CONCORD, N.C. — Parker Price-Miller may have been the fastest man in town at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Thursday night, but it was Donny Schatz who stole the spotlight.
Simply by taking to the track for the opening night of the World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Can-Am, Schatz wrapped up his 10th World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship and fifth title in a row.
Meanwhile, less than two weeks after a violent flip at California’s Thunderbowl Raceway, Price-Miller was back in the seat without missing a step. He turned the fastest lap of the night during Flight-B qualifying for Friday’s World Finals program at Charlotte, touring the four-tenths-mile oval in 12.607 seconds (114.222 mph) with his No. 71p Indy Race Parts-sponsored sprint car.
Price-Miller then followed that performance up by going fastest in his qualifying flight for Saturday’s festivities as well, turning in a time of 12.710 seconds (113.297 mph) that was good enough for second overall against the field for the final day of competition at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
The confidence boost from the back-to-back solid efforts was clear for the Indiana young gun when speaking to SPEED SPORT later in the night.
“This feels really good. It’s been a rough couple of weeks,” said Price-Miller. “I’m still really sore with my wreck from Trophy Cup, but you know, this sport separates the men from the boys. You’ve got to toughen up and get after it, and that’s what I did. Hopefully I can keep it going and get us to a win.”
Price-Miller was quick to emphasize the value of a strong qualifying effort in the World Finals format.
“It means so much (to qualify well),” he noted. “It’s always a fast track and the best of the best are here, so it’s very hard to pass when you get to racing. To be already up front in your heat race … that means a lot and it’s very big here at this big race.”
Fellow Hoosier Spencer Bayston was second-quick overall among the Friday qualifiers, while David Gravel landed third overall in his final weekend with CJB Motorsports before moving to Jason Johnson Racing for the upcoming season.
All Star Circuit of Champions titlist Aaron Reutzel was fourth, with Paige Polyak completing the overall Friday top five but timing quickest among the Flight-A qualifiers.
Polyak echoed many of the same sentiments after her run that Price-Miller stated.
“It means a lot (to qualify well). It sets up your night for Friday night and to start on the pole,” she said. “Really, hopefully we can keep it up and get into the feature. It means a lot. Mike Woodring, he does a great job setting the car up and our Rider Racing engine is pretty good.
“It’s better than starting behind them. Hopefully I can just get out in front and hopefully hold my own.”
Gravel came back and topped the overall time sheets for Saturday’s World Finals program, powering to the fourth-fastest lap of the night in the GoMuddy.com No. 5 at 12.686 seconds (113.511 mph).
The Connecticut native, who won the finale of the World Finals one year ago, wants to cap off his association with team owners Chad and Jenn Clemens in the same fashion.
“Our last run was a good lap. The car felt good for the first night and it felt good for the second night,” noted Gravel. “I kind of just made a little change to my driving for the second lap. It was really good both times. A very good car. I’m excited for the rest of the weekend.
“(Winning this weekend) is important, for sure,” he continued. “We’re in a little bit of a points battle … so hopefully we have a nice, solid weekend and end on the right foot.”
Behind Gravel and Price-Miller, Kerry Madsen was third-quick for the Saturday program to give CJB Motorsports two of the top three qualifying spots for finale night.
Newly-minted Kyle Larson Racing pilot Carson Macedo was fourth and Schatz completed the top five. Four of the top-five qualifiers for Saturday’s show came out of Flight-B, with only Price-Miller bucking the trend.
The lone incident during qualifying occurred when Kasey Kahne lost a wheel due to a broken spindle, spinning on his second qualifying lap for the Friday show. Kahne landed 10th- and ninth-quick, respectively, during his two rounds on track.
Ohio’s Shawn Dancer fought mechanical issues and did not record a lap for either Friday or Saturday.
For full qualifying results, advance to the next page.
