Schatz Beats Hodnett In Battle Of Circuit Point Leaders For WoO Williams Grove Victory

 

5/15/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Mechanicsburg – The World of Outlaws and the Williams Grove Speedway point leaders raced it out on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway with Donny Schatz getting the upper hand over Greg Hodnett to take the victory in the 25-lap sprint car feature worth $8,000.

 

Schatz, the current outlaws point leader, started on the pole flanked by Hodnett, the current Williams Grove point leader.

 

Hodnett of Spring Grove earned the spot to start the feature after putting on an eye-opening display in the dash, driving from seventh to second in a lap and a half to secure the outside of the front row for the main.

 

And when the green flag dropped in the feature event it was indeed Hodnett who took the lead rather handily over Schatz although the outlaws winningest driver this season never allowed Hodnett to get out of reach.

 

The leaders entered traffic on the eighth tour and again Schatz stuck with Hodnett as he worked the backmarkers. 

 

The pair crossed the line virtually nose to tail on the 11th circuit before Hodnett crept away just a bit but a few laps later and Schatz was again poised to pounce.

 

They were nose to tail again at the stripe as lap 17 was scored and Hodnett broke low into the first corner.

 

Schatz stuck his No. 15 to the top to roll the corner and that proved to be Hodnett’s undoing as the North Dakota driver drew to Hodnett’s outside as the pair shot onto the backstretch. 

 

And by the time the pair reached the backstretch bridge Schatz surged into control and it was a lead he would never relinquish during the remaining seven tours.

 

Instead Schatz pulled away to his 19th career victory at the oval over Hodnett by 1.542 seconds with fifth starter Brian Montieth finishing third after taking the spot from Aaron Ott with five laps to go. 

 

Ott rode home fourth followed by Paul McMahan.

 

Sixth through 10th went to Stevie Smith, Dave Blaney, Joey Saldana, Shane Stewart and Daryn Pittman.

 

“Greg was setting a pretty good pace. He got a good start on us,” Schatz said.

 

“You need traffic to be able to get by guys.  He was moving all over the place and we were passing some really good cars there.”

 

Hodnett said, “We were just a tick off all night and it showed in traffic.  Donny’s the best in the world for a reason.”

 

Heats for the 40-car field went to Hodnett, McMahan, Stevie Smith and Saldana with Schatz winning the dash.

 

Sheldon Haudenschild put on a good drive to win the B Main.

 

Aaron Ott set quick time with a lap of 16.611 seconds.  

 

 

 

May 15, 2015 Feature Finishes:

 

410 sprints, 25 laps: 1. Donny Schatz, 2. Greg Hodnett, 3. Brian Montieth, 4. Aaron Ott, 5. Paul McMahan, 6. Stevie Smith, 7. Dave Blaney, 8. Joey Saldana, 9. Shane Stewart, 10. Daryn Pittman, 11. Danny Dietrich, 12. Kerry Madsen, 13. David Gravel, 14. Jason Sides, 15. Danny Holtgraver, 16. Cody Darrah, 17. Logan Schuchart, 18. Brent Marks, 19. Lucas Wolfe, 20. Brad Sweet, 21. Sheldon Haudenschild, 22. Kraig Kinser, 23. Ryan Smith, 24. Don Kreitz Jr.

DNQ: Pat Cannon, Tim Glatfelter, Jacob Allen, Kyle Reinhardt, Craig Dollansky, Lance Dewease, Ryan Taylor, Cory Haas, Nicole Bower, Doug Esh, Austin Hogue, Rodney Westhafer, Jamie Veal, Steve Buckwalter, Troy Fraker, Alan Krimes