Donny Schatz, the 10-time World of Outlaws champion, has finally addressed the turbulent end of his long partnership with Tony Stewart Racing, bringing the intense topic of the Tony Stewart Racing split to the forefront. After a decade marked by both glory and disappointment, Schatz is moving forward, focusing on the upcoming seasons and his new role with CJB Motorsports.
Reflecting on a Period of Change and Challenge
After an era of dominance with Tony Stewart Racing, Schatz’s race tally saw a sharp decline, from 22 wins in 2018 to no victories in his last season—a rare drought for the veteran driver. During this period, Schatz and the team navigated the complexities of the Ford Performance Stewart 410 engine, facing frequent challenges and underwhelming results. His exit from Tony Stewart Racing after the Knoxville Nationals brought speculation, with some critics questioning whether it was difficulty adapting to new changes or simply the passage of time affecting his performance.
Despite this complicated chapter, Schatz maintains that he had little control over many of the obstacles. In his words,
“We were presented with an experimental engine program and we did what you do, work with your partners and got to work with those guys on it,”
Schatz told Motorsport.com. He further emphasized,
“Everyone forgets that we hit the ground running and won right out of the box with it at Port Royal. There were a lot of things outside of my control, or the engine builder’s control, with supply chain things. So I don’t throw rocks on the past five years.”
Parting Ways and the Nature of Racing
Schatz’s departure from Tony Stewart Racing was anything but smooth, as his contributions—eight championships and 234 World of Outlaws wins—were not recognized with a fitting sendoff. While he finished the season with various teams such as Big Game Motorsports, Works Limited, and Sides Motorsports, the split left an unmistakable mark. On how it all concluded, Schatz has strong feelings:
“I do throw rocks on the way it ended and the things I was portrayed as that wasn’t realistic,”
he said. He reflected on the broader realities of motorsport, stating,
“But that’s the nature of the beast. That’s the world we live in. Everyone has to put their spin on the story to make it sound the way they want. Sometimes you’re the butt-end of that and sometimes you’re the head-in. It’s just business.”
New Beginning with CJB Motorsports
Rather than remain mired in disappointment, Schatz has his sights set on 2026, which will mark his 30th uninterrupted season contesting the World of Outlaws series. He will take the wheel of the No. 15 car for CJB Motorsports, working alongside experienced crew chief Barry Jackson. The energy within the team is already evident, as Schatz commented on the team’s work ethic:
“These guys are burning the midnight oil,”
Schatz said. He also shared,
“I think there are butterflies in everyone’s stomachs right now. It’s not going to be perfect. Right now, it’s stuff that shouldn’t affect us on the track. We don’t have our primary truck and trailer or all the parts we’ll need to make it through 85 races but we’re going to build on it.”
Jackson, who has achieved more than 200 victories in 410 Sprint Car racing, brings a wealth of expertise to the program, trusted by both Schatz and team owner Chad Clemens. Schatz explained how he plans to integrate himself into the new team:
“I’m fitting into what they have,”
Schatz explained.
“They’re open to anything I want to do but we’re going to start with their platform and will more than likely be successful with that.”
Looking Forward to a Significant Milestone
Despite years of feeling underappreciated near the end of his time at Tony Stewart Racing, Schatz is embracing a fresh leadership opportunity. He aims to collaborate as equals with Jackson, seeing this next phase as the ideal combination for reigniting his legendary career. The Tony Stewart Racing split may have ended on a bitter note, but with renewed determination, Donny Schatz is set to pursue new milestones in the competitive world of sprint car racing. As next week’s season opener at Volusia approaches, fans and competitors alike will be watching to see whether the veteran racer and his new team can recapture their winning form.
