Friday, July 9
Track: Knoxville Raceway, .5-mile dirt oval
Race: 14 of 22
Event: Corn Belt 150 (150 laps, 75 miles)
Donny Schatz, No. 17 Little Giant Ford F-150
Start: 22nd
Finish: 32nd
Schatz started his first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from the 22nd position after starting seventh and finishing sixth in qualifying heat race two.
The North Dakota native quickly adapted to the heavy truck and was in 12th when the yellow flag waved on lap 15. He was in 11th when the yellow waved again on lap 30 and he ultimately finished Stage 1 there.
Crew chief Chad Johnston made the call to stay out at the stage break and the Little Giant F-150 would lead the field to green to start Stage 2. Schatz was shuffled into the middle lane entering turn one on the restart and fell to 14th before he was able to tuck back in line on the bottom.
The caution flag waved on lap 65 and the No. 17 was in the 13th position. He moved into ninth on the restart and would hold steady there until the end of Stage 2.
The team pitted for four tires and adjustments at the stage break and restarted the final stage from the 12th position.
Caution flag waved on lap 105 and Schatz was in 12th. When it waved again on lap 115 he had fallen to 15th after restarting in the outside lane.
He remained in 15th when the yellow flag came out on lap 139 and restarting on the inside lane allowed him to pick his way forward to the 11th spot.
Schatz would restart in the outside row in 10th for the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish and a multi-truck pileup on the restart left him with nowhere to go ultimately ending his night. The NASCAR rookie was credited with 32nd in the final results.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
