TSR Releases Schatz; Inks Kerry Madsen To Close Season

Tony Stewart Racing has parted ways with longtime driver Donny Schatz. (Frank Smith photo)

BROWNSBURG, Ind. – One of sprint car racing’s most successful dynasty pairings went their separate ways Tuesday, less than 72 hours after one more miraculous run together.

In a stunning announcement, Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing announced that the team and longtime driver Donny Schatz have agreed to part company, effective immediately.

As such, Australian veteran Kerry Madsen – who previously drove TSR’s No. 14 entry in 2021 – will rejoin the organization to complete the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season.

Madsen will take the reins of the iconic No. 15 as TSR continues its pursuit of the World of Outlaws owner’s championship.

Schatz departs TSR after a nearly two-decade run that included eight World of Outlaws sprint car titles and 234 feature victories, including nine wins at the crown-jewel Knoxville Nationals.

In fact, Schatz’s time with the organization began Aug. 11, 2007, meaning its end comes one day after the 48-year-old celebrated his 18th anniversary with TSR.

In a lengthy statement, team owner Tony Stewart saluted Schatz’s legendary list of accomplishments in their time together, while also calling Madsen’s return to the team a “natural” fit given the circumstances.

“Donny has been an incredible part of TSR for nearly two decades, he’s helped build this organization into what it is today,” said Stewart. “We’ve had a driver/team owner relationship that has gone beyond that partnership, he’s become part of my extended family through the years, and I have the utmost respect for him and what his career represents – a generational driving talent.

“The achievements we’ve accomplished together are something that I’ll always be proud of,” Stewart added. “But in the past few years we’ve weathered changes in the sport, and our performance hasn’t been to the level that both Donny and I expect. We’re both competitors to our core and we both hold ourselves to a high standard of performance that we’ve struggled to obtain. Making a change now gives each of us the chance to reset and refocus before 2026.

“Kerry’s been in our car before and is a proven winner, so bringing him back feels natural. He knows our team, we know his capabilities, and I’m confident he’ll give us everything he’s got as we close out the season.”

Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, Schatz found one last incredible flourish that ultimately closed out his TSR tenure.

The Fargo, N.D., native summoned an eighth-to-fourth rally on a green-white-checkered finish to Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals B-Main, which allowed him to improbably make his 27th straight championship feature at sprint car racing’s most prestigious event.

“When Brock [Zearfoss] flipped, it gave us a fighting chance, otherwise we were watching (Saturday’s A-Main),” Schatz said Saturday night prior to the feature. “We’ll thank our lucky stars on that one, and these guys will keep working on (the car).”

Schatz ended up driving from 20th starting spot in the 50-lap Nationals finale to 11th at the finish. He had not released a statement regarding his release when this story went to press Tuesday afternoon.

Madsen comes back to TSR on the heels of a successful season with the No. 55 Vermeer Madsen Racing team, with whom he’s competed full-time at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway this year.

The VMR team is third in the track’s 410 sprint car point standings with one event remaining, and Madsen will compete in the final Knoxville event on Aug. 23.

An interim driver for TSR in the Aug. 22-23 World of Outlaw events in North Dakota will be announced at a later date.

But for the team’s most successful pilot ever, an incredible – and perhaps unmatchable – chapter is over.