Australians came but Schatz won the Kings Royal.
Tonight at Eldora Donny Schatz lifted the Kings Royal Crown and Trophy for the third time .After running second in the Jokers Wild and the night before the Kings Royal Schatz would have had the bookies shortening his odds. A field of 60 started through qualifying and the heats the best 24 drivers had earned the right to run the 40 Lap $50,000 to win Feature .
The field had all the big hitters ready to pounce including three Australians, Jamie Veal, Ian Madsen and former Kings Royal winner Kerry Madsen. James McFadden and Daniel Harding were unable to make the Show despite strong performances. Ian Madsen was the best of the Australians finishing 10th , brother Kerry 15th and Jamie Veal DNF.
With the biggest purse in the 33 years of the Kings Royal the stage was set for one hell of a race. The pressure was right on from the time the green lights came on and the intensify of the battle can been seen from the number of race leaders during the re first 20 laps .First it was Brown then it was Swindell having his turn before Sweet came thundering past and the defending Champion looked comfortable out front .
But as we have all come to expect Schatz started to lay down his challenge for the crown. Schatz soon stormed past Sweet but coming fast to stake his claim was Christopher Bell and was at one point looking like he might be a concern for Schatz. Bells surge came to nothing after making second he got into the wall, climbed the wall, caught the fence and was done for the night. Behind Bell it was Abreu who was arriving fast and would present more concern for the checker would come out. Many can catch Schatz but passing is art not many have perfected
As hard as Abreu charged and worked the track he would be denied the pass and would have to settle for a position behind Schatz for the night at the Kings Royal, third behind Gravel and Schatz at the Jokers Wild and third behind Pittman and Schatz at the night before the Kings Royal.
Post race with Donny Schatz,Rico Abreu and Brad Sweet : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz8wZbiKGZE
Schatz’s third Kings Royal win takes his season wins to 15 and as the Outlaws head into the month of money the team has increased his points lead to 186 over second place Brad Sweet.
.A-Main – (40 Laps) – 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3] [$50,000]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu [8] [$20,000]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [6] [$15,000]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [5] [$12,000]; 5. 21-Brian Brown [2] [$10,000]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [21] [$7,500]; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman [23] [$6,500]; 8. 41-Jason Johnson [9] [$6,000]; 9. 83-Joey Saldana [7] [$5,500]; 10. 18-Ian Madsen [11] [$5,000]; 11. 5-David Gravel [20] [$4,750]; 12. 1-Sammy Swindell [4] $4,500]; 13. 49X-Tim Shaffer [13] $4,000]; 14. 7-Paul McMahan [10] [$3,750]; 15. 29-Kerry Madsen [19] [$3,500]; 16. 19M-Brent Marks [12] [$3,450]; 17. 11N-Randy Hannagan [18] [$3,400]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides [24] [$3,350]; 19. 10H-Chad Kemenah [17] [$3,300]; 20. 71-Jamie Veal [1] [$3,250]; 21. 14-Christopher Bell [14] [$3,200]; 22. 33-Danny Lasoski [15] [$3,150]; 23. 1B-Dale Blaney [22] [$3,100]; 24. 17W-Bryan Clauson [16] [$3,000]. Lap Leaders: Brian Brown 1-9, Sammy Swindell 10-12, Brad Sweet 13-19, Donny Schatz 20-40. KSE Hard Charger Award: 9-Daryn Pittman [+16]
Credit Photo: Vince Vellelle @VinnieV77 and Jeremy Elliott 2jelliott101
