One of the most iconic pairings in Sprint Car racing history is no more as Tony Stewart Racing parted ways with Donny Schatz on Tuesday afternoon, ending an 18-year tenure that produced eight titles on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and nine victories at the Knoxville Nationals.

Since then, the 48-year-old Schatz has landed with Big Game Motorsports as a teammate to David Gravel for the next three weeks on the World of Outlaws circuit.

On Friday morning, FloRacing's Kyle McFadden conducted an exclusive phone interview with Schatz, discussing a number of topics, including the disappointment of being released midseason, if moving on from TSR was inevitable, what he's most proud of throughout his 18 years at TSR, if he ever dreamed of accomplishing what he accomplished at TSR, his opportunity to race with Big Game Motorsports, the dynamic of Sprint Car Silly Season and being in the whirlwind of it for the first time, what could be next, and how many years he thinks there's left for him.

See the entire interview with Schatz below in a question-and-answer format.

• Q&A With Tony Stewart Following Donny Schatz's Release
• Donny Schatz Lands Ride For Upcoming World Of Outlaws Races
  
• Donny Schatz Out At Tony Stewart Racing After 18 Years
• Donny Schatz Has A New Crew Chief For 2025 Sprint Car Season

It’s been a week…. Thanks to the fans for all the support and to @BigGameMotorspt for the opportunity. See you at Ogilvie! 👊 pic.twitter.com/48rT2e3lxw

— Donny Schatz (@DonnySchatz) August 15, 2025

Kyle McFadden: I'm sure you're disappointed that things ended that way with TSR. I talked with Tony, he said, maybe you didn't want to finish out the year, maybe you did, but I saw what you told Jeremy Elliott of sprintcarunlimited.com, and it looked like you wanted to finish the year out at least, right?

Donny Schatz: Yeah, you know the thing of it is, we've all been through rough times. And there's times when you probably feel like you're down, and down and out, but I never quit before when we went through any of those things.

I stood through a lot of things that happened that shouldn't have happened. And, you know, ultimately, you look at finishing what you start. So, yeah, to me, it's kind of a low blow. 
It's, you know, kind of like a kick below the belt, to just up and do it like that. And especially finding out after the fact, all the things, you know.

They knew they were going to do this for a couple of weeks, but wanted to wait until a certain time and wait 'til midweek, Tuesday, which tries to cripple me from getting something to continue finishing out the Outlaw season is kind of how it works out, you know.

I know they tried to hire a couple drivers, which is fine, but it is what it is. That's the part that's disappointing.

In a professional world, anybody in the business world would have sat down and said, 'Hey, we have a problem. Going forward, we need to go different directions. We're gonna finish this out. We have sponsored commitments, we have fan commitments.'

But that's ultimately what didn't happen. 
So it is what it is. It's upsetting to me, yes, but, you know, I guess what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.


McFadden: So you felt this was, like, inevitable almost? Like it just was a dead-end and it was just a matter of time until you parted ways?

Schatz: I mean, no, I don't know that I'd sit and say that, Kyle. 
I don't know that it was a dead-end.

But when, when Tony's not like he's there every day, and doesn't see everything that goes on. So he's relying on information from people telling him. And if you're not getting the straight story in the exact information and what's going on, I guess you, sometimes you ... Tony and I haven't spoken in months.

The last time I spoke to him, he told me what he wanted me to do, and I did exactly what he wanted me to do.

So honestly, I really, you can't sit here and cry over spilled milk. It's behind us. I honestly think it's best to just not sit and keep talking about what has happened and what's going to happen.

McFadden: I mean, when you look back through your time with Tony, I mean, 18 years and nine, Knoxville Nationals, eight Outlaw championships with him. I mean, I'm sure when you teamed up with him, did you ever dream about accomplishing the things that you did with him? 
I mean, obviously, you were just kind of coming on there with your family team before you joined TSR.

Schatz: I came in a great time. We had a lot of success and we had a lot of fun, and we created a great relationship together. We really did. 
It was successful. Things were great.

That's why, to me, I kind of feel like a tear-off. I thought we had a little more than that, but it appears not

Look, I'm super excited. All the 234 races we won, the championships, the Crown Jewels, a lot of shining moments, you know? And there's a lot of things that we had to adhere that we had chose not to as well, but sometimes that's just comes with it.

So, yeah, you can't shake a stick to that, but that's water under the bridge.

McFadden: What are some of your proudest moments? I mean, there's so many of them. I don't even know if that's a fair question, but what are you most proud of? 

Schatz: You know, when I came there, when I came there in '07, it was basically a turnkey.

We had our own family team and and we won a championship, and we was just kind of rolled in there. Rick Warner's the one that got it going, and my guys came there. And we came with the cars that I was using and the motors we were using, all that from the program, because he had something completely different. 

And we ran with that, and we ran with that, and we ran with that. 
And it was successful for a long period of time. 

And as each piece started to change, so did the results. So, I'm proud of that. You know, we did things for a long time.

If you look at my history, I've run the same wheels since 2000. 
Literally had the same engine builder until we switched to the Ford stuff in 2019. So, I mean, all the relationships we had were longstanding.

I think that's what stands out the most to me is, and it's no different than me being there for 18, whatever it is, years there.

So, those things stand out as great moments and obviously that's what they are as — moments. 

McFadden: You feel like the Sprint Car game is, like ... I haven't been around for too long, but do you feel like the sense of the Silly Season aspect has changed over the last, I don't know, five to 10 years?

To where if a team just needs to move on, they need to make a move at about the Knoxville Nationals in mid-August just to give the team the rest of the year, give the driver the rest of the year, to move forward and find something into 2026?

Has it always been that way, or has that amplified in recent years?

Schatz: It's not been that way, not in my book. You know what, when you commit to something, when you commit to running a full season with the World of Outlaws, you commit to finishing the season with the World of Outlaw, no matter how bad it is.

And if you look at me, this is 28 years. 
I believe it's 28 or 29 years, so for the first time in that long, I'm finding myself in a position where it'll be a struggle to run, you know, to finish the whole season.

So, that's what commitment is, when you sign up to do something, you follow it through, and you go the whole route regardless of what happens and transpires.

Obviously, racing's a tough game. 
It gets more expensive all the time. There's emotions involved. And at the end of the day, it's not financially feasible for anyone, even if they win all the races. So you have to have fun, and it's got to be about, you know, having great times as well. 

McFadden: So you would rather look for a ride in the winter and in a shorter amount of time than what you have now? These are all, like, hypotheticals, but I'm just trying to feel out the silly season aspect of it now that you're in it.

Schatz: Look, I didn't create Silly Season. 
I don't know that there's an operator's manual on it. I've never been in it before, and I'm literally in it now.

So I guess it's just, it's one of them things that's not predictable.

McFadden: 
Well, you're with the Big Game team now for the next three weeks. You couldn't have landed on your feet any better, for the next few weeks at least, I guess if there is a silver lining. I'm sure through all of this, despite all of this, you're in some good hands with Tod Quiring, David Gravel and Cody Jacobs for the time being.

Schatz: It's a great opportunity for me. Obviously, you know, Tod and I have been friends a long time. 
He was friends with my father, (Danny), you know.

Tod's had a team 18- or 20-plus years, and we've always been pretty close. You know, years ago, he offered me a position there. I wasn't always looking for something better or something different, that just wasn't me, you know. He just associated me with where I was at, and not always trying to wheel and deal to make something better. 

So, you know, this, where am I at? Like you said, it's a great opportunity. I'm looking forward to the next three weeks.

Ultimately, David, this is a big chance for them, because David's trying to win a championship and we don't want to get in the way of that in any way, especially in the position I'm in. So, you know, for them going out on a limb like this, it's pretty neat and hopefully we can contribute to helping those guys with a few things, excel a little bit, and we'll see what happens for me down the road.

@DavidGravel x @DonnySchatz = Dream Team. pic.twitter.com/Tvmtt5ZFSO

— Big Game Motorsports (@BigGameMotorspt) August 15, 2025

McFadden: 
I saw that the possibility of bringing back your own family team or racing in your own equipment again, that's off the table completely, right? Because you want to give your nieces the chance to race and give them the best opportunity.

Schatz: 
I've had the opportunity for a long time to have my own team funded by someone, and as good as it sounds, it's very hard to do here in North Dakota. It's very hard.

It's very hard financially. 
It's probably one of the best things that ever happened to us is getting rid of the financial side of having our own team back in '07 when we went to Tony Stewart Racing.

So, to have it now, could I probably make it happen? I know I could on my own.

The thing is, what it does is, it cripples my nieces. 
They're 17 years old, they both want a race. I'm not gonna not put their possible careers in the motorsports at risk from my own at this point.

And what I'd love to have my own stuff? Part of me does, part of me doesn't. 


Right now, we're trying to get motors. I mean, I had to get them two motors, I had to order them at Knoxville last year to get them for this spring. So it's like, things are changing. Things are getting, you know, violently expensive 

I'm faced with that still with them. 
So, I'm not going to jeopardize their careers for me to have my own situation. I already have my own thing for them.

McFadden: Do you think it's possible to land one ride for the rest of the year after the Big Game deal is done? Based on who you've talked with? 

Schatz: Yeah, there's been plenty of opportunities, but look, here's where I'm at. 
You have to walk this back a little bit. 

When this happens on Tuesday at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and there's a World of Outlaw race Friday in Ogilvie, you have to set your immediate priorities. And with it being right up here, right under my own front door for three weekends in a row, to the fans that have helped me, that have supported me from Day 1, that was my first and foremost immediate priority is to make sure that I'm at all these races.

Yeah, I've had people reach out. What I've tried to avoid is I don't want to be jumping around from car to car as I'm trying to build something for 2026.


So I need to take it day by day here. I think by next week, this time, I'll have maybe a little bit better understanding as to what my direction is going to be after these seven races. 

But until we get to that point, no, I can't, 
I can't honestly say whether it's gonna work or it's not gonna work.

McFadden: I didn't know if it was possible to maybe land a longer-term ride here soon or if you'll have to piecemeal something through the end of the year. 

Schatz: Look, I've had calls from no less than 30 car owners. Well, maybe not that many.

All of them have great equipment, all of them have great intentions, and they'll do anything to help me. The hard part is, is saying, 'No, I can't do it or don't want to do it.

Like I said, I'll focus on these races here for the time being, and then we'll work down the road a little bit here. Give it another week, because everyday is valuable at this point. 

McFadden: You still feel like you can win races at the highest level, right? 


Schatz: Absolutely. If I didn't think I could walk in the gate every night and be a competitive person to win a race, I obviously wouldn't go there because I'm not making any money doing this. 

So that's clearly what this is all about. This is how I make my living. And if I can't make, you know, if I'm not making money doing it, well, I'm certainly better off to stay home. And I don't think there's anybody better to make that determination than myself.

McFadden: And you have some family businesses, right? Or your family's got some businesses you could get more involved in?

Schatz: 
We have family business and, you know, that's something that I'm small part of, but since I've got out of high school, this is what I've done for a living. 

And if I'm going to become a bigger part of the family business, one thing I'm not going to do is be at the racetrack. 

I have things I've invested in, some things in business that I have here, but I've never drawn away from it. I've never done stuff to do that. Racing's been my focus, and it's been very good to me. 
So I hope I can continue to do it. 

McFadden: What are those family businesses?

Schatz: My family's in the truck stop business. We have some rental buildings. Me and my father started a car wash back in '04, and we expanded to a second one in 2015 in Minot. 

So there's several different entities that are around here. In the changing times, it's probably a blessing that I'm not able to have a part of the you know, income from them. 

McFadden: I just didn't know if you had thought about life after racing yet, or if you're not ready to think about that yet.

Schatz: Oh, I have life after racing. The problem is, 
I don't want life after racing yet.

McFadden: I can see that, you don't want to go out like this. And not only go out like this, do you feel like you have three-, four-, five-plus solid years left? I mean, it's hard to put a number to it, but I'm sure that's what you're thinking. 

Schatz: You can't put a number to it, you can't put a number to it. But I can tell you that, yeah, I'm still competitive.

I mean, obviously, as bad as we were, you still see we were able to manage through at Knoxville.

McFadden: Oh, yeah, finishing 11th on Championship Saturday from where you were, 15th on Hard Knox Night, that's crazy. 

Schatz: Yeah, exactly. It was a hard-fought evening, so I guess if there's doubt in me, I guess you just have to look at something like that. 


So, it is what it is. Whether it's three, four or five years — I don't know that five years is probably realistic — but I owe it to my fans to at least have a sayonara or a farewell tour, and so I guess you'll know about that before the final one anyway. 

McFadden: What about sponsors or backers on your end? Who's coming with you? Because some drivers take their sponsors with them and whatnot and teams have theirs. 

Schatz: I don't have anything that's behind me, just the fans in the stands are the ones that have been most loyal to me here. 


You know, Tony Stewart Racing has always had great partners, and we've always had great relationship with their partners throughout the years. So, you know, there's people out there that always talk about wanting to help or being part of it, but we've never had to, I've never had to seek after those sort of things.

You know, we do it for our own family team, but we haven't had to do it at this level.

McFadden: Do you have anything else to add? Anything that we missed or you would like to cover?

Schatz: 
Nope, I don't think so.

McFadden: Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. 

Schatz: No problem. It what it is. 
It's all good.