Homecomings of the past
Extreme Makeover: Home edition
2008 homecomings
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Y! MyWebELDORA
Schatz looks to extend reign at Kings Royal
Friday, July 11, 2008
ROSSBURG — Tradition says the 25th anniversary requires silver.
Donny Schatz, though, wants to come up golden at the Kings Royal.
No driver has been crowned champion in consecutive years at Eldora Speedway's prestigious event featuring the World of Outlaws' 410 winged sprint cars. For Schatz, what better moment to reign supreme is there than the 25th running of the $50,000-to-win Royal on Saturday, July 12?
"I don't know that I'd be the favorite," Schatz said. "I highly doubt that. There are a lot of great guys that run good at Eldora. Guys like (Jac) Haudenschild and (Joey) Saldana are always going to be the favorites at Eldora."
Schatz, the two-time defending WoO points champion, enters the Kings Royal leading the points once again. He's also posted a series-high 10 WoO wins.
King me
Sure, that $50,000 check helps. But the pageantry and prestige of the Kings Royal makes winning the event just as rich an experience. Winners are crowned on the victory lane stage. A proclamation declares their reign as champion. And then there's the throne.
For Schatz it was well worth the wait. He won in his 12th attempt after finishing second in 2006. Schatz led 35 of the 40 laps and beat runner-up Jason Meyers by nearly seven seconds. In a race that took about 15 minutes to complete, Schatz earned about $3,333 per minute.
"It was worth every minute and every penny," Schatz said. "It's kind of breathtaking, really. Some days you wake up and think, 'Man, I won the Kings Royal.' "
Royal banquet
To help celebrate the event's milestone anniversary, past champions are returning for the Salute to the Kings.
The reunion is in Eldora's Ballroom at noon on Saturday. The public is invited and tickets are still available.
Two-time winner Doug Wolfgang will be there (he's also doing a book signing from 3-5 p.m. Saturday), as will two-time winner Sammy Swindell and former champs Don Krietz and Bobby Davis Jr. Six current WoO drivers — led by six-time champ Steve Kinsesr — will also attend.
