Given that I was on the track most of the time, I can say with confidence that Schlitter spent quite some time off of it. Perhaps that had something to do with SK only doing the 12 hour race and being lonely in the hotel room, I dunno!
I also think he wanted to step back and give Troy, Jim Kern, and some others a chance to shine, which they certainly did. I don't think he was "gunning for it" as it were.