Donny Schatz is now a six-time Kings Royal champion
Donny Schatz has had one of the most successful careers of any race car driver in America and on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway that list of accomplishments improved with a win in the 40th annual crown jewel Kings Royal. It was the sixth win in this race for the 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion.
The Tony Stewart Racing driver from Fargo, ND earned $175,000 from the track located in Rossberg, Ohio in a race aired live by DirtVision.com.
A total of 61 cars were signed in for competition
Qualifying Results: 1. Justin Peck(12.827), 2. Rico Abreu, 3. Logan Schuchart, 4. Spencer Bayson, 5. Brad Sweet, 6. Jacob Allen, 7. Carson Macedo, 8. Sye Lynch, 9. Dylan Cisney, 10. Justin Whittall
Heat 1 Results: 1. Kerry Madsen, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Buddy Kofoid
Heat 2 Results: 1. Lance Dewease, 2. Kasey Kahne, 3. Brady Bacon
Heat 3 Results: 1. David Gravel, 2. Landon Myers, 3. Kyle Larson
Heat 4 Results: 1. Sheldon Haudenschild, 2. Hunter Schuerenberg, 3. James McFadden
Heat 5 Results: 1. Parker Price-Miller, 2. Brent Marks, 3. Cory Eliason
Heat 6 Results: 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Aaron Reutzel, 3. Robbie Price
C-Main Finish: 1. Zach Hampton, 2. Justin Whittall, 3. Noah Gass, 4. Harli White, 5. Cody Bova, 6. T.J. Stutts
Last Chance Showdown Finish: 1. Carson Macedo, 2. Giovanni Scelzi, 3. Sye Lynsch, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
Feature Re-cap: At the start of the 40-lap feature it was Schatz who took the lead ahead of Price-Miller, Gravel, Haudenschild and Kahne. However, a red flag for the flipping cars of Peck and Myers stopped the action. Both of those drivers were uninjured.
On the restart, Price-Miller moved in to challenge for the lead but that effort was halted when Bacon flipped on lap 3. Gravel got by Price-Miller for second on the restart as Schatz slipped away. Marks moved to fourth at the same time.
Scelzi slowed to bring out a yellow flag on lap 10. Gravel challenged for the lead on the restart as Marks moved to third. Schatz broke away from that battle and appeared to be cruising as the race approached halfway.
A caution flag waved on lap 23 to provide an opportunity for teams to add fuel to their cars under an open red. Stewart and Abreu tangled on the restart before a lap could be completed.
Price-Miller flipped on the second attempt at a lap 23 restart.
On lap 25, Marks took second away from Gravel as Schatz once again got away. Larson jumped into the top-5 with just over 10 laps remaining. At the same time, Schatz pulled away from Marks and Gravel by more than three seconds.
The No. 15 would continue to pull away from the pack as Schatz sailed to the victory.
Feature Results: 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Brent Marks, 3. David Gravel, 4. Sheldon Haudenschild, 5. Kyle Larson, 6. Rico Abreu, 7. James McFadden, 8. Carson Macedo, 9. Kasey Kahne, 10. Buddy Kofoid, 11. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 12. Robbie Price, 13. Sye Lynch, 14. Cory Eliason, 15. Parker Price-Miller, 16. Shane Stewart, 17. Kerry Madsen, 18. Lance Dewease, 19. Giovanni Scelzi, 20. Brady Bacon, 21. Aaron Reutzel, 22. Landon Myers, 23. Justin Peck, 24. Hunter Schuerenberg
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