Devil's
Bowl Speedway 
Devil's
Bowl Speedway
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O’Neal Claims Fourth Late Model Main At Devil’s Bowl Mesquite, TX (June 29, 2002) - Skip O’Neal barely won his fourth late model feature this year at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Saturday night in an exciting three wide finish. All other feature winners made their second trip to victory lane for the season, Bob Ewell pacing the USA sprint cars from flag to flag, Jay Miller making the most of an opportunity to win the USA modified feature and Michael Murphy surviving a wild street stock race.
O’Neal had the Urban Fire Protection / Barnsco Construction Nr. 8 late model in perfect condition for the 15-lap late model feature. He got a break on the start of the feature when Mike Nelson could not start from the outside of the front row. Also trophy dash winner J.D. Wilson chose to start his Nr. V-8 at the back of the feature. He was set to start on the outside of the second row. That moved Jimmy Goodwin up to the front row and O’Neal from the fourth row to the outside of the second row. When the green flag dropped Goodwin charged around polesitter Cameron Wilson into the early lead. O’Neal was right behind Goodwin and pulled alongside on the back straight. O’Neal took the lead as they came through turn four and never looked back. Goodwin tried to stay even with O’Neal but could not. Darren Ellis claimed second place on the third lap. Goodwin stopped on the eighth lap. On the restart Ellis and Cheyney Hopkins were right behind O’Neal. For the next few laps O’Neal pulled away by a couple car lengths. Soon Ellis’ and Hopkins’ cars found the right line and they were closing on O’Neal. With two laps to go the three leaders were just inches apart. Ellis and Hopkins both made their strongest challenge on the last lap and the cars came out of turn four side by side. O’Neal took the victory by about two feet with Ellis and Hopkins inches apart. Fourth was Harry Hronas with Ronnie Long fifth. Ellis won the first heat in the Quaker State / Sport City Toyota Nr. 23 and Steve Trevathan won the second heat in the Nr. 21.
Things went bad at the start of the street stock 12-lap feature. Tim McManus was moving from the third row around the top of turn two when he was tapped by another car and spun sideways. Thomas Weeks hit the brakes but could not avoid McManus car. The crash knocked both out of the feature. When the race restarted it was Arin Lawrence in the Advocare by Maureen Nr. 9L taking the lead. On the fourth lap a spin by Tony Nitcholas on the front straight brought out the caution. After the restart, Travis Pace pulled the Gary’s Machine Shop / Schramms’ Ammo and Weapons Nr. 17 into the lead when Lawrence pushed high in turn four. A lap later Lawrence reclaimed the lead. Another caution flag slowed the race, and Lawrence held the lead on the restart with Murphy moving ahead his Fernandez GMC - Pointiac - Buick / Crawford Automotive Nr. 21 into second ahead of Pace. A lap later Lawrence slowed and Murphy took the lead. Another caution soon slowed the race, but Murphy could not be challenged on the restart and flew to his second victory of the season. Murphy reclaimed the points lead with his victory. Third behind Pace was Mike Walls in another good run. Ricky Wycough came from starting 20th to finish fourth with Jimmy Luker taking fifth. Luker won the first heat in his Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Scott’s Tire Nr. 34, Thomas Weeks in the Bobby Duncan Nr. 5X won the second heat and Murphy won the third heat race.
Ewell led every lap of his heat race in the Foam Enterprises / Longhorn Urethane Construction Nr. 85. Brian Harvill topped the other USA sprint car heat in his Harvill Industries / Graphic Wonder Nr. 31B. When the feature started Ewell went around the outside to take the lead. Ewell was leading with Harvill in second when the race was stopped on the sixth lap for Brad Wesp flip in turn one. He jumped the cushion and went hard and high end over end off the top of turn one. The car was badly damaged, but Wesp walked away from the wreck. When the green replaced the red flag, Ewell pulled away while Harvill and Skip Wilson battled for second place. Ewell continued to build his lead and pulled away to take the win by a straight away margin. Harvill ran high and Wilson was low in the corners but both were fast and Harvill took second at the checkered flag. Wilson was followed by Greg Young and Marvin Lough. Young reclaimed the USA sprint car points lead with his fourth place finish.
A field of 28 USA modifieds provided the fans with three great heat races, won by Dale Wester in the T-N-T Truck Parts / D&W Towing & Recovery Nr. 12W, Ronnie Welborn in the Country Kids Daycare / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 20 and Mike Goodson in the Lonnie’s Transmission / Smiley’s Race Products Nr. 66. Rusty Trevathan led the B main from flag to flag in his Foster Racing / R&B Motorsports Nr. 51. The inverted point average lineup put Marc Madison on the pole with David Gailley on the outside of the front row for the 15-lap feature. After the green flag fell it was Gailley moving into the lead in his Stanley Commission Company / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 50D. Madison held second for a few laps before Jay Miller took second in the Jeanie’s Motorsports / Bailey’s Crankshaft Nr. 34. Gailey’s car slowed on the fifth lap, allowing Miller to take the lead. The yellow flag waved on the sixth lap. In the single file restart Madison got sideways and cars scattered. Everyone avoided a major crash and the race started over. Miller pulled away to a slight lead, but had Welborn right behind him. Another caution slowed the race after the eighth lap, but Miller again held off challenges from Welborn and Rick McCommas. Nothing could stop Miller as he flew around the track and took the win by a car length over Welborn. McCommas was third and reclaimed the USA modifieds points lead. Steve Sickels ran a strong race for fourth with Wester finishing fifth. Randy Kirkland was eighth after starting 20th to earn the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award by passing 12 cars. Devil’s Bowl will be in action twice in the next week. Wednesday night all four classes will race with a special Independence Day fireworks show after dark. Everyone returns on Saturday for another night of great racing. Story by Reggie Fields For more information, call Devil’s Speedway at 972-222-2421 RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Saturday, June 29, 2002 USA SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 2. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 3. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 4. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 5. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 6. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 7. #1, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 8. #3, Hunter Bloxom, Terrell, TX; 9. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 2. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 3. #55, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; 5. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 6. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 7. #22, Danny Jenkins, Dallas, TX; 8. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX A FEATURE: 1. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 2. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 3. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 4. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 5. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 6. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 7. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 8. #55, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 9. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 10. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 11. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 12. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX; 13. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; 14. #1, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 15. #22, Danny Jenkins, Dallas, TX; 16. #3, Hunter Bloxom, Terrell, TX; Did not start - #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite, TX USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 2. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 4. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 5. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 6. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 7. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 9. #151, Stephen Manning, Wylie, TX; 10. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 2. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 5. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 6. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Garland, TX; 7. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 8. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 9. #3W, Eddie Williams, Quinlan, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 2. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 4. #2, Brian Short, Denison, TX; 5. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 6. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 7. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 8. #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX; 9. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX B Main: 1. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Garland, TX; 2. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 4. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 5. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 6. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 7. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 8. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 9. #151, Stephen Manning, Wylie, TX; 10. #3W, Eddie Williams, Quinlan, TX; 11. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 12. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; Did not start - #28, Matt Stevenson, Greenville, TX A FEATURE: 1. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 2. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 5. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 6. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 7. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 8. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 9. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 10. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Garland, TX; 11. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 12. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 13. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 14. #10, John Ewell, Forney, TX; 15. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 16. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 17. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 18. #2, Brian Short, Denison, TX; 19. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 20. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX LATE MODELS - First Heat Race: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX; 2. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 3. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 5. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 6. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; 7. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 2. #22, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 3. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman, TX; 4. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 5. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 6. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 7. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX Trophy Dash: 1. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman, TX; 2. #22, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 5. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 6. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX A FEATURE: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX; 3. #22, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine, TX; 4. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 6. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 7. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 8. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; 9. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 10. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 11. #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX; 12. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 13. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman, TX; Did not start - #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX STREET STOCKS - First Heat Race: 1. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 2. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 5. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 6. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; Did not start - #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 2. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 4. #24X, Steve Lister, Mesquite, TX; 5. #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX; 6. #92, Tony Nitcholas, Garland, TX; Did not start - #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 2. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 3. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 4. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 5. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 6. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 7. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX A FEATURE: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 2. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 3. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 4. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 5. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 6. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 7. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 8. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 9. #24X, Steve Lister, Mesquite, TX; 10. #92, Tony Nitcholas, Garland, TX; 11. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 12. #5, Mark Reedy, Mesquite, TX; 13. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX; 14. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 15. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 16. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 17. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 18. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 19. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 20. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; Did not start - #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX |
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