Heavy rains Thursday forced Devil’s Bowl promoter Lanny Edwards and his staff to work non-stop to prepare the pit area for the 48 World of Outlaws sprint cars on hand. Even driver John Bankston spend several hours operating a roller as part of the effort necessary to allow the race to run. Though the tow rigs were delayed in entering the pits, and the green flag did not fall until almost 10 p.m., a crowd of anxious fans saw a quick program of exciting racing.

Danny Lasoski set the pace early in the evening with a quick time of 13.745 on the half-mile oval. With the track tacky and fast, the four O’Reilly Auto Parts heat races were quick, with most of the passing action on the opening lap. Saldana, Stevie Smith, Dale Blaney and Brad Furr captured the heats. Former Devil’s Bowl champion Gary Wright was one of the drivers who failed to qualify for the A feature, along with Steve Kinser and Andy Hillenburg.

In the ChannelLock Dash, Blaney set the pace from the drop of the green flag, with Saldana battling Lasoski to the finish line for second and third. Lasoski was putting his new J.D. Byrider / Hamm America Nr. 20L all over the track as he tested different lines in preparation for the feature. The new car, owned by Winston Cup star Tony Stewart, was fast and perfect all night. The team with Lasoski as driver seems poised to make a strong run for the 2001 World of Outlaws championship.

Danny Smith had a difficult night, missing time trials and his heat race. In the C main he ran over the rear tire of Sean Walden and sent both cars flipping through turn one on a fourth lap restart. Zac Chappell in the Ernie Miller Pontiac-GMC Nr. 50Z won the C main, and along with Paul White, transferred to the B.

Wright did not make the call for the B main, leaving 17 cars to take the green flag. Devil’s Bowl Matt Clevenger, a 16 year old veteran of three sprint seasons at the half-mile clay oval, was on the pole and brought the field down very slow for the start. Brian Paulus took off from the outside of the front row forcing officials to bring out the yellow to restart the race. As the yellow was starting to fly, Clevenger did a wheelie coming out of turn two and flipped high into the air. That put the second row of Steve Kinser and Aaron Berryhill up front for the restart. Kinser never hesitated and was gone, leading the 12-lapper to the checkered flag in the Quaker State Nr. 11. Berryhill, Paulus and Andy Hillenburg were close to round out the top four transfer spots.

The 20-lap preliminary feature started out with Blaney on the pole in the MBNA Nr. 10, with Saldana outside in the HemSaw Nr. 17. Lasoski charged into the first turn as the green flag dropped and slipped around Blaney for second with Saldana out front down the back straight. The track was fast despite a couple ruts in the first turn, with the lead cars flying around the track in low 14 second lap times until they caught the slower cars six laps into the race. Lasoski was ready to make the pass when the first yellow flag of the feature flew for Travis Rilat’s almost spin in turn four. Rilat got into the feature as the first alternate after Berryhill withdrew due to motor problems after the B main.

A lap later another caution flew, but the race resumed at the halfway point, with Saldana pulling a few car lengths away from Lasoski. Five laps later, Saldana had to slow as he tried to get past Rilat. Lasoski, along with Blaney and fourth running Mark Kinser pulled up for a four car battle for the lead. On the sixteenth lap, Saldana had to slow slightly in turn two, giving Lasoski an opening on the bottom side of the turn. He slipped past Saldana and Rilat to take the lead. The lapped car of Rilat gave him a slight advantage for a couple laps. Kinser also used the tight racing conditions to pass Blaney for third place. Working to pass very fast cars, Lasoski stayed a couple car lengths ahead of Saldana all the way to the checkered flag. Kinser closed on the leaders late in the race, but settled for third, with Blaney fourth to lock up the final transfer spot for Saturday’s finals. Tim Shaffer was fifth, followed by Craig Dollansky, Stevie Smith, Jac Haudenschild, Jeff Shepard and Jason Johnson completing the top ten.

McCommas came from eighth on the starting grid to pass early leader Darrell Hathcock in the 15-lap USA modified main. McCommas was able to pull away from a close battle for second most of the race, however two late race cautions put the field on his rear bumper. The contest for second let McCommas pull away for a five car length victory, with Tom Lorenz holding off a close challenge from Paul White at the finish line. Thomas Blackwell was fourth, with Hathcock fifth. Cheyney Hopkins and Kevin Hazelip won the twin B mains, while Josh Landers, Lorenz, Rowdy Starnes and Randy Kirkland won the heat races.

PENNZOIL WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CARS - First O’Reilly Heat Race: 1. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #20L, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO; 3. #3, Daryn Pittman, Broken Arrow, OK; 4. #5, Jeff Shepard, Upperco, MD; 5. #6, Brooke Tatnell, San Soucy, AU; 6. #2, Andy Hillenburg, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #66, Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #29J, Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 9. #52, Ronald Laney, Humble, TX; 10. #52W, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 11. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville, OK; 12. #D1, Dan Oswalt, Iola, KS

Second O’Reilly Heat Race: 1. #19, Stevie Smith, New Oxford, PA; 2. #21W, Danny Wood, Norman, OK; 3. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, IN; 4. #83, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 5. #8, John Bankston, Beaumont, TX; 6. #U2W, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 7. #3G, Mike Goodman, Tulsa, OK; 8. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 9. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 10. #1A, Christi Passmore, Pryor, OK; 11. #14, Sean Waldon, Bentonville, AR; 12. #56X, Mike Wells, El Paso, TX

Third O’Reilly Heat Race: 1. #10, Dale Blaney, Fowler, OH; 2. #8H, Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 3. #20, Johnny Herrera, Gilbert, AZ; 4. #41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA; 5. #7, Craig Dollansky, Zimmerman, MN; 6. #28, Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, PA; 7. #7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN; 8. #3M, Matt Saint, Tulsa, OK; 9. #3S, Ricky Logan, Little Rock, AR; 10. #11J, Sean McClelland, Tulsa, OK; 11. #15S, Nick Smith, Broken Arrow, OK; Did not start - #37, Joe Bustillos, Tulsa, OK

Fourth O’Reilly Heat Race: 1. #2F, Brad Furr, Pleasonton, CA; 2. #11H, Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA; 3. #U2, Paul McMahan, Bristol, IN; 4. #1X, Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN; 5. #15, Donny Schatz, Minot, ND; 6. #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN; 7. #1H, Donnie Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 8. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 9. #39, Paul White, Temple, TX; 10. #5J, Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa, IA; 11. #56, Gerald Cressman, Hartford, SD; Did not start - #5$, Danny Smith, Tulsa, OK

ChannelLock Dash:1. #10, Dale Blaney, Fowler, OH; 2. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #20L, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO; 4. #2F, Brad Furr, Pleasonton, CA; 5. #19, Stevie Smith, New Oxford, PA; 6. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, IN; 7. #7, Craig Dollansky, Zimmerman, MN; 8. #11H, Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA; 9. #83, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 10. #3, Daryn Pittman, Broken Arrow, OK

C Main: 1. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 2. #39, Paul White, Temple, TX; 3. #D1, Dan Oswalt, Iola, KS; 4. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville, OK; 5. #56, Gerald Cressman, Hartford, SD; 6. #3M, Matt Saint, Tulsa, OK; 7. #52W, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 8. #14, Sean Waldon, Bentonville, AR; 9. #5$, Danny Smith, Tulsa, OK; Did not start - #11J, Sean McClelland, Tulsa, OK; Did not start - #56X, Mike Wells, El Paso, TX; Did not start - #37, Joe Bustillos, Tulsa, OK

B Main: 1. #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN; 2. #66, Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #28, Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, PA; 4. #2, Andy Hillenburg, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #U2W, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 6. #52, Ronald Laney, Humble, TX; 7. #3S, Ricky Logan, Little Rock, AR; 8. #29J, Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 9. #1A, Christi Passmore, Pryor, OK; 10. #39, Paul White, Temple, TX; 11. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 12. #5J, Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa, IA; 13. #3G, Mike Goodman, Tulsa, OK; 14. #7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN; 15. #1H, Donnie Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 16. #15S, Nick Smith, Broken Arrow, OK; 17. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; Did not start - #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #20L, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO; 2. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, IN; 4. #10, Dale Blaney, Fowler, OH; 5. #11H, Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA; 6. #7, Craig Dollansky, Zimmerman, MN; 7. #19, Stevie Smith, New Oxford, PA; 8. #83, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 9. #5, Jeff Shepard, Upperco, MD; 10. #41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA; 11. #8H, Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 12. #21W, Danny Wood, Norman, OK; 13. #2, Andy Hillenburg, Broken Arrow, OK; 14. #3, Daryn Pittman, Broken Arrow, OK; 15. #6, Brooke Tatnell, San Soucy, AU; 16. #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN; 17. #U2, Paul McMahan, Bristol, IN; 18. #1X, Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN; 19. #2F, Brad Furr, Pleasonton, CA; 20. #20, Johnny Herrera, Gilbert, AZ; 21. #15, Donny Schatz, Minot, ND; 22. #U2W, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 23. #8, John Bankston, Beaumont, TX; 24. #28, Brian Paulus, Mechanicsburg, PA; Did not start - #66, Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow, OK

USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #14, Josh Landers, Princeton, TX; 2. #79R, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 3. #41, Paul White, Temple, TX; 4. #76, Don Pierson, Kaufman, TX; 5. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 6. #69, Bobby Freeman, Dallas, TX; 7. #10B, Aaron Booze, Mesquite, TX; 8. #10, Danny Villanueva, Arlington, TX; 9. #22B, David Booze, Mesquite, TX; Did not start - #7, John Fenton, Ben Wheeler, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Garland, TX; 2. #915, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 4. #12W, Dale Wester, Red Oak, TX; 5. #711, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 6. #24, Chris Hilliard, Dallas, TX; 7. #F5, Skeet Amason, Texarkana, TX; 8. #199, Tad Kimbrough, Wylie, TX; 9. #82, Brandon Houk, The Colony, TX; 10. #010, Jeremy Willis, Seagoville, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 2. #2X, Kenny Gaddis, Hallsville, TX; 3. #8, Steve Miller, Dallas, TX; 4. #6L, Jody Mayne, Grand Saline, TX; 5. #86, George Howard, Mesquite, TX; 6. #6, Donnie Powers, Longview, TX; 7. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 8. #50, Steve Sickles, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX

Fourth Heat Race: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #51, Thomas Blackwell, Crandall, TX; 4. #141, Tim Knott, Duncanville, TX; 5. #12C, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp, TX; 6. #12, Scooter Bates, Gatesville, TX; 7. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 8. #233, Scott Stewart, Combine, TX; Did not start - #5P, Craig Petty, Red Oak, TX

First B Main: 1. #711, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 2. #010, Jeremy Willis, Seagoville, TX; 3. #F5, Skeet Amason, Texarkana, TX; 4. #22B, David Booze, Mesquite, TX; 5. #86, George Howard, Mesquite, TX; 6. #69, Bobby Freeman, Dallas, TX; 7. #10B, Aaron Booze, Mesquite, TX; 8. #50, Steve Sickles, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #6, Donnie Powers, Longview, TX; Did not start - #10, Danny Villanueva, Arlington, TX; Did not start - #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX

Second B Main: 1. #12C, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp, TX; 2. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 3. #24, Chris Hilliard, Dallas, TX; 4. #12, Scooter Bates, Gatesville, TX; 5. #7, John Fenton, Ben Wheeler, TX; 6. #199, Tad Kimbrough, Wylie, TX; 7. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; Did not start - #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; Did not start - #233, Scott Stewart, Combine, TX; Did not start - #82, Brandon Houk, The Colony, TX; Did not start - #5P, Craig Petty, Red Oak, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Garland, TX; 3. #41, Paul White, Temple, TX; 4. #51, Thomas Blackwell, Crandall, TX; 5. #79R, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 6. #12W, Dale Wester, Red Oak, TX; 7. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 8. #6L, Jody Mayne, Grand Saline, TX; 9. #76, Don Pierson, Kaufman, TX; 10. #711, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 11. #141, Tim Knott, Duncanville, TX; 12. #8, Steve Miller, Dallas, TX; 13. #12C, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp, TX; 14. #2X, Kenny Gaddis, Hallsville, TX; 15. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 16. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 17. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 18. #915, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 19. #010, Jeremy Willis, Seagoville, TX; 20. #14, Josh Landers, Princeton, TX