Devil's Bowl Speedway

 

 

White Claims USA Sprint Win at Devil's Bowl

Mesquite, TX (June 8, 2002) -  

George White swapped the lead a couple times with Kevin Ramey on his way to his first USA sprint car victory of the season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Walter Dorsett held off several challenges on his way to his first street stock win at Devil’s Bowl. Skip O’Neal topped the late models for the second time this year and Rowdy Starnes claimed his third USA modified victory.

Promoter Lanny Edwards changed race procedures this weekend. Restarts after a caution for all classes will be single file with lapped cars sent to the back with five laps or less left in the A feature. The change paid off in faster races with fewer cautions Friday and Saturday nights.

White lined up outside the third row as the USA sprint cars took the green flag. Charlie Brown was on the pole and battled with Rawdy Hull down the front straight as the green flag waved. Brown set the pace for the first six laps in his Koin Kar Wash / City Blues Nr. 72 until the only caution of the race. On the restart, Hull found a spot low in turn two and pulled into the lead on the sixth lap. White and Ramey were soon in second and third place, chasing down Hull in the Wayne Hull Construction / All Trucks & Equipment Nr. 8H. The leaders were bumper to bumper as the halfway mark of the 20-lap feature. White went high around turns three and four as Hull ran low to cut off Ramey’s line on the 13th lap and took the lead. Ramey moved past Hull on the next trip around the half-mile clay oval. A good run low in turn two put Ramey’s Burkham Construction / Southwest Engines Nr. 7M into the lead for lap 17. White did not let Ramey’s pass bother his concentration. The next time around the track White edged back into the lead. On the final two laps Ramey was right with the Builders Electric Supply / Swafford Electric Supply Nr. 10W as White took his first win this year. Third behind Ramey was Matt Clevenger in a good run with Hull and Greg Young rounding out the top five. Clevenger in the H&H Steel Fabricators / Action Sportswear Nr. 31 and Brandon Erwin in the Lake Kiowa.com / Sign Guy Graphics Nr. 5E won the heat races.

Dorsett has significantly improved this season. He is at the track each week with a well prepared car and runs very well. The only negative in his racing program this year has been a lack of experience in running at the front in the late laps of a feature. Saturday he proved how much he has learned with a great run to his first street stock feature win. He started the R&D Racing / Nikon Dallas Nr. 31 on the second row. Brad Zimmerman led the first two laps in the Half-Price Automotive Services / Drive Train of Mesquite Nr. 11X. Dorsett pulled past Zimmerman on the third lap and into the lead. With Dorsett out front, second went to Pat Walls with Doug Smith and Mike Meeks, Jr. right behind him. The trio were battling side by side as they crossed the finish line on the sixth lap. Entering turn one Smith pulled down and collided with Meeks. Smith spun into the center of the turn and stopped . His car was hit first by Tim McManus than hit hard by Thomas Weeks. Smith was okay, but very unhappy that Meeks had not slowed down and given up the position. Weeks was shaken by the crash. Meeks’ car was damaged and went to the back after a pit stop. After winning his heat and the trophy dash in the Meeks’ Paint & Body / Ernie’s Auto Motors Nr. 37, Meeks was trying to win the Parks Auto Sales Sweep Bonus if he could top the feature.

Dorsett was out front and after the crash was cleaned up he pulled away as the green flag waved to restart the race. Walls did not have the car to catch Dorsett this night and had to settle for second. Dorsett happily claimed his first victory, with Walls holding second despite a charge from Trandell White. Mark Reedy had a great run to finish fourth with Travis Pace fifth. Trandell White reclaimed the street stock points lead by just five points over Michael Murphy, who finished sixth. White won the first heat in the Garcia’s Lawn Care / Whitestar Trailers Nr. 10, with Meeks winning the second heat and Jimmy Luker in the Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Miller Racing Nr. 34.

O’Neal spent Friday night working on the Barnsco Construction Materials / Corbin TV Nr. 8, taking some hot laps during breaks in the ASCS Speedweek event at Devil’s Bowl. The work paid off Saturday night with O’Neal’s second late model feature win this year. Contact in the crowded pack at the end of the opening lap put Tracy Adams and Hershel Cook into the wall, knocking both cars out of the race. Polesitter Scott Taylor and points leader Steve Trevathan also suffered damage in the crash. Mike Nelson was out front for the first lap, but on the restart after the caution it was Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 51 taking the lead. Another caution slowed the field on the next lap. O’Neal was fastest after the restart and quickly caught Ables. The pair raced side by side for a couple laps before O’Neal took the lead for good. He pulled away and was not challenged again as the cars raced to the checkered flag without another caution. The only potential problem was on the 12th lap when Keith Darrow dropped some water low in turn one. O’Neal slipped slightly the next lap in the fluid but recovered without a problem on his way to victory. Cheyney Hopkins battled past Ables on the tenth lap to take second with Jimmy Goodwin claiming third. Ables was fourth and Ronnie Long took fifth. Trevathan in the Nr. 21 and Goodwin in the Gatlin Motors / M&M Machine Nr. 12 won the heat races.

The USA modifieds benefitted the most for the restart lineup rule change with only two cautions in Saturday’s feature and no major crashes on restarts. The early laps of the 15-lap feature was a father-son battle with Richard Miller in the Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Bailey’s Crankshaft Nr. 23Z fighting to hold the lead with his father Jay Miller right on his rear bumper. The first caution of the race flew on the seventh lap when fifth running Jeff Welborn got forced off the back straight after contact with another car. Starnes moved up to fourth starting 11th when Welborn and Thomas Blackwell were forced to restart at the back.

The top cars were bumper to bumper and side by side racing around the race after the green flag fell. Starnes quickly passed Clyde Dunn, Jr. to take over third. Battling three wide, it was Starnes who found an opening and went far outside on the back straight to take the lead on the tenth lap. Starnes had the Starnes Trucking / Cain’s Machine Shop Nr. 50X a few car lengths ahead of Richard Miller when the yellow flag flew on the 13th lap. Third running Tom Lorenz spun in turn two. Jay Miller had no where to go and crashed into Lorenz’s stopped car. They both restarted but soon dropped out. Richard Miller tried to catch Starnes, but the two time defending champion was too fast and cruised to the checkered flag. Richard McGibboney came from starting 13th to finish second with Dunn third and Richard Miller shuffled to fourth in the final laps. Dale Wester came through the pack to finish fifth after starting 20th. That earned him the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award. Bobby Ruffin won the B main in the Mooney Racing Engines / Unlimited Race Products Nr. 121. Frank Rose in the Sherrell Heating & Air Nr. 18, Thomas Blackwell in the Blackwell Construction Nr. 015 and Dunn in the Smiley’s Racing Products / Young Chevrolet Racing Nr. 88 won the three heat races.

Story by Reggie Fields

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

RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Saturday, June 8, 2002

USA SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 2. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 3. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 4. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 5. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 6. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 7. #3, Hunter Bloxom, Terrell, TX; Did not start - #99, Ricky Summers, Mesquite, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 2. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 4. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX; 6. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 7. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 4. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 5. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 6. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 7. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 8. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 9. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX; 10. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 11. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 12. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX; 13. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 14. #3, Hunter Bloxom, Terrell, TX; Did not start - #99, Ricky Summers, Mesquite, TX

USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 2. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 4. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 5. #58, Rodney Stanford, McKinney, TX; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 7. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 8. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 9. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; Did not start - #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, OK

Second Heat Race: 1. #015, Thomas Blackwell, Crandall, TX; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX; 4. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX; 5. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 6. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 7. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; 8. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 9. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 10. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Garland, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 6. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 7. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 8. #T2, Todd Short, Denison, TX; 9. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 10. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX

B Main: 1. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 2. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 3. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 4. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 5. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 6. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 7. #T2, Todd Short, Denison, TX; 8. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 9. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 10. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; Did not start - #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; Did not start - #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; Did not start - #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; Did not start - #51, Rusty Trevathan, Garland, TX; Did not start - #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, OK

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 2. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 4. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 5. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 6. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 7. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 8. #58, Rodney Stanford, McKinney, TX; 9. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 10. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 11. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 12. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 13. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 14. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX; 15. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 16. #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX; 17. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 18. #015, Thomas Blackwell, Crandall, TX; 19. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 20. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX

LATE MODELS - First Heat Race: 1. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 2. #25, Scott Taylor, Shallowater, TX; 3. #88, Keith Darrow, Mesquite, TX; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 6. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; Did not start - #34, Hershel Cook, Lubbock, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 3. #22, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 4. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 5. #9L, Steve Latson, Flint, TX; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 2. #22, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 6. #25, Scott Taylor, Shallowater, TX; 7. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 8. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 9. #88, Keith Darrow, Mesquite, TX; 10. #9L, Steve Latson, Flint, TX; 11. #34, Hershel Cook, Lubbock, TX; 12. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX

STREET STOCKS - First Heat Race: 1. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 3. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 4. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 6. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 7. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; Did not start - #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 2. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 4. #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX; 5. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 6. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 7. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 8. #57, Don Tyner, Forney, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 2. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 3. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 4. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 6. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 7. #9, Andy Jones, Mesquite, TX

Trophy Dash: 1. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 2. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 4. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 5. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 6. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 2. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX; 5. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 6. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 7. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 8. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 9. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 10. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 11. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 12. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 13. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 14. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 15. #9, Andy Jones, Mesquite, TX; 16. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 17. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 18. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 19. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 20. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 21. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 22. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX; 23. #57, Don Tyner, Forney, TX

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