Devil's
Bowl Speedway
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Johnson Takes ASCS Speedweek Win at Devil's Bowl Mesquite, TX (June 7, 2002) - When he was younger, Jason Johnson used to enjoy traveling with his father to watch sprint car drivers like Gary Wright, Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser win at Devil's Bowl Speedway. Friday night Johnson drove his The Shop Diesel Service / Caddo Grain Nr. 41 ASCS Outlaw Sprint Car to victory lane at Devil's Bowl - his first sprint win at the famed half-mile clay oval. Jay Miller also made his first trip to victory lane after winning the USA modified main. Miller, a former street stock ace at Devil's Bowl moved up to modifieds last season. It has been a struggle at times, but Friday night everything went perfect on his way to victory.The 2002 ASCS Smiley’s Racing Products Speedweek had featured different winners each night leading up to the sixth race of the week Friday night at Devil’s Bowl. Johnson was the winner Thursday at Paris Speedway. A filed of 42 UnitedExpressLines ASCS Outlaw Sprint Cars filled the Devil’s Bowl pit area. The luck of the draw was critical early in the evening. The track was fast, with excellent traction, making it very hard from cars to come from the back to the front of their heat races. Bob Ewell won the first heat from the pole in the Foam Enterprises / Longhorn Urethane Contractors Nr. 85X. Toby Brown also started the ABF Truck Rebuilders / ABF Graphix & Designs Nr. 61A on the pole and won the second heat race. Larry Long drove the Town East Ford / Enduro Powder Coating Nr. 28 from the outside of the front row to win the third heat. That earned Long enough passing points to take the pole for the A feature. Also starting on the pole and leading the entire fourth heat race was Garry Lee Maier in the Lubbock Wrecker Service / Salina Engine Supply Nr. 11X. Don Droud, Jr. moved up to the outside front row of the fifth heat when Wayne Pennington could not make the race. He put the Nr. 91 owned by Bobby Sparks in the lead to win the heat. The start of the fifth heat saw the only serious incident of the night when the front cars did not start quickly. Paul White on the back row rode over the rear tire of Larry Howery and White flipped several times. He was okay but out for the night. The fast heats left some of the top ASCS drivers to fight their way through the twin B mains to qualify for the feature. Marvin Lough to the lead on the first lap of the first B main and stayed out front in the Commercial Music / Smoke Pit Bar-B-Que Nr. 39. Travis Rilat came from the fourth row to take second, with George White taking the final transfer spot - third. Fourth place Michael Dupuy used his ASCS provisional to advance to the feature and fifth place Clint Garner from Souix Falls, S.D. received a promoter’s provisional for the feature. In the second B main former Devil’s Bowl champion Gary Wright lined up alongside last year’s ASCS champion, Zach Chappell. Wright took the lead going deeper into turn one and stayed out front to the finish in the Southwest Express / Maxim Nr. 9. Chappell was second with Pete Butler taking third. Fourth place Rick Williams from Castro Valley, Calif. received the other promoter’s provisional to make a 23 car field for the feature. When the green flag fell on the 25-lap feature Long pulled ahead and built a three car length advantage before Don Droud, Jr. got clear in second place. Jason Johnson started his The Shop Diesel Service / Glenn Dodson, Inc. Nr. 41 on the outside of the fourth row. He moved up to fourth after two laps, took third a lap later and was third after five laps. Long was two car lengths ahead of Droud when the caution flew on the sixth lap. Rilat had stopped his car on the back straight with a flat tire. Under the caution, Garner came to a stop on the front straight with a large fire blazing from the Midwest Excavating / I-90 Cycle Nr. 40. The driver quickly exited the car and the fire was put out. Rilat was able to get his tire changed and join the field for the restart, but he had lost a lap before the caution came out. Long started deep in turn three, and the start was called back. On the restart, the field took off at the turn four starting mark. Droud and Johnson were right behind Long and a lap later the three way battle for the lead charged down the front straight. Droud went high in three and four, taking the lead from Long just before the start finish line. Going into turn one, Droud dove down to the bottom of the turn one to cut off Long. That left the top of the turn open for Johnson who flew around the rim and took the lead on the back straight. He was four car lengths ahead of Droud as the seventh lap was completed. Johnson caught lapped traffic on the 11th lap and fans watched to see if his lead would vanish. Johnson was perfect and quickly lapped the slower cars. Droud, who has few laps on the Devil’s Bowl oval, did not move past the cars as quickly and a battle for second developed as Bob Ewell and Kevin Ramey tried to get past Droud. The race was quick with Johnson working traffic and the battle of the race behind him until the final yellow flag waved on the 19th lap for Pete Butler stopped atop turn one. There were three lapped cars between Johnson and Droud as the cars lined up for the restart with six laps to the finish. Another lapped car separated Droud from Ewell, with Ramey and Tim Crawley on his rear bumper. The green flag waved and Johnson pulled away. He pulled out to win the race by almost 20 car lengths. Droud held second while Ewell crossed the finish line third, followed by Ramey, Crawley and Gary Wright right together. ASCS officials checked the size of the top five engines and Ewell was found to be over the ASCS limit. He was dropped to last place with Ramey credited with third, Crawley fourth and Wright fifth. Jay Miller has raced at Devil’s Bowl since his children were in diapers. After several years success in street stocks, Miller moved up to USA modifieds last season. Also, his son Richard now races against him driving the Nr. 23Z modified. Jay has had some success with the Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 34, winning heat races, B mains and leading some features. But he has never been able to put it all together enough to win a feature. John Ewell in the DFW Urethane Nr. 10 won the first heat, with Billy Fronterhouse in the Precision Graphics / CD Henderson Nr. 5 and Ronnie Welborn in the Country Kids Day Care / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 20 winning the other heat races. Miller lined up on the second row to start the 15 lap feature, with his son Richard on the outside of the second row. Pole sitter John Ewell had trouble getting started for the feature and fell to the back. That moved Miller up to the pole as the green flag fell. Two cautions in the first two laps scrambled the field. Miller was consistent on the start attempts pulling ahead each time. When the race finally started he built a comfortable lead. Miller was half a straight away out front after six laps while Matt Stevenson battled with Mike Goodson, Randy Kirkland and Rowdy Starnes for second place. The caution flag flew for a multi car crash in turn three on the 11th lap. On the restart, Kirkland got past Stevenson and battled with Miller for the lead. The pair raced to the finish with Miller winning his first USA modified feature in the Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Rich Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 34. Kirkland was second. Stevenson held off a close battle with Richard McGibboney and Starnes for third. Jerry Cowart earned the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award after starting 19th and passing eleven cars on his way to finishing eighth. Story by Reggie Fields For more information, call Devil’s Speedway at 972-222-2421 RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Friday, June 7, 2002 UNITED EXPRESS LINES ASCS OUTLAW SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #85X, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 2. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 3. #31C, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 4. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 5. #9S, Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 6. #10, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 7. #74, Brandon Corn, Hearne, TX; 8. #33, Mark Huddleston, Mount Pleasant, TX; 9. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #61A, Toby Brown, Carthage, MO; 2. #87, Tim Crawley, Mabelvale, AR; 3. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #29H, Pete Butler, Mabelvale, AR; 5. #6, Rick Williams, Castro Valley, CA; 6. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 7. #4M, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA; 8. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 9. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 2. #41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA; 3. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 4. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 5. #93, Chris Sweeney, Huffman, TX; 6. #53, Earnest Mayfield, Waco, TX; 7. #85, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #12X, Rick Behr, Houston, TX Fourth Heat Race: 1. #11X, Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 2. #5, Stephanie Chappell, Talala, OK; 3. #45, Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK; 4. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #29, Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 6. #55, A.J. Weaver, Houston, TX; 7. #36, John Pate, Angleton, TX; 8. #15, Sam Hafertefe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX Fifth Heat Race: 1. #91, Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 2. #62, James Shoun, Oklahoma City, OK; 3. #37, Joe Bustillos, Broken Arrow, OK; 4. #1, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 5. #5, Earl Whitley, Manvel, TX; 6. #69, Larry Howery, Hearne, TX; 7. #1W, Paul White, Temple, TX; Did not start - #71, Wayne Pennington, Orrick, MO First B Main: 1. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 3. #10, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 5. #4M, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA; 6. #9S, Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 7. #5, Earl Whitley, Manvel, TX; 8. #31C, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 9. #55, A.J. Weaver, Houston, TX; 10. #85, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #29, Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; Did not start - #1W, Paul White, Temple, TX; Did not start - #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX; Did not start - #71, Wayne Pennington, Orrick, MO Second B Main: 1. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 2. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 3. #29H, Pete Butler, Mabelvale, AR; 4. #6, Rick Williams, Castro Valley, CA; 5. #74, Brandon Corn, Hearne, TX; 6. #36, John Pate, Angleton, TX; 7. #69, Larry Howery, Hearne, TX; 8. #93, Chris Sweeney, Huffman, TX; 9. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett, TX; 10. #15, Sam Hafertefe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 11. #1, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 12. #33, Mark Huddleston, Mount Pleasant, TX; Did not start - #53, Earnest Mayfield, Waco, TX; Did not start - #12X, Rick Behr, Houston, TX (Following results corrected 7 pm June 8) A FEATURE: 1. #41, Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA; 2. #91, Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 3. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #87, Tim Crawley, Mabelvale, AR; 5. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 6. #11X, Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 7. #4M, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA; 8. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 9. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 10. #61A, Toby Brown, Carthage, MO; 11. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 12. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 13. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 14. #6, Rick Williams, Castro Valley, CA; 15. #62, James Shoun, Oklahoma City, OK; 16. #45, Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK; 17. #10, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 18. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 19. #29H, Pete Butler, Mabelvale, AR; 20. #5, Stephanie Chappell, Talala, OK; 21. #37, Joe Bustillos, Broken Arrow, OK; 22. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 23. #85X, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 2. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 4. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 5. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 8. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp, TX; 9. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 2. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; 6. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 7. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 8. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 2. #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX; 3. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 6. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 7. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 8. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank, TX A FEATURE: 1. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 3. #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX; 4. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 5. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 6. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 7. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 8. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 9. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 10. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 11. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 12. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 13. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 14. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 15. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; 16. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 17. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank, TX; 18. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 19. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 20. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp, TX; 21. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 22. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 23. #68, George Howard, Dallas, TX; 24. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; Did not start - #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX |
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