Sometimes, you need to make the best out of a tough situation. Tony Stewart is a celebrity on the Cup Series side, with his legacy team Stewart-Haas Racing reaching the pinnacle of NASCAR racing before closing shop in 2024. However, his dirt racing side is now less fascinating. Since November 2000, he has provided top-notch cars and equipment for the dirt racing elite via Tony Stewart Racing. And Donny Schatz, his shining star, has run into issues in recent years.

There is probably no match for Donny Schatz’s level of achievements. He towers above his rivals with a magnanimous dirt 410 Sprint Car resume. He owns 10 World of Outlaws championships and 315 race wins. Yet Schatz’s glorious streak has come to a standstill recently, which has afforded him time to retrospect.

Donny Schatz is ironing out the bumps

Even the brightest of lights can grow dimmer over time. Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion and 60-time race winner, could not pick up a single win in 2023, his last full-time season. Similarly, Donny Schatz may be facing a similar dilemma. Now 47 years old, ‘Red Hot’ is six years removed from his last WoO championship in 2018. The last time he picked up double-digit wins was in 2019. Last year, Schatz ran into problems besides not picking up a single win. Despite being an 11-time Knoxville Nationals, he could not showcase his speed at The Granddaddy of Them All and could only finish 13th.

Yet Donny Schatz is focusing on how to make the best of this downward trend. He admitted that on his way to a jaw-dropping dirt racing career, he made some regrettable choices. “I ignored the woman I’m married to because she was not as important as winning a championship or being the most competitive person in the world in your game.” Now, however, Schatz is taking a balanced look. “So you live all these things and then you kind of look back at it and go, ‘was that really necessary’ and I believe I could have done that without doing all that but no point in crying over spilled milk. But I have been able to take a step back and appreciate the people around me more.”

Donny Schatz is content with the attitude he now holds towards racing. “I enjoy the balance I’ve created and I’m still competitive. There are days that it’s an uphill battle and hurdle but as you get older, these things happen anyway. I don’t look at anyone (who is winning the most races and championships) and envy them.” He further continued that he does not want to push with his earlier fiery ambition anymore, as there is a time for everything. “I will tell you, it’s an honor and a blessing to be on top of this game and I’ve been there a long time. I absolutely miss it but I don’t go into every day that being my goal. I just want to get back there.”

Having made peace with his situation, Donny Schatz can only look forward now. And he has a snazzy new team to help him do so.

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New colleagues, old friends

Tony Stewart‘s dirt racing star did not piece together his fabulous dirt resume all by himself. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame crew chief Ricky Warner was the crew chief for the No. 15 Tony Stewart Racing team from 2005 to 2018. Warner helped Donny Schatz fetch 264 wins, 10 WoO titles, and 10 Knoxville Nationals crowns. Steve Swenson was his last partner, and the duo roped in 37 wins in the past six years. Now, Schatz has a new crew chief on board – but he is hardly a new face for him. Todd Devnich has known Schatz since the 1990s when he was the crew chief for Schatz’s family team from 1998 to 2000. He was also part of Schatz’s first-ever WoO win at Cottage Grove (Ore.) Speedway in 1998.

Now, Todd Devnich is back as the newest crew chief for Donny Schatz’s TSR ride. Devnich said in a recent press release: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of stepping into the role of crew chief, especially getting to do so with a driver of Donny Schatz’s caliber and with a team like Tony Stewart Racing.” Then Gary Patellaro from Roth Motorsports will work as Schatz’s new car chief, and Ian Lyon will be the tire specialist. Schatz is pumped up to work with this new team. “It’s going to be a completely different atmosphere, going into the races that first week, and it’s probably going to take a little bit for all of us to learn each other in a certain sense.”

Donny Schatz may be drooping in terms of race stats, but his spirit remains intact. What is more, he has an amazing team to help him rope in wins this season.