OCALA, FL – Early last week Donny Schatz said he was really excited to get the 2013 racing season underway. On Friday night, he did so in fine fashion by racing the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) No. 15 STP/Armor All/ Chevy J&J to victory at Bubba Speedway Park in Ocala, FL in the UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions opener.
Schatz, who started the night by qualifying third in the field of 34 cars, raced from sixth to second in the third heat. The five-time World of Outlaws STP Sprint cars champion then raced from fifth to third in the dash and began the 30-lap A Main on the inside of row two. He passed early leader Daryn Pittman and held on despite battling heavy traffic late in the race en route to his 10th career All-Star triumph.
“There were some lapped cars that give us some problems,” said Schatz following his first win at Ocala. “I just had to pull out all the stops and puss the issue a little with some of them. Once I did that we were good.”
Schatz will race seven times in Florida including a second night in Ocala on Saturday.