ROSSBURG, Ohio - Donny Schatz started fourth, took the lead on lap 15 and never looked back, leading the rest of the way to win his third consecutive Kings Royal at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway on Saturday night, worth $50,000.
It also marks his 15th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series feature of 2018.
Brad Sweet surged late and came within a half of a car-length at the checkered flag, finishing behind Schatz by just 0.189 seconds. Cory Eliason, in his first career Kings Royal start, completed the podium.
With the unique Kings Royal format, the six Heat Race winners occupied the first three rows for the 40-lap feature. Trey Starks won Heat 6, earning the pole in his first Kings Royal start alongside Heat 5 winner, Paul McMahan. A caution on the initial start involving Hunter Schuerenburg, Sheldon Haudenschild and Brock Zearfoss brought out the only stoppage of the event.
The complete restart saw Starks shoot to the lead, in search of his first career series feature victory in a big way. Schatz and McMahan battled for second with Schatz taking the position on lap 3 and setting his sights on Starks. Schatz took a look underneath Starks on lap 14 and completed the pass for the lead one lap later down the backstretch.
Cory Eliason, who started sixth after winning Heat 1, established himself as a threat moving by Starks into second on lap 16. Eliason actually slid Schatz for position, but was never able to maintain momentum and stay in front of the Tony Stewart Racing No.15.
Brad Sweet maneuvered into third on lap 17 and showed a lot of speed pounding the cushion. As Sweet closed in on Eliason for second, Donny Schatz extended his margin out front. Sweet would get by Eliason for second on lap 27 and begin cutting into Schatz’ sizable advantage.
As Schatz searched for grip the last 10 laps, Sweet closed in. Sweet got hung up behind Daryn Pittman in lapped traffic and finally cleared him with five to go, setting up one last charge at Schatz. And charge he did.
On the absolute cushion of the racing surface, Sweet closed in on Schatz, setting up a hectic finish. Sweet cut the gap to five car-lengths down the backstretch on the final lap and ended up just half a car-length short from his second career Kings Royal triumph.
Schatz acknowledged that he was searching for speed the last 10 laps.
“I knew someone had to be coming,” he said. “I was hanging the last 10 laps, I could not get stuck anywhere. I’m lucky it wasn’t 41 laps tonight, because obviously, the No.49 was coming there at the end.”
“Lapped traffic was tough tonight, it was tricky and slick,” Schatz said. “I feel like I completely failed in Qualifying going 21st quick, but the way format works tonight it put us in the right position.”
Sweet settled for second, with Cory Eliason in third, Lee Jacobs in fourth and Kraig Kinser in fifth.
Jacob Allen, Paul McMahan, David Gravel, Rico Abreu and Ian Madsen rounded out the top ten.
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series
Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH
King’s Royal – July 14, 2018
1. 15-Donny Schatz
2. 49-Brad Sweet
3. 83-Cory Eliason
4. 81-Lee Jacobs
5. 11K-Kraig Kinser
6. 1A-Jacob Allen
7. 13-Paul McMahan
8. 5-David Gravel
9. 24-Rico Abreu
10. 18-Ian Madsen
11. 44-Trey Starks
12. 2M-Kerry Madsen
13. W20-Greg Wilson
14. 94-Ryan Smith
15. 2-Shane Stewart
16. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss
17. 4-Parker Price-Miller
18. 97G-Hunter Schuerenberg
19. 9-Daryn Pittman
20. 7S-Jason Sides
21. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild
22. 17B-Bill Balog
23. 14-Christopher Bell
24. 49X-Tim Shaffer
