INDIANAPOLIS – 10-Time World of Outlaws (WoO) NOS Energy Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz announced today that he will compete in the 2022 Driven2SaveLives BC39 Presented by WeatherTech event driving for Mark Cooper, the owner of Spike Chassis. Partnering with Sage Fruit, Curb Records, Carquest, Absolute Automation and DKW Transport Schatz will be making his first career event appearance in the Aug. 3-4 USAC NOS Energy Midget National Championship event at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

“I’m really looking forward to taking part in the BC39 event for the first time in the seat of Mark Cooper’s car. We’ve had a great time competing in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals the past few years and I appreciate the opportunity that he and Derrick Schwabauer are giving me to take part in another prestigious event like the BC39. The Spike Chassis stable is always strong and I’m proud to be part of their effort for this event.”

The BC39 event is also an event that Schatz recognizes is very near and dear to many in the sport of open-wheel racing as it pays tribute to the legacy of his former Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing (TSR) teammate, the late Bryan Clauson.

“I had the opportunity to get to know Bryan throughout the years that we raced as part of the TSR organization together. While we ran different racing schedules in different series for most of that time, I was able to spend time with Bryan and that allowed me to learn that we shared a similar mentality to racing. He and some others within TSR convinced me to give the Chili Bowl a shot and we worked out a deal that I would be part of his super team effort for the 2017 event. I was very proud to be part of the effort that Tim Clauson headed up after Bryan’s accident and I credit him (Bryan) with helping me to truly come to enjoy Midget racing. Driving one of these cars is like driving a rocket ship, it’s a lot of fun.”

The Spike Chassis entry of Schatz will see familiar partners come along for the BC39 event as Sage Fruit, Carquest, Curb, Absolute Automation and DKW Transport will hit the dirt at IMS aboard the No. 15 machine.

“Having our friends at Sage Fruit, Carquest, Curb, Absolute Automation and DKW Transport come along for our first attempt at the BC39 is something we’re very appreciative of – we couldn’t ask for better partners. Chuck Sinks (Sage Fruit), Mike Curb & Cary Agajanian (Curb-Agajanian Racing), Junior Word (Carquest), Jason Barati (Absolute Automation) and Shawn Loken (DKW Transport) have been huge supporters of our program at the Chili Bowl Nationals and it’s a privilege to have them as partners for a special event like the BC39.”

The BC39 event begins on Tuesday, Aug. 2 with team parking at 12 p.m. (EDT) followed by the heat race position draft. All cars entered will be placed into a random draft to determine their heat race. Teams will be able to pick their heat race spot either in person with a representative or remotely through USAC officials. Any unrepresented team will be given the first available spot.

On-track action begins Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. (ET) with the driver’s meeting in the IMS Media Room. The gates open to the public at 3 pm with practice beginning at 4 p.m. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m. followed by heat races and concluding with the Stoops Pursuit feature event.

On Thursday, Aug. 4 gates will open to the public at 3 p.m. followed by practice at 4 p.m. Qualifying races will start at 5 p.m. followed by opening ceremonies slated for 7:30 p.m. with racing to follow. The 39-lap Feature will conclude the event and crown the overall BC39 champion.