FARGO — Donny Schatz, one of the most accomplished sprint car drivers in the world, begins his 30th full-time season with a renewed focus alongside his new team. The 2026 World of Outlaws sprint car season opens February 4-7 at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park, a fitting venue to launch what promises to be an energized campaign. Known for its 55-year legacy of hosting the DIRTcar Nationals, Volusia transforms each year into a three-week dirt racing festival that gathers the nation’s top competitors for 15 nights of intense racing.
Entering the new season with a strong sense of optimism, Schatz embraced the warmer weather in Florida compared to his North Dakota hometown and reflected on the atmosphere at the season opener, saying,
“There’s something about getting the season started there. It’s awesome. There’s a lot of hype. I think everybody — just being removed from racing throughout the winter — gets to reunite, see everybody’s new paint schemes, see who’s working where and see how everything shakes out. I think there’s a lot of eyes on it to start the season.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
A Season of Change Amid Longtime Partnerships Ending
While the Volusia races mark the official beginning, Schatz’s focus remains heavily on his home state and the Midwest tracks that shaped his career. The West Fargo-based driver said,
“I’ve always enjoyed getting back in the Midwest, where everything started for me and I cut my teeth. Getting back home — to be able to race in front of the hometown fans — for some reason it’s just … last fall, not thinking it was going to happen, it’s made it kind of feel like you took it for granted a little bit, being able to come back to your home state and home tracks and race.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
In August 2025, Schatz and the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team parted ways after nearly 18 years of collaboration. The split was announced just before the series’ North Dakota races, marking an unexpected turning point for the 10-time World of Outlaws champion. At the time of his departure, Schatz was sixth in the points standings, with 26 top-10 finishes and eight top-fives in 46 starts.
Schatz explained that the decision originated from the team owner, Tony Stewart, stating,
“It wasn’t mutual, There’s been frustration there on my end, there’s been frustration on his end. But that’s just the way it goes. This is not a simple game. I thought after the relationship we had for as long as we had, it would end differently. But it didn’t, so it is what it is.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Together, Schatz and TSR had an illustrious history, including eight points championships, 234 victories, and nine wins at the prestigious Knoxville Nationals. Following the split, Schatz had to rely on several short-term arrangements to complete the 2025 season, racing for teams led by Tod Quiring, Dave Lunstra, Kevin Kozlowski, and Jason Sides.
Reflecting on this period, Schatz acknowledged the challenge but maintained a forward-looking attitude, saying,
“I feel like I’ve built up 30 years of friendships and favors and now I feel like I’m kind of using all of them to get to the end of the season. That’s life. The best way to look at it is you don’t look back. In racing, you don’t look behind you or that’s what you’re focused on.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Securing a Steady Team for a New Chapter in 2026
In December 2025, Schatz announced a new permanent team for the upcoming season, partnering with Pennsylvania-based CJB Motorsports and veteran crew chief Barry Jackson. For the 30th season, Schatz will pilot the No. 15 car full-time with CJB, signaling a fresh start built on shared values and improved communication.
Schatz expressed renewed enthusiasm about the arrangement, saying,
“This year feels a little bit more like having my own team back in the day. The way (CJB team owner) Chad (Clemens) and (Jackson) operate and the way I do things, it kind of feels a little bit more homey to me.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
CJB Motorsports is returning to the World of Outlaws series after a three-year absence, having last competed on the High Limit Racing sprint car circuit with driver Brenham Crouch. Since its 2005 founding, the team has accumulated 52 World of Outlaws victories, demonstrating solid credentials in the sprint car world. Schatz’s integration into the CJB operation has been marked by open dialogue, something he noted gratefully:
“I’m pretty sure there’s been more communication between me and the car owner in the last two months than there has been between me and the other guy in 18-1/2 years.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
The change has helped fuel his eagerness for the new season, stating,
“It’s just different, It’s a huge change of pace and a huge atmosphere change and it kind of makes you look forward to getting out there, getting on the racetrack and hopefully getting some results right away.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Schatz set a clear objective for the Volusia races:
“The first four nights I get there, I want to leave there with a win. If I can leave there with a win, I feel like we’re going to be in a position where we can race for a championship throughout the year and that’s really our goal.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Confident in his team’s readiness, he added,
“I feel pretty confident that we can go (to Volusia) and be very competitive right out of the box and that’s really what we need. It kind of helps solidify your season getting going right away. We’ve done it in the past and have had things go sideways or we’ve gone there and left winless. That’s what we’re shooting for and hopefully we can make it happen.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Excitement Builds for Key North Dakota Events
The 2026 World of Outlaws schedule includes four stops in North Dakota, reigniting local enthusiasm for high-profile sprint car racing. The Northern Tour kicks off with the Don Mack Classic at Grand Forks’ River Cities Speedway on Friday, May 29. Two days later, the series visits Minot’s Nodak Speedway for the Magic City Showdown, marking its first appearance there since 2018.
The tour returns to River Cities for a second leg on Friday, August 28, followed by the Danny Schatz Memorial at Red River Valley Speedway the next night. This Memorial race honors Donny Schatz’s late father, Danny, who passed away in June 2022 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Donny Schatz expressed genuine enthusiasm about racing again in Minot and the emotional significance of the memorial event, saying,
“I’m really pumped about it, To get back to the Nodak Speedway on a Sunday night is going to be big, it’s going to be epic and it’s one of the places you want to make sure you excel. I’ve had the great fortune of winning there and believe me, there was nothing like it.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
He recalled his early days as a fan, highlighting the dreamlike quality of his achievements:
“As a kid, you sit in those grandstands and you grow up and dream of being a sprint car driver — let alone racing with the World of Outlaws and winning a World of Outlaws race at your home track. Those are all things you dream of, and then you live it and you’re like, ‘There’s nothing better.’”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
The Danny Schatz Memorial’s inclusion in the World of Outlaws schedule is a new milestone, amplifying its prestige and emotional resonance for the community. Discussing his father’s aspirations, Schatz noted,
“(Danny) had bigger dreams than I did to be a part of this. So just to see them honor him that way is exceptionally cool and I’d love to win it. But if anybody got to take the benefit of him, it was me. I get that every day, so I don’t take that for granted.”
?Donny Schatz, Sprint Car Driver
Outlook for a Championship Contender
Donny Schatz’s transition to CJB Motorsports marks a pivotal moment in his storied career as he aims to add a 10th World of Outlaws championship to his record. The renewed communication and shared vision with his new team have injected fresh enthusiasm and determination as Schatz anticipates the rigors of the 2026 season.
The upcoming DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park will serve as the initial barometer for measuring the team’s competitiveness. Success there could set the tone for a championship drive fueled by a blend of experience, hometown support, and a refreshed racing environment. With key regional events in North Dakota offering special significance, including the tribute to his father, Schatz’s 30th season is poised to be both professionally ambitious and personally meaningful.
