Series Extreme Tough Challenge award report

Donny Schatz Outmuscles World of Outlaws Competitors for LaCrosse Footwear Extreme Tough Challenge Championship

CONCORD, NC - Nov. 7, 2010 - Donny Schatz is one of the toughest race car drivers anywhere in the world, and he proved that again on Saturday night by clinching the LaCrosse Footwear Extreme Tough Challenge championship at the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

With eight events for each series to determine a champion, the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge was the first time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series stars went head-to-head with World of Outlaws Late Model Series warriors in any competition. The 16-race battle came down to the final night when Schatz's podium finish was just enough to edge Jason Meyers, Darrell Lanigan, Joey Saldana and Josh Richards for the Extreme Tough Challenge championship belt, which was presented to Schatz on Sunday night at the World of Outlaws banquet.

"It's always great to have new sponsors like LaCrosse involved with our sport," said Schatz, a four-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion from Fargo, N.D. "They put together this challenge with us and the late model guys and it's cool that we came out on top. We were consistent during all eight World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events and that's what it takes. I know everyone at Tony Stewart Racing will enjoy the boots and appreciate the involvement of LaCrosse."

With a point system that rewarded the top five touring World of Outlaws racers in each LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge event, Schatz topped the leader board twice and earned points in 7 of the 8 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events.

With a late season surge in LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge events, Lanigan was the top finishing World of Outlaws Late Model Series competitor. Lanigan, of Union, Ky., earned the most points at both World of Outlaws Late Model Series Extreme Tough Challenge events in September to move into a tie with Josh Richards heading into the Charlotte finale, where he nearly topped the field for a third consecutive Extreme Tough Challenge race.

In all, there were eight Extreme Tough Challenge events for both the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, with 20 different drivers earning points. The top five finishers - no matter the series - shared a $15,000 point fund, and also received LaCrosse boots for the team.

-source: WoO