Sept 11, 2004

Mesquite, TX (Sept 11) - Darren Ellis captured his first late model feature win of the season at Devil=s Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Randy Kirkland topped the USA modifieds and Jason Trevathan made his fifth trip to victory lane in his street stock. Charlie Brown claimed his second super sprint victory of the season.

Darren Ellis and his dad, Bobby, in victory lane after Darren's first late model feature win this season at Devil's Bowl.

Sixteen cars took the green flag for the 20-lap late model main. Polesitter Woody Weaver in the Weaver Pharmacy / ABT Transmissions Nr. 47 got the jump on the start, but Jimmy Quick, Jr. in the Ron=s Racing / Lane Automotive Nr. 55 went low in turn two to take the lead for the opening lap. The cars were three wide two car lengths behind Quick, with Skip O=Neal in the Urban Fire Protection / O=Neal Race Engines Nr. 8 climbing up to second by the time the yellow flag waved at the end of the third lap. Ronnie Long in the Town East Ford Nr. 28, Cheyney Hopkins in the Stan Hopkins Company/ Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 and Britt Ables in the Ables Auto/ Troy=s Car Nr. 51 ended up piled into the turn four wall. Long was able to restart the race, though missing the front body work; however he pulled out after only a couple laps..

O=Neal continued his perfect run, diving to the bottom of turn two to take the lead. Darren Ellis claimed second a lap later in the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23. With a four car length advantage O=Neal maintained a fast pace, with Ellis able to close through the corners. The Smiley=s / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84 of Tom Lorenz was up third. Ellis made a hard charge through turn two on the sixth lap, sliding up in front of O=Neal to take over the lead.

The track was coming to Ellis= setup while O=Neal and Lorenz tried to find best line. But the yellow flag waved on the 12th lap, erasing his lead. With O=Neal, Lorenz, a very fast Michael Grubbs in the Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 00X and Mike Ambern in the Weaver Pharmacy / ABT Transmission Nr. 29 right behind him, Ellis led the field back to the green flag.

Ellis pulled away by a couple car lengths, with Lorenz taking over the second spot. While Lorenz could close right up on Ellis back bumper entering the corner, the Nr. 23 was faster and smoother through the turns, pulling away as they came out of the turns. Ellis charged to take the win by six car lengths, with Lorenz and O=Neal right together in second and third. Grubbs had a great race, taking fourth, with Ambern finishing right behind in fifth.

Grubbs jumped out and took off at the start of the first late model heat, leading all the way to the checkered flag. Weaver had the other cars stacked three wide behind him in an extremely close second late model heat. Weaver took the win by a car length with the top six cars within a half second of each other.

USA Modified feature winner, and new points leader, Randy Kirkland with his niece Presley on her first visit to the race track and nephew Dustin, an old hand at the races.

The USA modifieds didn=t waste any time, running four wide through turn two on the opening lap with Bobby Ruffin in the Nr. 121 Smiley=s / Hoosier Tire Southwest car taking the lead down the back straight. Tracy Adams in the Nr. 4 came through the battle to take second. Richard Miller tried to clear the track after having problems on the second lap in his Jeanie=s Used Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 1X, collecting his uncle Don Jensen in the team Nr. 31 Jeanie=s machine, and bringing out the first caution.

Ruffin tried to start, but the car would not takeoff. Luckily only one car was damaged in the melee as the other drivers tried to get around Ruffin. Adams took over the lead as Ruffin=s car was pushed to the pits. But points leader Clyde Dunn, Jr. was the only car damaged in the altercations and forced the Crandall Cotton Gin / Young Chevrolet Nr. 88 into the pits.

Two laps after Adams took the green flag, the Nr. 99 Martinez Restaurant / Speed Specialties modified of Johnny Dunn, Jr. and Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 went around him on the back straight. Kirkland held the lead with Dunn a car length back. The yellow flew on the sixth lap for Kevin Boling=s stopped Nr. 2.

On the restart, Kirkland pulled out qickly, with Charles Laster in the Acelco Services Nr. 17 taking second in turn two, but when Billy Fronterhouse in the Speed Specialties Racing Engines Nr. 5 and Aaron Lawrence in the Nr. 9 got together, the fourth yellow of the race flew.

The next restart was better for Johnny Dunn, Jr., holding on to second place and challenging Kirkland within a couple circuits. But the fifth yellow flag came out moments later, when Lasater spun around in turn two in front of the field. Rick McCommas in the Jimmy Allard Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39 could not avoid Lasater=s car.

The crashes which took out Clyde Dunn, Jr. and McCommas damage which forced him out of the race, helped tighten the closest points race in years. They were just 60 points apart at the start of the evening. Their misfortunes and Kirkland's victory tightened up an incredible points race - with just 140 points separating the top three.

The ninth lap restart with sixteen cars left in the field saw another caution before a lap was completed with four cars crashing in turn three. On the next ninth lap restart the field was down to eleven cars.

Jimmy Goodwin went into the third spot in the Gatlin Motors Nr. 57 on the ninth lap, while Kirkland pulled away to a two car length lead over Johnny Dunn, Jr. Steve Sickels soon found a lot of traction and climbed into third position in his Crandall Cotton Gin Restaurant / Premier Auto Service Nr. 50. He was soon closing the gap with Dunn. The track had dried a bit in the turns, with the low line preferred by the leaders.

On the sixteenth lap, Kirkland slipped a bit in turn one, and Dunn closed up. A lap later they were side by side on the back straight. Kirkland held his line as his tires were starting to go away. Dunn was right on him when the sixth caution flew for Arin Lawrence=s spin in turn two.

With just three laps to go, it was Kirkland out front with Dunn, Sickels, Tom Lorenz in the Smiley's / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 88X and Goodwin all at the front. Dunn closed right up in turn two on the restart, but Kirkland was able to pull a two car length advantage in turn four.

Kirkland hung tough and took his first feature win of the season by a car length over Dunn, with Sickels running third, followed by Lorenz and Goodwin to round out the top five.

Rick Preddy set the pace in the opening USA modified heat in his Frontier Truck Lines / Winner's Choice Trophies Nr. V8. "Flaming" Joe Kasper in the Lewis Racing / 380 Tire & Services Nr. 91 held off Johnny Dunn, Jr. to win an exciting, close second heat race. Ruffin had to dodge a lapped car on the final lap as he won the third heat.

Jason Trevathan and his mom, Debbie, enjoy his victory in the street stock feature.

It was a wild opening lap of the street stock feature, with wrecks on both end of the track. The next attempt to start was even worse. Johnny Philpott in the J&S Direct Doors Nr. 12 got hooked and shot across the track sideways in front of the field in turn two. Danny Zimmerman=s Nr. 11 PepBoys / Master Auto Body of Mesquite street stock ended up on the roof, along with Mark Ross losing a rear wheel on his Tommy G's Welding / Speed Specialties Nr. 8 and Michael Clugston was also involved in the RTB Motorsports Nr. 00.

On the third attempt to start the race, the field had been cut from 17 cars to 10, three of which were limping along with heavy damage.

The Nr. 42 Imperial Electric / Walls Racing/ Rat Pack stocker of Gayla Jones led the first lap, but spun in turn two on the second circuit. Jason Trevathan dodged her spinning car and took the lead in his Forney Auto Tech / Pit Stop Pizza Nr. 3. Jones was able to get going so the yellow flag did not fly. Zimmerman and Derek Eckles in the Nr. 15 were not able to get back on the track before the green flew despite heroic repairs in the pits.

Trevathan pulled away to a 15 car length lead while working past slower cars. Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas/ R&D Racing Nr. 31 and trophy dash winner Michael Murphy in the Nr. 21 ran second and third, but there was no way to catch Trevathan, especially while avoiding the lapped cars with damage from earlier crashes. Trevathan took the win by half a straightaway over Dorsett, with Murphy ten car lengths back. Terry Carter avoided all the carnage to finish fourth in his freshly repainted Nr. 35 with George Parrish fifth in the Jeanie's Used Auto Parts / Parrish Racing Nr. 49.

Trevathan ran away with the first street stock heat race. Murphy topped the second heat. Murphy also set the pace and claimed the victory in the Town East Trophy Dash.

Charlie Brown with car owner Donald Kannady and his crew chief Silas in victory lane after a great run in the feature.

David Gailley set the pace from the pole for the opening lap of the super sprint feature in his Champion Waste / Stanley Commission Company Nr. 24 but Charlie Brown went past to take the lead on the second lap. Larry Long was up to second on the third lap in the Town East Ford Nr. 28. Johnny Miller took third place on the fourth lap in the Mack's Auto Service Nr. 9.

The fastest three cars were out front with an exciting race between Gailley and Martin Edwards in the White Properties / Allard Racing / Action T Shirts Nr. 10T. They made contact several times before Gailley was on the outside and spun on the fifth lap in turn one to bring out the caution.

Brown took off quickly on the restart in his Keith's Truck & Accessories / Koin Kar Wash Nr. 72 and pulled away to an eight car length lead. A slick spot in turn one made it difficult to race side by side, so Long had no trouble staying ahead of Miller. Brown only slowed in the final third of the race as he worked past slower cars. Brown calimed the victory with a lapped car between himself and Long, with Miller third. Joe Wood, Jr. ran strong to take fourth in the Nr. 03, a definite improvement over the major flip he had on his last trip to Devil=s Bowl. Kurt Summers was a solid fifth, after missing his heat race and starting on the back of the feature in the Soulman's Barbeque / Johnny Suggs Chassis Nr. 99.

Long got past Brown on the final lap to win the first super sprint heat. Brown and Gailley had an exciting battle for the lead for most of the race, which allowed Long to close up and shoot past Brown on the back straight on the final lap. Miller charge past Jimmy Goodwin in the Nr. 56 to win the second heat.

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #28, Larry Long, Crandall; 2. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 3. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 4. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 5. #24, David Gailley, Mesquite; 6. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite.

Heat 2: 1. #9, Johnny Miller, Burleson; 2. #56, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 4. #33, Mark Huddleston, Mount Pleasant; 5. #16, Ray Welnack, Dallas

A FEATURE: 1. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 2. #28, Larry Long, Crandall; 3. #9, Johnny Miller, Burleson; 4. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 5. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 6. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 7. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 8. #33, Mark Huddleston, Mount Pleasant; 9. #24, David Gailley, Mesquite; 10. #56, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; DNS - #16, Ray Welnack, Dallas

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 2. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 3. #58, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 5. #88X, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 6. #2, Kevin Boling, Rowlett; 7. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 4. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 6. #14, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 7. #31, Don Jensen, Terrell

Heat 3: 1. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 4. #01, Colby Smith, Greenville; 5. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 6. #53, William Cortelyou, Dallas; 7. #20X, Gary Harris, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 4. #88X, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 5. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 6. #01, Colby Smith, Greenville; 7. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 8. #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris; 9. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 10. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 11. #2, Kevin Boling, Rowlett; 12. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 13. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 14. #14, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 15. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 16. #20X, Gary Harris, Mesquite; 17. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 18. #53, William Cortelyou, Dallas; 19. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 20. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 21. #31, Don Jensen, Terrell; 22. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 2. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview; 3. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 4. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 5. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 6. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 7. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 8. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; DNS - #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

Heat 2: 1. Woody Weaver, Flint; 2. Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 3. Aaron Morey, Dallas; 4. #14, Wayman McMillan, Gladewater; 5. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 6. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 7. #11, Chris Bennington, Abliene; 8. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 4. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 5. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview; 6. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 7. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 8. #47, Woody Weaver, Flint; 9. #11, Chris Bennington, Abliene; 10. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 11. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 12. #14, Wayman McMillan, Gladewater; 13. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 14. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 15. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 16. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; DNS - #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 2. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 4. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 5. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 6. #5, Jack Couch, Garland; 7. #271, Richard Miller, Terrell; 8. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 9. #14, Steve Trevathan, Post Oak Bend

Heat 2: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 3. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 4. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 5. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 6. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 7. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 8. #24, James Sterry, McKinney

Trophy Dash: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 4. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 5. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 6. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 4. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 5. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 6. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 7. #24, James Sterry, McKinney; 8. #5, Jack Couch, Garland; 9. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 10. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 11. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 12. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 13. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 14. #271, Richard Miller, Terrell; 15. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 16. #14, Steve Trevathan, Post Oak Bend; 17. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie