Donny Schatz held off a rapidly closing Shane Stewart to win his fifth Knoxville Nationals Saturday night.
Schatz earned his fifth title in six years, earned $150,000 and tied Doug Wolfgang for the second-most Nationals crowns behind 12-time winner Steve Kinser.
Schatz took the lead on lap 15 and maintained it almost the entire remainder of the race. Daryn Pittman passed him briefly, but Schatz quickly regained control.
''Run fast, run hard,'' said Schatz, who started 15th but climbed to fourth by lap nine of the 50-lap main event.
Stewart earned $75,000.
''I don't know what to say,'' Stewart said. ''My car always seems to come on late in the race.''
Sammy Swindell took third. Tim Shaffer, the 2010 winner, placed fourth and Pittman took fifth.
Schatz has finished first or second at Nationals in 10 of the past 12 years. He ranks second in season points with the World of Outlaws, the sport's top touring series.
''I hope we can go on to earn that championship,'' Schatz said.
Sprint car racing's most prestigious race spanned 50 laps for the second consecutive year and included a pit stop with 27 laps down.
Schatz endured late motor troubles during last year's second-place run.
Swindell, the 1983 champ, led 10 laps, and earned $37,500 for his 13th career top-five finish at Nationals.
He closed on Schatz late in the race until an attempt to go low in Turn 4 of lap 47 caused him to lose ground.
''I think we were running him down,'' Swindell said. ''I just missed down there; parked the car and sat there for about an hour and let Shane by. You try to run a conservative race ... you're a little gun shy.''
