THE CHAMP STARTS WITH A WIN

BARBERVILLE, FL (Feb. 6) - Donny Schatz was stuck on 100 for too long. In the 2010 World of Outlaws season opener Saturday night, the four-time and defending WoO champion kicked off the 2010 season just as he did in 2007 and 2009, with a win.  Schatz wheeled the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) No. 15 Armor All/STP ParkerStore J&J to his 101st career WoO win by leading 20 of the 30-lap main event.

“That’s the way to start, that’s awesome,” said Schatz. “Everyone has their cars stuck so hard that it puts it more on the drivers and that’s what I like to see. I’m glad to get the win. Normally I don’t run well on the top when its fast, but I could go all over. The guys (crew chief Ricky Warner, crewman Shane Bowers and Steve Swenson) have been working pretty hard and we have been playing since we got to Ocala. We learned a lot of things and I think we have five or six nights ahead of everyone, hopefully.”

Schatz began the night by qualifying third in the field of 37 cars and he showed in the Dash event that he was going to be a player in the feature. The Fargo, N.D. native raced from sixth to third. In the feature event, Schatz quickly jumped into a battle for the lead and led lap one. He raced with Tim Shaffer for the first 10 laps before seizing control. During the second half of the race, Schatz withstood all challengers to bring home his fourth career WoO main event triumph and ninth overall at the half-mile oval.

On Sunday, he'll try to be "Super" again during another complete WoO show.