohio
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Race Recap  

BACK TO BACK IN THE BUCKEYE STATE: Donny Schatz Claims First Sharon Speedway Win, Sweeps Ohio Weekend

Summertime is nearing, and Donny Schatz is on fire.

After a 30 lap war at Sharon Speedway that saw him trade haymakers with Carson Macedo and hold off a charging David Gravel, Donny Schatz parked the Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Racing machine in Victory Lane for a second consecutive night after winning Friday at Attica.

Only three and a half weeks ago, the 10-time Series champion didn’t have a single top three finish through the first 15 races of the 2023 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car campaign. Since then, Schatz has racked up five podiums in the last six races including his first consecutive victories since topping the final two nights of the 2022 season. In only a few short weeks, Schatz has gone from nightly struggles to resembling the perennial title contender we’re all accustomed to.

The triumph was the 309th of Schatz career and first at Sharon Speedway. He also delivered his boss – Tony Stewart – a great birthday gift as “Smoke” celebrated turning 52 on Saturday.

“This is the first time I’ve won here? I lose track, man, I’m getting old,” Schatz said with a smile. “I’ve been around a long time, and it feels good to still be here. How about this race team? These guys are pretty incredible. What they’re doing. The way this car is. I can’t say enough about them. It’s pretty unreal. What a great weekend.”

Schatz started on the pole and slipped ahead of Carson Macedo to lead the opening circuit. As the opening laps unfolded, Schatz couldn’t escape Macedo’s reach as he kept the Jason Johnson Racing #41 within five car lengths.

On lap nine, Macedo pounced with a Turn 1 slider to take over the top spot. Schatz attempted to return the favor in the next set of corners but couldn’t clear Macedo.

One lap later, Schatz closed in heading into Turn 3 and had David Gravel right behind him as the two hunted Macedo. Schatz looked low in the corner but again couldn’t slide ahead of Macedo. The Fargo, ND native stayed composed and hit the bottom of Turns 1 and 2 perfectly as he and Macedo navigated the next lap. Schatz easily rolled by to reclaim the lead as they roared down the back straightaway.

Once he regained the top spot, Schatz wasted no time extending his advantage. The Series veteran moved his Carquest #15 all over the racing surface as he sliced through traffic while those behind him struggled to keep up.

Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo Racing
Donny Schatz and Carson Macedo traded the lead early on Saturday at Sharon (Trent Gower Photo)

“During racing, I could move around the racetrack,” Schatz explained of his speed. “I could kind of go anywhere. And there’s not very many nights you get a great thing like that. Last night we needed lapped traffic. Tonight, I had a good race car, so hats off to my Carquest team.”

Behind Schatz, a brawl broke out for the runner-up spot as the top three in points – Macedo, Gravel, and Brad Sweet – were all throwing sliders and crossing over nearly every corner.

It appeared Schatz would cruise away unchallenged to the victory, but the caution flag flew with seven laps to go, erasing his lead.

On the restart, Schatz opted to run the middle groove in Turns 1 and 2 and rip the top on the other end of the racetrack. Gravel, who had established control of second, rolled the bottom to perfection. The Watertown, CT native showed Schatz a nose multiple times as the laps dwindled before the yellow flag again was displayed with three laps to go.

Schatz nailed the restart and went right back to the line he’d been running while 11th-starting Sheldon Haudenschild surged from fourth to second. Gravel was able to get back by Haudenschild, but Schatz was too far away by that point. Schatz took the checkered flag with more than a second advantage.

“If you’re worried about protecting, you’re really just going to lose that spot,” Schatz said of his late race strategy. “You’re on attack mode. You’re trying to go where your race car needs to go, where you can get the best grip. Down there in (Turns) 1 and 2, there’s a spot about two car widths off there that’s kind of chunked open, and there’s moisture down there. And I just kept trying to hit it. Scuba (Crew Chief Steve Swenson) had my car so good that I could roll to that point then could just ease back into that Ford power.”

Gravel held onto second aboard the Big Game Motorsports/Husets Speedway #2. Gravel became the first to reach 10 podiums this season with the result. While the finish was strong, he couldn’t help but feel he’d missed out after the final caution flag derailed his best chance at victory.

“It was a hell of a race that whole time,” Gravel said. “When I got into second, I think if that caution doesn’t come out, we were going to be side by side or winning that race. I thought for sure Donny was going to go to the bottom because he saw my nose in (Turns) 1 and 2 on the start but he didn’t. He went to the top, and once that happened I pitched the car sideways and lost two spots. Luckily, our car was that good and we were able to pass those two guys back.”

Completing the top-three was Sheldon Haudenschild for his fourth podium of the season behind the wheel of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17. Coming forward from 11th also earned him the night’s KSE Racing Hard Charger Award as he made his home state fans proud.

“The track was awesome,” Haudenschild said. “This place was perfect really. I don’t think you could’ve asked for a much better track… The car was great during the Feature, and we were able to drive up through there and throw sliders. I feel like not a lot of guys could throw a slider and keep rolling.”

Carson Macedo and Rico Abreu rounded out the top-five.

With Brad Sweet finishing seventh, both Gravel and Macedo made up ground on the four-time and reigning champion. Gravel is now only 20 points behind the top spot while Macedo is 30 markers back.

In Low-E Insulation Qualifying, David Gravel collected his fifth Simpson Performance Products QuickTime Award of the season – putting him in a tie for the most this season.

Gravel came out on top of CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One (212th Heat win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were claimed by Donny Schatz (509th of career), Brock Zearfoss (13th of career), and Carson Macedo (89th of career).

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars stay in Ohio next weekend for two nights (May 26-27) at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, OH. Then on Monday, May 29th the Series heads to the Hoosier State where Lawrenceburg Speedway will host the Federated Auto Parts Memorial Day Spectacular. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the action on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz[1]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[11]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 5. 24-Rico Abreu[5]; 6. 49-Brad Sweet[3]; 7. 5-Spencer Bayston[12]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich[8]; 10. 29-Cole Macedo[15]; 11. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[9]; 12. 22-Brandon Spithaler[13]; 13. 32B-Dale Blaney[14]; 14. 1A-Jacob Allen[20]; 15. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[7]; 16. W20-Greg Wilson[24]; 17. 20G-Noah Gass[23]; 18. 40-George Hobaugh Jr[19]; 19. 70-Henry Malcuit[21]; 20. 7S-Robbie Price[22]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney[17]; 22. 1-Nate Dussel[18]; 23. 49X-Cale Thomas[16]; 24. 83-James McFadden[10]

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11015Donny Schatz 300.00028Running150$10,000
24+22David Gravel 30-1.320Running146$6,000
311+817Sheldon Haudenschild 30-1.801Running144$3,500
42-241Carson Macedo 30-2.9842Running142$2,800
55024Rico Abreu 30-3.358Running140$2,500
63-349Brad Sweet 30-4.382Running138$2,300
712+55Spencer Bayston 30-5.025Running136$2,200
86-21SLogan Schuchart 30-4.120Running134$2,100
98-148Danny Dietrich 30-5.374Running132$2,050
1015+529Cole Macedo 30-5.707Running130$2,000
119-218Giovanni Scelzi 30-5.727Running128$1,600
1213+122Brandon Spithaler 30-6.986Running126$1,400
1314+132BDale Blaney 30-7.086Running124$1,200
1420+61AJacob Allen 30-7.478Running122$1,100
157-83ZBrock Zearfoss 30-7.866Running120$1,050
1624+8W20Greg Wilson 29-1 LapsRunning118$1,000
1723+620GNoah Gass 29-1 LapsRunning116$1,000
1819+140George Hobaugh Jr29-1 LapsRunning114$1,000
1921+270Henry Malcuit 29-1 LapsRunning12$1,000
2022+27SRobbie Price 28-2 LapsDNF110$1,000
2117-45CDylan Cisney 27-3 LapsDNF108$1,000
2218-41Nate Dussel 26-4 LapsDNF106$1,000
2316-749XCale Thomas 21-9 LapsDNF104$1,000
2410-1483James McFadden 0-30 LapsDNS102$1,000
KSE Hard Charger: Sheldon Haudenschild
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11070Henry Malcuit 120.00012Running0$0
2207SRobbie Price 12-1.132Running0$0
34+120GNoah Gass 12-2.023Running0$0
45+1W20Greg Wilson 12-3.366Running0$0
512+75DJacob Dykstra 12-3.555Running90$300
63-381Lee Jacobs 12-6.496Running90$250
710+32FA.J. Flick 12-7.693Running90$225
86-213Brandon Matus 12-7.888Running90$200
98-15KAdam Kekich 12-10.066Running90$200
107-311Carl Bowser 12-13.249Running90$200
119-26FBob Felmlee 12-14.655Running90$200
1211-111JDavid Kalb, Jr. 12-16.804Running90$200
1314+16Bill Rose 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
1413-123Darren Pifer 8-4 LapsDNF90$200
1515033Brent Matus 7-5 LapsDNF90$200
1616046Michael Bauer 0-12 LapsDNS90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+115Donny Schatz 60.0006Running0$0
24+241Carson Macedo 6-1.158Running0$0
31-249Brad Sweet 6-1.947Running0$0
48+42David Gravel 6-2.785Running0$0
56+124Rico Abreu 6-4.535Running0$0
67+11SLogan Schuchart 6-5.462Running0$0
73-43ZBrock Zearfoss 6-6.446Running0$0
85-348Danny Dietrich 6-7.671Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
2201SLogan Schuchart 8-2.982Running
33018Giovanni Scelzi 8-4.055Running
45+122Brandon Spithaler 8-7.927Running
54-15CDylan Cisney 8-7.934Running
67+181Lee Jacobs 8-9.869Running
78+113Brandon Matus 8-12.229Running
86-22FA.J. Flick 8-12.375Running
99023Darren Pifer 8-15.998Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11015Donny Schatz 80.0008Running
24+248Danny Dietrich 8-3.579Running
32-183James McFadden 8-4.220Running
43-132BDale Blaney 8-5.189Running
56+11Nate Dussel 8-7.123Running
67+120GNoah Gass 8-9.289Running
78+111Carl Bowser 8-11.459Running
85-37SRobbie Price 8-12.609Running
9906Bill Rose 8-14.363Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+13ZBrock Zearfoss 80.0008Running
21-124Rico Abreu 8-1.332Running
33017Sheldon Haudenschild 8-2.272Running
44029Cole Macedo 8-4.868Running
56+140George Hobaugh Jr8-7.125Running
65-1W20Greg Wilson 8-8.425Running
7705KAdam Kekich 8-10.537Running
88011JDavid Kalb, Jr. 8-12.599Running
99033Brent Matus 8-14.418Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 80.0008Running
22049Brad Sweet 8-1.666Running
35+25Spencer Bayston 8-5.159Running
44049XCale Thomas 8-6.250Running
56+11AJacob Allen 8-7.013Running
63-370Henry Malcuit 8-9.926Running
78+16FBob Felmlee 8-10.666Running
87-15DJacob Dykstra 8-11.493Running
99046Michael Bauer 0-8 LapsDNS
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1242David Gravel Watertown, CT13.1120.000
2415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.168-0.056
32024Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.214-0.102
42841Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.235-0.123
5101SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.250-0.138
6883James McFadden Alice Springs, NT13.291-0.179
7253ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.332-0.220
83449Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.333-0.221
91318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.457-0.345
101532BDale Blaney Hartford, OH13.496-0.384
111717Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.586-0.474
12970Henry Malcuit Strasburg, OH13.595-0.483
1355CDylan Cisney Port Royal, PA13.598-0.486
143148Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA13.626-0.514
15729Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA13.712-0.600
162749XCale Thomas Fairland, IN13.774-0.662
171122Brandon Spithaler Butler, PA13.777-0.665
18187SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.779-0.667
1912W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH13.842-0.730
20305Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.847-0.735
21332FA.J. Flick Apollo, PA13.851-0.739
22191Nate Dussel Bradner, OH13.963-0.851
231640George Hobaugh JrChicora, PA13.970-0.858
2461AJacob Allen Hanover, PA13.975-0.863
25181Lee Jacobs Holmesville, OH14.044-0.932
263520GNoah Gass Mounds, OK14.063-0.951
2725KAdam Kekich Hermitage, PA14.070-0.958
28145DJacob Dykstra Port Colborne, ON14.106-0.994
292913Brandon Matus Wampum, PA14.148-1.036
302311Carl Bowser Butler, PA14.161-1.049
313211JDavid Kalb, Jr. Aurora, OH14.367-1.255
32266FBob Felmlee Franklin, PA14.435-1.323
332123Darren Pifer Punxsutawney, PA14.442-1.330
34366Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.473-1.361
352233Brent Matus Wampum, PA14.706-1.594
36346Michael Bauer Eighty-Four, PA14.706-1.594
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.3750.000
2101SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.418-0.043
32841Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.430-0.055
42024Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.468-0.093
51532BDale Blaney Hartford, OH13.491-0.116
63449Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.598-0.223
7242David Gravel Watertown, CT13.638-0.263
8305Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.679-0.304
91717Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.685-0.310
10253ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.727-0.352
113520GNoah Gass Mounds, OK13.753-0.378
12970Henry Malcuit Strasburg, OH13.791-0.416
13181Lee Jacobs Holmesville, OH13.859-0.484
141122Brandon Spithaler Butler, PA13.860-0.485
15883James McFadden Alice Springs, NT13.869-0.494
161318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.873-0.498
1712W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH13.904-0.529
181640George Hobaugh JrChicora, PA13.915-0.540
193148Danny Dietrich Gettysburg, PA13.990-0.615
2025KAdam Kekich Hermitage, PA13.991-0.616
2155CDylan Cisney Port Royal, PA14.038-0.663
22729Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA14.040-0.665
2361AJacob Allen Hanover, PA14.092-0.717
242749XCale Thomas Fairland, IN14.100-0.725
252311Carl Bowser Butler, PA14.158-0.783
26187SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC14.174-0.799
272913Brandon Matus Wampum, PA14.402-1.027
28332FA.J. Flick Apollo, PA14.470-1.095
29191Nate Dussel Bradner, OH14.487-1.112
30366Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.557-1.182
313211JDavid Kalb, Jr. Aurora, OH14.613-1.238
32266FBob Felmlee Franklin, PA14.650-1.275
332123Darren Pifer Punxsutawney, PA14.686-1.311
34145DJacob Dykstra Port Colborne, ON14.699-1.324
35346Michael Bauer Eighty-Four, PA14.895-1.520
362233Brent Matus Wampum, PA15.508-2.133
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Sharon Speedway
3241 Custer Orangeville Rd
Hartford, Ohio 44424 

Event Description
The Blaney's welcome the Outlaws back to Sharon in the first of two stops at this Hartford, OH oval. Last year, Brad Sweet led all 35 laps over Donny Schatz.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Feature Laps Length
30

Event Schedule
2:00PM Pit Gates Open
4:00PM Grandstand Gates Open
5:30PM Engine Heat
6:00PM Hot Laps
6:30PM World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Hot Laps
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Low-E Insulation Qualifying
Pro Stock Hot Laps
Opening Ceremonies
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Heat Races (8 Laps)
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Toyota Dash Draw
Pro Stock Heat Races
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Toyota Dash (6 Laps)
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps)
Pro Stock Feature
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Feature (30 Laps)

**Schedule Is Tentative And Subject To Change**
*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Options And Prices
Adult Reserved: $40 Advanced / $45 Day of
Adult GA: $35 Advanced / $40 Day of
Child GA: $10


Grandstand Type
Bleachers - No backs

Reserved Seating
Frontstretch

Family Section Location
None

Handicapped Seating Location
Located on frontstretch and backstretch

Pit Age Requirement
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Parking Cost
None

Handicapped Parking Location
Front gate entrance

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
$25

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Reserved Seating
Frontstretch

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers - No backs

Stadium Seating
Allowed

Handicapped Seating
Located on frontstretch and backstretch

Handicapped Parking
Front gate entrance

Pit Age Limit
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Personal Coolers
No coolers allowed

Credit Card Use
Concessions, Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Not allowed in

Smoking Policy
No smoking allowed in grandstands

Family Section
None

Parking Cost
None

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
$25

Track Info  

Sharon Speedway
3241 Custer Orangeville Rd
Hartford, Ohio 44424 

Track Phone
(330) 772-5481

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.375;

Sprint Car Track Record
12.704 seconds by Danny Holtgraver on 8/20/13

Late Model Track Record
14.842 seconds by Brandon Sheppard on 4/21/17

Closest Airport
Youngstown

Other Airport
Cleveland

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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