“At first it takes a little from you,” Schatz said of the mixed reaction from the crowd of about 20,000 at Eldora. “I guess you have to look back at what Dale Earnhardt said: ‘There are people who love you and there are people who love to hate you.’ Without both of them you wouldn’t have all those people at the races.”
The North Dakota driver still had his share of supporters Saturday, July 18, especially after he started the 26th Kings Royal on the pole and led the first 14 laps.
Schatz and Dale Blaney traded the lead during a five-lap stretch — Schatz led Nos. 14, 16, 18 and Blaney Nos. 15 and 17 — before Schatz managed to put some space between them.
Third-place finisher Sam Hafertepe Jr. also challenged for the lead midway through the $50,000-to-win, 40-lap feature along with Blaney, who finished second. Both were within striking distance with 36 laps left. A caution with four laps left forced a red flag to refuel the sprint cars, bunching up the field behind Schatz for a four-lap dash to the finish.
Schatz wasn’t challenged and won by nearly two seconds over Blaney.
The win gave Schatz 98 career WoO wins. Only four other drivers have won more than 100 features in series history including Kinser — nicknamed the King of Outlaws.
“We have a lot of respect for each other,” Schatz said of Kinser. “I hope he’s the guy I can race right down to the wire for the championship. Steve’s right. He’s getting a lot more cheers than he used to.”
And if Kinser is missing a few boos these days, Schatz knows where they can be found.
Kinser, a six-time Kings Royal champ, finished 19th after a spin on lap 23.
Among other notables, two-time winner Joey Saldana finished last in the 24-car field after contact with the Turn 3 wall on the first lap.
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