Champ returns

The champ is back in the Red River Valley, and he's proving last year was no fluke.

Defending World of Outlaws champ Donny Schatz of Fargo leads the World of Outlaws into his stomping ground this weekend, and he's leading the points once again.

Schatz won both events at Red River Valley Speedway last year, and this will be his first event at his home track since winning his first points title.

"You're always excited to come back and race in front of your friends and family," Schatz said. "This is their Knoxville Nationals. You don't want to disappoint anybody."

The series runs at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on Friday and at West Fargo's Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday.

Both shows are slated to start at

6 p.m.

World of Outlaws heavyweights Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski left the series to run in the new National Sprint Tour last year, and Schatz rolled to the points title.

Kinser and Lasoski lasted just one year in the NST, and came back to the World of Outlaws this year, but it hasn't bothered Schatz.

"Once you win a championship, that's all you're going out to do again, and everything else is a letdown," Schatz said. "That other stuff is something gossipers like to talk about.

"If you're worrying about who's out there and who isn't, you're in the wrong kind of business."

Schatz leads the World of Outlaws points race with 5,130 points - 104 in front of second-place Joe Saldana's 5,026.

Schatz's eight wins are the most of any driver this season, and he also has been in the top 10 in 33 of 36

A-main features this season.

He is coming off a win on Monday, where he took the lead on the last lap for the checkered flag at Black Hills Speedway in Black Hills, S.D.

"I definitely feel like we're on top of our game right now," Schatz said. "We're having a great year, but it's far from over."

In the past, the World of Outlaws ran back-to-back days at the West Fargo track, but will be running there just one day this summer.

That has Schatz bummed out, because he feels the Red River Valley Speedway is a venue that deserves play on multiple days.

"I am very sour about that, but it's out of my control," Schatz said. "It's gotten away from being a two-day show, and guys like me get penalized for that."

Schatz said the schedule gets to be grueling running three days in a row at three different tracks, and World of Outlaws always draws well at the Red River Valley Speedway.

"It takes some hype away from the sport, and that's what the sport is about," Schatz said.

Friday's event will be the first time River Cities Speedway will host a World of Outlaws event. On Sunday, the series is scheduled to run at Cedar Lake Speedway in Richmond, Wis.

No matter where the races are, and no matter how many shows are at the RRVS, Schatz said he just hopes to keep his success going to stay on top of the standings.

"We just have to worry about racing this weekend," Schatz said. "... The level of competition in this sport has never been this high."

If you go

- What: World of Outlaws race

- When: 6 p.m. Saturday

- Where: Red River Valley Speedway

- Public appearance: Donny Schatz will be at First International Bank in West Fargo from 4-7 p.m. today

Readers can reach Forum sports writer Kerry Collins at (701) 241-5548.

Collins' sports blog can be found at www.areavoices.com

Driver standings

Norman County Raceway

Four cylinders

1. Danny Westman 325

2. Tyler Hall 299

3. Duane Opdahl 295

4. Don Byfuglien 288

5. Christopher Christian 283

6. Troy Kuehl 263

7. Daniel Bolstad 262

Pure Stocks

1. Paul Olson 322

2. Dean Lundon 295

3. Kenny Domogalla 283

4. Luke Johnson 276

5. William Beckman 270

6. Tim Shiek 257

7. Andrew Lundon 248

Mod Fours

1. Shayne Laske 329

2. Corry VanMil 309

3. Cody Erickson 304

4. David Moe 284

5. Josh Abrahamson 268

6. Jay Lere 262

7. Scott Abrahamson 247

Midwest Modifieds

1. Dustin Strand 331

2. Brock Gronwold 316

3. Derek Bernstien 309

4. Karl Tollefson 296

5. Danny Strem 283

6. Charles Jensen 260

7. Kylie Abrahamson 248

Modifieds

1. Brian Strand 317

2. Blake Jegtvig 282

3. Steven Pfeifer 281

4. Alex Engelstad 279

5. Michael Greseth 278

6. Dev Malmlov 262

7. Rick Jacobson 241

Red River Valley Speedway

Late Models

1. Mitch Johnson 79

2. Troy Olson 72

2. Matt Aukland 72

4. Myron Tschakert 70

5. Michael Johnson 69

6. Greg Meyer 68

7. Greg Johnson 65

Midwest Modifieds

1. Brock Gronwold 129

2. Ryan Restad 128

3. Tony Johnson 126

4. Chris Tuchscherer 119

5. Dale Kraling 115

6. Derek Bernstien 113

7. Phil Christlieb 105

7. Randy Jawaski 105

7. Ryan Mikkelson 105

7. Travis Saurer 105

Mod Fours

1. Duane Miller 127

2. Shayne Laske 118

2. Corry VanMil 118

4. Eric Monson 113

5. Tyler Elser 105

6. Andy Deters 103

7. Scott Sailer 99

Modifieds

1. Corky Thomas 123

2. Dev Malmlov 119

3. Greg Pfaff 114

4. Corey Seckerson 110

4. Michael Greseth 110

6. Chad Ohnstad 109

6. Tim Thomas 109

6. Jon Bachemeier 109

Street Stocks

1. Nic Klein 119

2. Ryan Pommerer 113

2. Dusty Peterson 113

4. Clare Miller 112

5. Rick Schulz 111

6. Jason Babcock 101

7. James Tandeski 95

Super Stocks

1. Todd Carter 131

2. John Nord 121

3. Terry Dale 117

4. Kevin Robertson 115

4. Corky Thomas 115

6. Dave Mortenson 112

7. Dennis Charles 109

Jamestown Speedway

Bombers

1. Ryan Carr 190

1. Leann Christensen 190

3. Dustin Erickson 172

4. Mark Berg 171

4. Jake Emo 171

4. Chase Carlson 171

7. Paul Wanzek 158

7. Taylor Weight 158

Modifieds

1. Leo Burkhardsmeier 253

1. John Corell 253

3. Randy Tarno 241

4. Michael Greseth 235

5. Jerry Lamb 234

6. Bob Sagen 226

7. Mark Trautner 195

Midwest Modifieds

1. Jerry Theis 197

2. Rusty Kollman 193

3. Randy Klein 188

4. Jim Morlock 183

5. Derek Bernstein 179

5. Jeremy Forester 179

7. Ryan Lehr 178

Street Stocks

1. Spencer Johnson 261

2. Dave Rohweder 259

3. Rusty Kollman 251

4. Barrett Berg 250

5. Luke Nelson 249

6. Kelly Hagel 243

7. Billie Christ 240

7. Nic Klein 183