Ahead of Donny Schatz announcing he’s joining CJB Motorsports and competing with the World of Outlaws for the 2026 season, he explained why he would stick with the Outlaws over a potential swap to the High Limit Racing series.
Schatz appeared on The Chaz YouTube show and discussed how he preferred High Limit’s qualifying and heat race format compared to the Outlaws and was asked if he had been approached to join High Limit.
Schatz countered by pointing to how there was only one series when he was growing up, the World of Outlaws, and how that legacy is important to him, “Since the time I was 5 years old and my dad took me to the races, there was only one series. There was the World of Outlaws. So that’s what my yearly coming to Fargo was, was to come and see Steve Kinser, and Sammy Swindell, and Dave Blaney, and Doug Wolfgang. Those guys were all my heroes. That’s who I got to grow up watching. There was only one series. So when I was a kid, my school pictures, I was wearing a World of Outlaws driver shirt. So that’s how I grew up. And it’s been in my blood.”
“What I’m telling you is I’ve got 29 years invested with them,” Schatz added. “I got 29 years invested with them. So I think I’ve kind of committed myself to them. And I don’t agree with everything they’ve done, but it’s also I have a vested interest in it myself because I’ve literally invested that much time. And so to me, it’s the core who I am. Whether people like the Outlaws or don’t like the Outlaws, we all have issues with everything we do and different people, but to me its what I’ve spent my entire life trying to be part of and I have.”
“So I’m not about to try to go do something better ’cause the grass is greener,” he continued. “Look, there’s a lot of things I like about [High Limit], but there’s nothing wrong with the competition.”
After Chaz shared his opinion that he believes from a media perspective that the Outlaws is attempting to push him aside and give him a retirement tour, Schatz countered, “I spent a lifetime trying to create a name for myself and create a place for myself and I did and I’ve done it. And 99% of it is because of the fans that have come to the races. So that allegiance is there to them. It’s good that I was able to get that. So I’m staying true to that.”
As for whether he ever joins High Limit, he said, “Most likely it won’t happen.” As for what will happen he shared, “I’ll probably race with the World of Outlaws ’til I decide it’s time to be done. And whenever that is, that is. I don’t know what I’ll do that after that. Maybe I’ll start my own series? No, I’m kidding. I’d never do that.”
As mentioned above, Schatz announced he would compete with CJB Motorsports with the World of Outlaws in 2026. The move to CJB Motorsports will pair Schatz with crew chief Barry Jackson
Schatz said in a press release on his website, “I’ve known Chad (Clemens) a long time, and I’ve known Barry (Jackson) a long time, and I have the utmost respect for them. This is a great opportunity. “I’m pretty excited to be aligned with people who share the same values I do. When you surround yourself with people like that, you are going to have success. I believe this is one of those combinations that can win races right out of the gate.”
“I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. Chad, Ann Marie, the entire Clemens family, Barry Jackson, and everyone else at CJB Motorsports have been working their tails off putting this program together, and we’re excited to get started,” Schatz said. “The World of Outlaws is where I cut my teeth… it’s where I belong. I’m as confident as I have ever been heading into 2026, and I know we’ll have the tools, knowledge, and experience to be successful.”
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