Donny Schatz Reflects on the last week: “I think I have another good two or three years, easy, left in me.”

SCHATZ RETURNS TO NORTH DAKOTA FRIDAY (RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY IN GRAND FORKS) AND SATURDAY (RED RIVER VALLEY SPEEDWAY IN WEST FARGO) WITH THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –It has been quite the week for one the best world of outlaws racers of all time, West Fargo’s Donny Schatz. He’s gone from an 18-year run with Tony Stewart racing to being a part of three teams in a about a week. This weekend he returns to North Dakota for races in Grand Forks and West Fargo with the World of Outlaws.

“It’s a dynamic that you would have never thought was going to happen,” said Schatz. “It’s just business. It’s reality. It’s what’s in front of us.”

After a nearly 18-year run with Tony Stewart Racing came to end on August 12, Donny Schatz needed a new team to race for. A few days later, he teamed up with Big Game Motorsports to close out the year. But after a wreck in Friday’s (August 15) race at Ogilvie Raceway, the next day, Schatz teamed up with Lunstra Motorsports to finish out the races in the region. Returning to races was something that was important for him.

“Anytime time we come to North Dakota, this is where it all started for me,” said Schatz. “This is where I live. This is my home. I mean, North Dakota is very important to me. My first focus was making sure, I mean, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, these are the places I grew up racing, and to not think that I was not going to be there with the fans. Ultimately, I knew I would. People have moved mountains for me the last 10 days to get here.”

It has been more than 22 years since Schatz did not compete in a World of Outlaws event, which is the longest streak in series history. Participating in every race is near the top of the priorities list every day.

“I’ve been around nearly 30 years in this sport racing with the outlaws,” said Schatz. “I think that was one thing that kind of stood out in the back of my mind is this is really the first time in 30 years that I might have trouble finishing the entire season, which is very important to me, not missing any races. So, obviously we’re going to not let that happen. But you know, you always got to kind of plan for the worst and expect the worst sometimes so it’s just part of the game.”

In all, the 48-year-old Schatz is a 10-time World of Outlaws sprint car champion and has amassed 316 feature victories, making him the third-winningest driver in series history. He has no plan to stop adding to those accomplishments.

“My plan is to continue racing with the World of Outlaws,” said Schatz. “How long is that? I don’t know. You know, I think I got another good two or three years easy left in me, without question. If it’s five, who knows? But never before have I looked at putting it in terms of a number, like when’s when. I’ve never even thought of that, and I don’t think I’m anywhere near that point where I want to start looking at that number.”

Schatz said what drives him to continue racing is the competition.

This weekend he will have his nieces Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk a part of that competition who are making their world of outlaw sprint car debut’s.

Stay tuned as on Sunday, August 24, we’ll hear from them in a story.