Buckle Up For Safety
World of Outlaws Champion And North Dakota Resident
Donny Schatz To Help Click It Or Ticket Seat-belt Campaign

MINOT (May 5, 2008) -Two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws (WoO) champion Donny Schatz knows the importance of safety. This week, the Minot, ND, native returns home hoping he can help spread the word on the importance of buckling up through the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign.

“It's really a great honor to be helping with this Click It or Ticket program again,” said Schatz, who will be promoting the program at multiple locations on Thursday, May 8. “I know how important it is to buckle up every time I get into a vehicle...not just my Sprint car. We're focused this week on getting that message out in North Dakota, but as we race across the country we hope to spread the word anywhere we can.”

Schatz is a 12-year veteran of the World of Outlaw series, which will contest four events in the state of North Dakota this summer, including one in Minot on August 17. He is in his first season driving for Tony Stewart Racing, and the 2006 and 2007 series champion races the No. 15 Armor All/Chevy/ParkerStore sponsored Sprint car on dirt tracks throughout the United States ranging in size from a quarter-mile to a half-mile.

His schedule will begin with an appearance Thursday morning at Sunnyside Elementary School (1000 5^th Ave. SE) at 9:45 a.m. The celebrity will be available for interviews with the media immediately following (at Sunnyside Elementary).

The day's activities will conclude with a celebration at NAPA Auto Parts (14 20^th Ave. SE). During an outdoor Bar-B-Que, the Minot Camera Club will be on-site offering photographs of fans with the celebrity, who will also be signing pledge cards (featuring Schatz' 2008 race schedule) from 3:30-6:00 pm.

“Safety is one of the most important things in our community and the state of North Dakota,” said Kristen Partlow, Safe Communities Coordinator. “It's important to make our community as safe as we can. Last year was the first year we had Donny help promote seat belt usage, and we feel like it makes a significant impact. Awareness is one of the most important parts of our program, so our goal is getting the message out to as many people as possible during the month of May before the heavy vacation and travel seasons begin.”

Results from last year's campaign mirrored the successful season Schatz had on the track. The state of North Dakota also saw record-breaking numbers with 82% usage, up from the previous high of 79%.

Contact Bill Klingbeil
Donny Schatz Enterprises
(309) 825-5425 or bk3pr@aol.com