Four in a Row for Lorenz at Devil's Bowl

Mesquite, TX (July 24) - Tom Lorenz captured his fourth straight late model feature win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Rick McCommas returned to victory lane with his second consecutive USA modified win. Jason Trevathan set the pace for the street stocks. Gary Owens topped the championship sprints on his first visit to Devil’s Bowl this year.

Lorenz has been perfect recently at Devil’s Bowl, but Saturday night was unusual. Lorenz and his crew chief Chuck Vess hit the perfect setup for the late model feature on the Smiley’s Race Car Products / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84. A night of intermittent light sprinkles and rapidly lowering temperatures had the late model teams guessing which setup would work. Lorenz had the only car ran perfectly through the turns in the feature, and basically ran away from the rest of the field.

J.D. Wilson started on the pole in the Nr. V8 after winning his heat race for the second straight week. Woody Weaver in the Weaver Pharmacy/ ABT Transmissions Nr. 9 started right behind him. The pair were battling for the top spot as the first two laps were quickly run. Just as the field came through turn four on their third trip around the track, the Nr. 1 Stan Hopkins Company / Starr Graphic Designs late model of Cheyney Hopkins slowed suddenly, while running fifth. The caution flew and everyone was able to miss the stopped car.

When the green flag again flew, Ronnie Long in his Town East Ford Nr. 28 got shoved into the front straight wall, ending his night. The next attempt to start the race saw Weaver being spun in turn four.

Lorenz was sixth when the yellow first flew, but moved up to fourth as Hopkins and Weaver had problems. When the race finally got going to complete the third lap, Wilson again set the pace with Skip O’Neal in the Urban Fire Protection/ O’Neal Racing Engines Nr. 8 right behind him. They diced for the lead with Jack Ambern, Jr. in the Weaver Pharmacy / ABT Transmissions Nr. 2 and Lorenz right with them.

Lorenz was able to run where he wanted while all the other top cars where all searching for a line that would work. By the fifth lap, Lorenz was able to go around the outside on the back straight. The difference in setups quickly became apparent as Lorenz opened a ten car length lead almost immediately.

Wilson’s car would hook in the middle of the corner, O’Neal’s car darted high in the middle of the turn, and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano was having difficulty getting car to power out of the turns. They put on an exciting race, trading the second spot a couple times each lap. But they were just falling farther and farther behind Lorenz.

The final caution flew on the 11^th lap. After the restart, Lorenz easily pulled away as his car ran smooth and flat through the turns, hardly slowing at all. O’Neal was able to claim the second spot. Ellis and Wilson had a spirited battle to the finish, with a couple great passes and a daring slide job by Wilson. Ellis pulled ahead coming out of turn four on the final lap to grab third. Ambern took the fifth spot after late race battles with Aaron Morey in the Smiley’s / Hoosier Tire Nr. 24, who topped the other late model heat.

For the USA Modifieds it has been McCommas Month at Devil’s Bowl or the Rick and Clyde Show. Rick has taken three feature wins and a second in his Jimmy Allard Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39. Clyde Dunn, Jr. has one win and two seconds in his Smiley’s/ Crandall Cotton Gin/ Young Chevrolet Nr. 88 in the past three weeks.

The 15-lap feature started out badly. Polesitter Chad Ewell in the Longhorn Urethane / Foam Enterprises Nr. 19R broke and slid to a stop at the top of turn one. After the restart the top cars were three and four wide coming out of turn two. Dale Wester in the Jimmy Allard Machine and Supply / T N T Truck Parts Nr. 12 hooked right. Charles Lasater’s Acelco Services Nr. 17 flew over the right front corner of Wester’s car, bouncing four or five feet into the air. The contact sent Wester sideways, and Richard McGibboney in the Baber’s Garage / Red’s Meat Company Nr. 19 could not stop and crashed into Wester. The final contact sent Wester’s car over onto it’s roof. He was not injured, but the car looked like it had been in a demo derby.

As the modified finally got a couple laps under green, it was Johnny Dunn, Jr.’s Smiley’s/ Speed Specialties Nr. 99 out front, with McCommas right behind him. Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 and Clyde Dunn, Jr. made the race for the lead four wide at times. On the seventh lap, McCommas squeezed past Johnny Dunn to take the lead.

Lap after lap they raced around the half-mile clay oval, just a couple feet apart. Clyde Dunn, Jr. took the second spot from Johnny on the 13^th lap, with Kirkland also getting past. On the final circuit, McCommas just had to keep it straight and smooth to take the checkered flag. Kirkland and Clyde Dunn swapped spots in turn one, but Dunn retook second coming out of turn two. Charging hard into the third turn, Dunn washed to the top of the track, leaving an opening low for Kirkland, who squeaked by to take the runner-up spot by a half car length. Johnny Dunn, Jr. finished fourth with Steve Sickels making another solid run to finish fifth in his Crandall Cotton Gin/ Premier Auto Service Nr. 50. Tracy Adams in the Nr. 4 and McCommas won the heat races. Kirkland topped the trophy dash.

Michael Clugston, Jr. in the RTB Motorsports Nr. 00 got the jump at the start of the street stock feature, but soon had to surrender the top spot to Danny Zimmerman in the Nr. 11, with Trandel White in the Verna May/ Garcia’s Lawn Care Nr. 10 right behind. On the fourth lap, White got loose and looped his car in turn two. But he didn’t stop. The caution flew when Clugston stopped atop the turn. That gave White his position back since the lap was not completed.

Taking the green for the restart, White tried to get past Zimmerman, finally making the pass on the seventh circuit. Points leader Jason Trevathan had climbed to third in the Forney Auto Tech / Anson Powder Coating Nr. 3. When White found a way past Zimmerman, Trevathan came with him. A lap later Trevathan put his car into the lead.

For the final four laps, Trevathan pulled away to a three car length lead, with White holding the second spot. Zimmerman stayed in third to the checkered flag with Bobby Ruffin shaking down Terry Carter’s Nr. 35 to finish fourth. Brad Wesp rounded out the top five in the Pro Collision of Mesquite / Matco Tools Nr. 19. Michael Murphy in the Valvoline Nr. 21 and Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas / R&D Racing Nr. 31 won the heat races.

Dale Wester in the T N T Truck Parts/ Allard Racing Engines Nr. 12 and Gary Owens in the Glen Owens Sand and Gravel Nr. 33 won the championship sprint heat races. When Gary Grosvenor in the Nr. 20X Enduro Powder Coating / Johnson Heads sprinter could not start, Owens moved up to the outside of the second row. A few moments after the drop of the green flag, Owens went around the top of the opening turns to take the lead. Martin Edwards got past polesitter Wester for the second spot. On the third lap, Wester’s car got sideways a couple times, but he was able to keep going. Jimmy Goodwin got past Wester.

Goodwin in the Nr. 6X diced side by side with Edwards in the White Properties / Allard Racing Nr. 45, taking the runner up position on the fifth lap. Wester also got a run and went past Edwards to claim third. A couple laps later, Wester’s car slowed suddenly, ending his race. Edwards barely avoided the slowing car.

On the restart Owens had no trouble pulling away. His car was turning well and putting the power down, where Goodwin was fighting his car through the turns for most of the race. Preston Grosvenor brought out the final caution with two laps to go when he collided with the infield tire in turn three in the Enduro Powder Coating / Gary’s Machine Shop Nr. 120.

Owens easily took the victory, with Goodwin second and Edwards third. Kim Wilkie ran fourth on his first visit to Devil’s Bowl this year in the Nr. 38 with Troy Bontrager rounding out the top five in the Grice Machine / Fitness Club of Murphy Nr. 10T.

Story & photos by Reggie and  Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, July 24, 2004

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 3. #38, Kim Wilke, Carrollton; 4. #20X, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; Did not start - #3X, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall

Heat 2: 1. #33, Gary Owens, Pauls Valley, Okla.; 2. #6X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #120, Preston Grosvenor, Mesquite; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 5. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite

FEATURE: 1. #33, Gary Owens, Pauls Valley, Okla.; 2. #6X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 4. #38, Kim Wilke, Carrollton; 5. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 6. #120, Preston Grosvenor, Mesquite; 7. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite; 8. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; Did not start - #20, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; #3X, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 4. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 5. #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney; 6. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 7. #3Z, Richard Miller, Terrell; 8. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 9. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; Did not start - #1X, Jason Christopher, Terrell

Heat 2: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 4. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 5. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 6. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris; 7. #20X, Gary Harris, Mesquite; 8. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 9. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton

Trophy Dash: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett

A FEATURE: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #3Z, Richard Miller, Terrell; 8. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris; 9. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 10. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 11. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 12. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 13. #20X, Gary Harris, Mesquite; 14. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 15. #1X, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 16. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 17. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 18. #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney; 19. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1.#V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 3. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 4. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney; 5. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 6. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 7. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 8. #203, Tony Ruyle, Euless; 9. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 10. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

Heat 2:  1. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 2. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #9, Woody Weaver, Flint; 5. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 6. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 7. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 8. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 9. #25, Earl Whatley, Jr., Manuel

A FEATURE: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 5. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 6. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 7. #25, Earl Whatley, Jr., Manuel; 8. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 9. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 10. #9, Woody Weaver, Flint; 11. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 12. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 13. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 14. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 15. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 16. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 17. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney; Did not start - #203, Tony Ruyle, Euless; #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #35, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 3. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 4. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 5. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 6. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco; 7. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 8. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 9. #271, Richard Miller, Terrell

Heat 2: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 3. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 4. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 5. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 6. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 7. #217, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 8. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 2. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 3. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 4. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 5. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 6. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 7. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 8. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 9. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco; 10. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 11. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite; 12. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 13. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 14. #271, Richard Miller, Terrell; 15. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 16. #35, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; Did not start - #217, Jason Christopher, Terrell

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Next weekend, July 31, will be the Super Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks racing at Devil's Bowl . Gates open at 5:30, Races at 8

Drivers went through the stands Saturday night to collect donations to help Justin Sporel during his recovery from his big flip two weeks ago.

Jeff Welbron had a rough night in the Baxter Motorsports / Kountry Kids Daycare Nr. 19J modified. Stripping the rear end at the start of the heat, they were only able to piece the car together enough to start the feature, but soon dropped out.

Michael Murphy made it back. Last weekend's broken axle was not as devastating as first it first appeared in the Nr. 21 street stock.

Mark Ross has been having his share of problems lately in the Ross Racing / Tommy G's Welding Nr. 8 street stock. After breaking a stud last week, the fan belt came off this week forcing him out with an overheated engine.

Seems like everyone is having more problems - which is not unusual for this time of year. The hot months of July and August take their toll on cars and people. But it seems to me that more cars than usual are struggling to just stay on the track.

Tom Lorenz's secret weapon recently to put the Nr. 84 late model out front is crew chief Chuck Vess. It's hard to watch one car run smoothly through the corners like it was a train on rails, and everybody else fighting to hold on. Chuck is putting a perfect car on the track, and Tom's not too bad a driver for an old guy!!!

But watch out, when a couple more guys get these new late models figured out, Tom will have few walk away victories like this weeks race.

J.D. Wilson has been the surprise of the late models recently. He's been the fastest I've seen him in several years, and developing a lot of consistency recently. His slide job on Darren Ellis in turn two caught everyone by surprise, especially Darren Saturday night. Great Job!!!

Randy Bryant is starting to figure out his champ sprint - ran his heat and the feature Saturday without any problems. He's been struggling to learn to keep the car under control. Every lap helps and he's now starting to get consistent. Soon he can start working on building speed.

Hope to see Larry Long back on the track next weekend. The motor in the Nr. 28 Town East Ford Super Sprint wasn't quite ready when the super's last raced.

Richard Miller and Jason Christopher swapped modifieds again this week when problems developed in hot laps on the Nr. 1X. Richard also had problems with his Nr. 271/71 street stock. It was great to see his uncle Don Jensen - a great street stock racer himself - helping out in the pits Saturday.