Long time race fans know strange things happen on the track under a full moon. Saturday night was no exception at Devil’s Bowl as several top drivers ended their nights early and close racing action produced several crashes, including three red flags. The first and wildest ride of the night occurred in the second USA modified heat race. Modified points leader Starnes was collected in a first lap spin and went to the pits. He was lucky. On the fourth lap, race leader Charles Lasater jumped the cushion in turn two. As he tried to get back on track and on line, third place Richard McGibboney was racing past. The cars made contact and McGibboney’s Baber’s Garage / Outlaw Fabrication Nr. 19 went flipping violently down the back straight. The car went over at least four times before coming to rest on its side. McGibboney was shaken by the crash, and the car he built was badly damaged.

Rowdy Starnes made one of the most impressive charges to the front this season at Devil's Bowl, coming from 16th to lead in just four laps Saturday night on his way to victory in the USA Modified feature.  Linda Fields Photo

Starnes had to win the B main in his Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X to qualify for the 15-lap USA modified feature. Starting on the outside of the seventh row, Starnes went to the top of the track and pulled past car after car on the opening laps of the feature. David Gailley led the opening laps in his Stanley Commission Company / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 50D. Starnes climbed to eighth by the end of the first lap, he was fifth a lap later and took over third place on the third trip around the Devil’s Bowl half-mile clay oval. Starnes caught Gailley in the next corner and took the lead exiting turn two on the fourth lap. Starnes pulled away from the field as there was a lot of sheet metal being trashed behind him in the battle for positions. The first caution of the race flew on the ninth lap, and two more quick cautions before the tenth lap was completed. Tom Lorenz came from sixth to second by avoiding trouble in the series of cautions. When the race finally got going again, Starnes pulled away to take the victory and pad his points lead. Lorenz had to settle for second in his Smiley’s Racing Products / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84 with Gailley third. Randy Kirkland had a strong night, finishing fourth in the Reliable Plumbing / Baber’s Garage Nr. 77 with Marc Madison rounding out the top five. Madison won the first modified heat in his Valvoline / S-Line Products Nr. 98, with Dave Peoples winning the second heat in the DaveCO Construction Nr. 11 and Billy Fronterhouse topped the third heat in the Precision Graphics / CD Henderson Nr. 5. Starnes won the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award for passing 15 cars on his way to victory.

Thomas Weeks celebrates his first feature win this season at Devil's Bowl with family, his car owner and friends. He topped the street stock main in a very close race.  Linda Fields Photo

Thomas Weeks won the 2001 street stock championship in his Bobby Duncan Nr. 5X, but 2002 has not been his year. Saturday night the champions and top ten drivers of last year were honored, and it turned out to be Week’s best night of the season. After winning his heat race, Weeks started the 12-lap street stock feature on the second row, due to his low point average in a year filled with on track problems and disappointments. The full field of 24 street stocks took the green flag and did not make it through the first turn before the crashes began. Weeks rode the rim around the turn to take the lead on the opening lap. In a race slowed by three cautions, out of a dozen spins, Weeks had his hands full in a five car battle for the lead.. Tim McManus was running second when third place Mike Deaver made contact on the sixth lap, to bring out the first caution. In the restart Mike Meeks, Jr. took over second and ran side by side with Weeks through turns three and four until the next caution two laps later. Travis Pace had the preferred outside restart position when the green flag waved and moved into second. Street stock points leader Michael Murphy moved to third on the tenth lap. The top four cars were just inches apart as they battled for the lead, but Weeks held the top spot and took his first checkered flag this year. Pace was second in the Gary’s Machine Shop / Schramm’s Ammo and Weapons Nr. 17. Murphy was third in the Fernandez G.M.C - Pontiac - Buick / Crawford Automotive Nr. 21. Meeks took fourth in the Meeks Paint & Body / Ernie’s Auto Motors Nr. 37 with Deaver rounding out the top five in the Nr. 29D. McManus won his heat race in the Seldom Open Paint & Body / F & J Construction Nr. 29 while Meeks and Weeks won the other heat races.

George White with his wife Shelia and son Mason celebrate his victory Saturday night at Devil's Bowl.  Linda Fields Photo

George White topped his heat race, the trophy dash and the 20-lap USA sprint car feature to win the Parks Auto Sales $100 sweep bonus Saturday night. The heat race was strange, as polesitter Ricky Summers took off early and the crush of cars resulted in Skip Wilson being forced into the front straight wall, damaging his car too badly to return to the track Saturday. On the next attempt to start the heat race, the cars got to turn one before Carlos Ibarra ended his first night at Devil’s Bowl this season with a solo flip. When things finally got going, White had no trouble taking the lead and the win in his Builders Electric / Swofford Electric Supply Nr. 10W. White pulled ahead of Greg Young early in the trophy dash to win that race. White and Young also charged out to the front of the feature as the green flag dropped. They raced side by side through the first and second turns before White pulled into the lead. The track was fast with Brian Harvill making an early move to take second on the third lap. White built a 15-car length lead early in the race while Harvill jumped the cushion in turn two on the seventh lap, giving second back to Young and third to Marvin Lough. It was Young at the top of the track and Lough on the bottom with Lough taking second before the only caution flew on the tenth lap. White quickly pulled away on the restart with Lough and Young battling past a lapped car. White’s lead only diminished late in the race as he caught the back of the field. Lough took second in the Commercial Music / Smoke Pit Bar-B-Que Nr. 39. Young finished third in the Mack’s Auto Service Nr. 9 with Kevin Ramey taking fourth in the Harvill Industries / Kendall Oil Nr. 7M. Brian Harvill rounded out the top five in his Harvill Industries / Graphic Wonders Nr. 31B. Young won the other USA sprint car heat race.

Darren Ellis is running almost perfectly as he captured his third late model feature in four weeks Saturday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway.  Linda Fields Photo

Darren Ellis is the fastest driver this month in the late model class. Problems early in the season have him still fifth in points, but he has won three of the last four late model features on the famed half-mile track. Cameron Wilson won the first heat in the Rocks Machine Shop of Gainesville Nr. 44 with Ellis edging past Ron Lane to win the second heat. When the 15-lap feature took the green flag, it was Wilson taking the early lead, with Lane gaining speed behind him. Lane took the lead coming out of turn two in the Ron’s Racing / Lane Automotive Nr. 55 Mopar. Ellis was ninth after the first lap when the third red flag of the night flew. Second running Wilson got tangled with Jimmy Williams in turn two, flipping Wilson’s car while Williams ended up on the bottom of a tangled pile of sheet metal that also included the cars of Steve Trevathan and Jimmy Goodwin. Only Goodwin was able to return to the race. Lane led the remaining cars down for the restart, with Harry Hronas second and Ellis moving up to fifth. Ellis made the right changes on his car under the red flag and took second on the next lap after the race resumed. A lap later, Ellis went low through turn two to take the lead. The only thing to slow Ellis in the rest of the race were lapped cars, and they did not slow him much as he charged to his fourth feature win of the year in the Quaker State / Sport City Toyota Nr. 23. Points leader Skip O’Neal had to settle for second in the Urban Fire Protection / Barnsco Construction Materials Nr. 8, with Ronnie Long bringing the Town East Ford / Enduro Powder Coating Nr. 28 in third. Tom Lorenz recovered from a heat race crash to finish fourth in the Smiley’s Racing Products / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84 and Harry Hronas rounded out the top five in his Red Line Raceway/ First State Bank Nr. 92.

USA SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 2. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 3. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #47, Jim Holder, Georgetown, TX; 5. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX; 6. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 7. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 3. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; 5. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 6. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 7. #4C, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta, TX

Trophy Dash: 1. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 3. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 4. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 6. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #10W, George White, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; 4. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 6. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 7. #8H, Rawdy Hull, Kennedale, TX; 8. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 9. #47, Jim Holder, Georgetown, TX; 10. #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX; 11. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; Did not start. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; Did not start. #4C, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta, TX; Did not start. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville, TX

USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 4. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 5. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 6. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 7. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 8. #9, Steve Lewis, Blue Ridge, TX; 9. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 10. #40, Jody Holley, Tyler, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 2. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 3. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 4. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 5. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 6. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 7. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 8. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 9. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 2. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 3. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 5. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, OK; 6. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 7. #5X, Josh Trees, Waxahachie, TX; 8. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; 9. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX

B Main: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 2. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 3. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 6. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 7. #5X, Josh Trees, Waxahachie, TX; 8. #40, Jody Holley, Tyler, TX; 9. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 10. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; Did not start. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; Did not start. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm, TX; Did not start. #9, Steve Lewis, Blue Ridge, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 6. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 8. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 9. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, OK; 10. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 11. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 12. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 13. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 14. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 15. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 16. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 17. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 18. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 19. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 20. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX

LATE MODELS - First Heat Race: 1. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 2. #45, James Williams, Combine, TX; 3. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 4. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 5. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 6. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 7. #99, James Booker, Mesquite, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX; 2. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford, TX; 3. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 4. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 5. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 6. #8UP, Gary Turner, Mesquite, TX; 7. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 3. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford, TX; 7. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 8. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 9. #99, James Booker, Mesquite, TX; 10. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 11. #8UP, Gary Turner, Mesquite, TX; 12. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville, TX; 13. #45, James Williams, Combine, TX; 14. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX

STREET STOCKS - First Heat Race: 1. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 2. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 3. #72, Joe Crowder, Garland, TX; 4. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 5. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City, TX; 6. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 7. #24, Stephen Swanson, Mesquite, TX; 8. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesuite, TX; 9. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX

Second Heat Race: 1. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 2. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 3. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 4. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 5. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 6. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 7. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; Did not start. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX

Third Heat Race: 1. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 2. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 3. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 4. #16, Johnny Points, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 6. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 7. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 8. #83, Kelly Freeman, Tyler, TX

A FEATURE: 1. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 2. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 3. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 4. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 5. #29D, Mike Deaver, Mesquite, TX; 6. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 7. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 8. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 9. #4, Doug Smith, Mesquite, TX; 10. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound, TX; 11. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 12. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 13. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 14. #16, Johnny Points, Balch Springs, TX; 15. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 16. #83, Kelly Freeman, Tyler, TX; 17. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City, TX; 18. #29, Tim McManus, Dallas, TX; 19. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesuite, TX; 20. #72, Joe Crowder, Garland, TX; 21. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 22. #24, Stephen Swanson, Mesquite, TX; 23. #99, Dewitt Donald, Jr., Garland, TX; 24. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; Did not start. #9L, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton, TX