Devil's Bowl Speedway

 

 

Murphy’s First Win at Devil’s Bowl

Mesquite, TX (May 25, 2002) - Michael Murphy held off Doug Smith to capture his first street stock feature at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Keith Walker swept the USA sprint cars. Richard McGibboney survived a caution filled USA modified main for his first win this year. Skip O’Neal topped the late models.

Murphy has run very well at Devil’s Bowl over the past two seasons, but he was never able to capture his first victory, until Saturday night. Starting outside the sixth row in the Fernandez GMC - Pontiac - Buick / Crawford Automotive Nr. 21, Murphy had to avoid early trouble. After Michael Grubbs and Walter Dorsett raced side by side down the front straight on the opening lap, Dorsett spun in turn two. Murphy was one of the cars who had to dive to the bottom of the track. Grubbs led the field under the green flag on the second attempt to start the race, with Jimmy Luker taking the lead on the back straight in his Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Scott’s Tire Nr. 34. On the third lap the leaders were three wide as Murphy coming through the traffic to take the lead. The yellow flew again a lap later as a bumper was knocked off a car onto the track. A four car crash a lap after the restart brought out the yellow for a third time.

Murphy pulled away as the race resumed building his lead to eight car lengths before the final caution of the race flew on the ninth lap. Last week’s winner, Doug Smith had climbed to fourth, and when the second and third place cars went to the pits with tire problems, moved up to second. After the restart Smith stayed with Murphy. The two battled for the lead Smith tried to get past Murphy, but at the checkered flag Murphy had his first win at Devil’s Bowl. Third behind Smith was Travis Pace with points leader Trandel White fourth and Grubbs finishing fifth. Thomas Weeks in the Bobby Duncan 5X, Mike Meeks, Jr. in the Meeks Paint & Body / Ernie’s Auto Motors Nr. 37 and Smith in the Stack’s Hamburgers / Playful Pleasures Nr. 4 won the street stock heat races.

Walker had his best night at Devil’s Bowl, winning his heat race, the trophy dash and the 20-lap USA sprint car feature in the Leo Walker Paint & Body / Quality Powder Coating Nr. 52. Walker took the lead on the start of his heat and pulled away to lead every lap of the heat. He did the same thing in the trophy dash, setting himself up with a chance to win the $100 Park Auto Sales sweep bonus. Starting the 20-lap main on the outside of the front row, Walker pulled past pole sitter Claude Estes, Jr. on the start and pulled away from the field. Walker had a 10 car length lead when the red flag flew on the seventh lap. Fourth running George White spun entering turn one. Most of the cars missed White, but Matt Clevenger crashed hard into White’s stopped car. Clevenger flipped over, but was not injured. White’s car was hit so hard that he was able to restart the engine as the car rolled away from the blow, however chassis damage put White out of the race. The red flag gave the driver’s a chance to adjust their cars. Marvin Lough was running second to Walker. After the race resumed Walker pulled away while Lough had his hands full in a very close battle with Kevin Ramey. The pair battled for the lead with Lough holding the high line. Ramey could not get enough traction running the bottom of the turns to get past Lough. A lap ten caution only erased Walker’s lead. He was able to rebuild a small lead after the restart while Lough and Ramey battled. Lough slipped over the cushion in turn two on lap 17, letting Ramey past. Ramey quickly caught Walker, but the leader was too fast and precise to give Ramey an opening. Lough captured third with Larry Long taking fourth. Long’s finish put him in the points lead. Estes was fifth. Lough won the other heat race in the Commercial Music / Smoke Pit Bar-B-Que Nr. 39.

After two quick heat races won by Mike Goodson in the Lonnie’s Transmission / Peerache Salon Nr. 66 and Steve Sickels in the Troy’s Used Cars / Duane Swindell Nr. 50, the USA modified part of the program went south. The third heat saw four cautions, two cars knocked out for the night and three controversial crashes before promoter Lanny Edwards said enough is enough. After only six laps the checkered flag was thrown under caution and a driver’s meeting was called. Darrell Hathcock was credited with the heat race win in the Par One / MLH Racing Nr. 04. After a short discussion with the promoter, the modifieds were back on the track for the B main, which Jerry Cowart led from flag to flag in the D.C. Vending / Mortage Support Services Nr. 6P without a caution.

McGibboney was on the outside of the seventh row in the Baber’s Garage / Outlaw Fabrication Nr. 19 as the green flag fell on the 20 car field. The action was three wide from the start as David Gailley pushed his Stanley Commission Company / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 50D into the lead. Polesitter Sickels could not hold his car on the cushion in turns three and four as Gailley took the lead late in the opening lap. The first caution was on the fourth lap, with a close battle for second behind Gailley after the restart. McGibboney had climbed to third and was racing side by side with Jimmy Goodwin when a five car crash behind them brought out the yellow again on the ninth lap. After the restart McGibboney pulled alongside Gailley as they raced side by side with Goodwin. McGibboney edged into the lead on the tenth lap, but the caution came out for a spin canceling the pass. On the restart McGibboney again made the battle for the lead three wide before taking the top spot with a run down the outside on the 12th lap. The caution flag flew two more times in the final three laps of the feature. McGibboney took the victory by holding off challenges from Tony Batt who claimed second and Goodwin. Fourth was points leader Rick McCommas with Bobby Ruffin taking fifth.  By passing 13 cars after starting 14th, McGibboney earned the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award.

A field of 19 late models put on an exciting race after Steve Trevathan in the Nr. 21 and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service Nr. 23 won the heat races. The 15-lap feature got off to a quick start with a first lap spin in turn two, but everyone kept going so the yellow flag stayed in the holder. J.D. Wilson in the Nr. V8 led the opening lap, however Skip O’Neal was flying around the top of the track in the Barnsco Construction Materials / Corbin TV Nr. 8. He claimed the lead by riding the rim around turn two on the second lap. O’Neal pulled away to a six car length lead with a close battle for second and other positions behind him. The only caution of the race came out on the 12th lap when Scott Taylor spun. The restart put Wilson and the other cars right on O’Neal’s rear bumper for the restart. When the green flag flew, O’Neal got clear by a car length as the battle was three wide behind him. Harry Hronas took over second place with James Williams running a close third. They flew around the track with O’Neal taking the victory, followed by Hronas and Williams. Trevathan took fourth with Wilson holding on for fifth.

Story by Reggie Fields

For more information, call Devil’s Speedway at 972-222-2421

RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Saturday, May 25, 2002

USA SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 5. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 6. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 7. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 8. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 2. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 3. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 4. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 5. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 6. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 7. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX

Trophy Dash: 1. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 2. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 5. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 6. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 2. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 5. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 6. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 7. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX; 8. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 9. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 10. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 11. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 12. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; 13. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 14. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 15. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX

USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 2. #28, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 3. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton, TX; 4. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 5. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 7. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 8. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 9. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; Did not start - #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 4. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 5. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 7. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 9. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 2. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 4. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 5. #3, Charles Nelson, Austin, TX; 6. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 7. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 8. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 9. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX

B Main: 1. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 4. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 5. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 6. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX; 7. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 8. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 9. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 10. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 11. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; Did not start - #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; Did not start - #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 2. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton, TX; 3. #28, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 6. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 7. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 8. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 9. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 10. #3, Charles Nelson, Austin, TX; 11. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 12. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 13. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 14. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 15. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 16. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 17. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 18. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 19. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 20. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX

LATE MODELS - First Heat Race: 1. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 5. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 6. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; 7. #1, Scott Prather, Mesquite, TX; 8. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 9. #34, Hershel Cook, Lubbock, TX; 10. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX; 2. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman, TX; 3. #22, James Williams, Combine, TX; 4. #25, Scott Taylor, Shallowater, TX; 5. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #6, Terry Holland, Piedmont, OK; 7. #88, Keith Darrow, Mesquite, TX; 8. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 9. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 2. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 3. #22, James Williams, Combine, TX; 4. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 5. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman, TX; 6. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 7. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 8. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 9. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; 10. #6, Terry Holland, Piedmont, OK; 11. #1, Scott Prather, Mesquite, TX; 12. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 13. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 14. #25, Scott Taylor, Shallowater, TX; 15. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 16. #34, Hershel Cook, Lubbock, TX; 17. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 18. #88, Keith Darrow, Mesquite, TX; 19. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX

STREET STOCKS - First Heat Race: 1. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 2. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 5. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 6. #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney, TX; 7. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 8. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 9. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 2. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 3. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 4. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 5. #24, Stephen Swanson, Mesquite, TX; 6. #57, Don Tyner, Forney, TX; 7. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; Did not start - #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 2. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 3. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 4. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 5. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 6. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 7. #9, Andy Jones, Mesquite, TX; 8. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 2. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 4. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 6. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 7. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 8. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 9. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 10. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 11. #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX; 12. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 13. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 14. #24, Stephen Swanson, Mesquite, TX; 15. #9, Andy Jones, Mesquite, TX; 16. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 17. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 18. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 19. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 20. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 21. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 22. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 23. #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney, TX; Did not start - #57, Don Tyner, Forney, TX; Did not start - #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX

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