Lonnie Wheatley, DODGE CITY, Kan. (July 5, 2013) – Reigning World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car champion Donny Schatz of Fargo, ND, played the role of spoiler with a win in the final inches of Friday night’s 30-lap Boot Hill Showdown opener atop the 3/8-mile Dodge City Raceway Park clay oval.
Schatz’ series best eighth win of the year came by mere inches after Jason Sides fell just short of his first series win of the season after leading nearly all the last 25 laps.
With Schatz gridding the feature field third, Sides led the way to the green flag with fellow front row starter Chad Kemenah gunning into the early lead.
After an early caution four laps in for 2012 Boot Hill Showdown winner Steve Kinser’s turn four spin, Sides battled past Kemenah for the point on the sixth round with Schatz and fifth-starter Kraig Kinser following suit before the caution flew again after eight laps for Brian Herbert, who slid to a stop on the frontstretch.
Sides set the pace over the ensuing around, keeping Schatz and 2012 Boot Hill Showdown finale winner Kraig Kinser at bay until several late cautions bunched the field.
Keeping the pressure on, Schatz made the most of a final restart with just one lap to go, diving to the low side exiting turn four with the checkered flag in sight and nipping Sides at the line in a virtual photo finish.
While Schatz was declared the winner after several moments, Sides settled for his fourth runner-up finish of the season in the King Racing Products No. 7s with Kraig Kinser claiming the show position Mesilla Valley Trucking No. 11k.
Kemanah was fourth after pacing the initial handful of circuits, with current series points leader Daryn Pittman advancing from eighth to round out the top five.
Australian James McFadden was sixth, with 12th-starter Paul McMahan, David Gravel, Sammy Swindell and 15th-starter Don Droud, Jr., completing the top ten.
Pittman set the standard in qualifying with a fast time of 12.822 second before Schatz, Kemenah and K. Kinser claimed heat race wins.
The World of Outlaws Boot Hill Showdown at Dodge City Raceway Park concludes on Saturday with the green flag flying at 8:00 p.m.
- Admin Account on Jul 06, 2013
- Article Date: 7/6/2013 by Lonnie Wheatley