INDIANAPOLIS — The ten-time World of Outlaws (WoO) NOS Energy Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz is set to compete in the Driven2SaveLives BC39 Presented by WeatherTech event on August 3-4.
Schatz will be making his first career appearance at the USAC NOS Energy Midget National Championship event in early August at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
He will be driving for Mark Cooper, the owner of Spike Chassis, and has partnerships lined up with Sage Fruit, Curb Records, Carquest, Absolute Automation and DKW Transport.
“I’m really looking forward to taking part in the BC39 event for the first time in the seat of Mark Cooper’s car. We’ve had a great time competing in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals the past few years and I appreciate the opportunity that he and Derrick Schwabauer are giving me to take part in another prestigious event like the BC39,” Schatz said. “The Spike Chassis stable is always strong and I’m proud to be part of their effort for this event.”
The BC39 event is also an event that Schatz recognizes as very near and dear to many in the sport of open-wheel racing as it pays tribute to the legacy of his former Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing (TSR) teammate, the late Bryan Clauson.
“I had the opportunity to get to know Bryan throughout the years that we raced as part of the TSR organization together. While we ran different racing schedules in different series for most of that time, I was able to spend time with Bryan and that allowed me to learn that we shared a similar mentality to racing,” Schatz said.
“He and some others within TSR convinced me to give the Chili Bowl a shot and we worked out a deal that I would be part of his super team effort for the 2017 event. I was very proud to be part of the effort that Tim Clauson headed up after Bryan’s accident and I credit him (Bryan) with helping me to truly come to enjoy midget racing.
“Driving one of these cars is like driving a rocket ship, it’s a lot of fun.”
The Spike Chassis entry of Schatz will see familiar partners come along for the BC39 event as they’ll all hit the dirt at IMS aboard the No. 15 machine.
“Having our friends at Sage Fruit, Carquest, Curb, Absolute Automation and DKW Transport come along for our first attempt at the BC39 is something we’re very appreciative of — we couldn’t ask for better partners,” Schatz acknowledged. “Chuck Sinks (Sage Fruit), Mike Curb & Cary Agajanian (Curb-Agajanian Racing), Junior Word (Carquest), Jason Barati (Absolute Automation) and Shawn Loken (DKW Transport) have been huge supporters of our program at the Chili Bowl Nationals and it’s a privilege to have them as partners for a special event like the BC39.”