BARBERVILLE, Fla. — For the second time in three starts, Donny Schatz earned an All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 feature victory Tuesday night at East Bay Raceway Park.
The 10-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion earned his return to All Star victory lane from the second row, taking command for the first time on lap 15 before fending off a late surge by Ian Madsen and a hard-charging Kerry Madsen in the Sugarlands Shine Southern Tour event.
The East Bay win, awarding $6,000, bumped Schatz’s career All Star win total to 20.
“I haven’t been to East Bay since 1993 or ’94. This track is really neat, but it’s also very tricky. You have to respect the place,” Schatz said. “The surface can have some slick spots, as well as some wet sports. The dynamic of the track changes so much. I went wherever I had to go. We’re going to enjoy this one.”
Rudeen Racing’s Cory Eliason led the first eight circuits at East Bay before getting involved in a tangle with a lapped car. Eliason’s misfortune allowed Justin Peck to inherit the top spot.
Peck, driver of the Tom Buch-owned No. 13, started fourth on the Tuesday night grid and had actually worked by Schatz for second one lap prior to the aforementioned caution.
Despite Peck’s attempt to outrun Schatz during the ensuing restart, and once more during another single file restart on lap 12, Schatz would eventually prevail, ultimately slipping by Peck with a move on the bottom of turns three and four on lap 15.
Ian Madsen followed Schatz by Peck to take control of the runner-up spot the following circuit. Madsen did his best to catch the 299-time World of Outlaws winner, but Schatz’ ability to split a pair of lappers on lap 28 sealed the deal.
Madsen held on to finish second, followed by his brother Kerry Madsen, who climbed 14 positions to earn the final spot on the podium.
“We have some friends here tonight from Absolute Automation and Security. They are from right up the road,” Schatz continued. “It’s pretty cool to come here and win in front of their hometown crowd.”
Ian Madsen, Kerry Madsen, Tyler Courtney and Gio Scelzi rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 2. 11-Ian Madsen [1]; 3. 101-Kerry Madsen [17]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [8]; 5. 18-Gio Scelzi [13]; 6. 72-Tim Shaffer [10]; 7. 13-Justin Peck [4]; 8. 14-Tony Stewart [5]; 9. 5-Brent Marks [16]; 10. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg [19]; 11. 26-Cory Eliason [2]; 12. 39M-Anthony Macri [6]; 13. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [7]; 14. 21-Carson Short [24]; 15. 73-Scotty Thiel [18]; 16. 24-Terry McCarl [21]; 17. 75-Tyler Ross [14]; 18. 18J-RJ Jacobs [12]; 19. 3C-Cale Conley [22]; 20. 25-Chris Myers [23]; 21. 91-Kyle Reinhardt [9]; 22. 1-Jamie Myers [11]; 23. 22C-Cole Duncan [15]; 24. 19-Chris Windom [20] Lap Leaders: Cory Eliason (1-8), Justin Peck (9-14), Donny Schatz (15-30)