Devil's
Bowl Speedway 
Devil's
Bowl Speedway
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Clevenger Takes Sprint Win At Devil’s Bowl Mesquite, TX (September 28, 2002) - Matt Clevenger traded the lead with Paul White as the USA Sprinters roared to the finish line in the final feature of the 2002 points season. Rick McCommas topped the USA Modifieds and Walter Dorsett led the Street Stocks under the checkered flag. Skip O’Neal won his ninth Late Model main of the year and his first championship. Rowdy Starnes won the USA Modified title for the third straight year. Consistency put Marvin Lough atop the USA Sprint Car standings. Travis Pace claimed another Street Stock crown.
Brad Wesp took the early lead as the USA sprint cars took the green flag. Wesp had won the trophy dash and finished second in his heat race in the Tasco Abatement / Old River Ranch Nr. 20. Clevenger started on the outside of the second row and was soon up to second place. For five laps Wesp held the lead in a fast track with Clevenger trying to catch up, until Wesp began to lap the back of the pack. Wesp and Clevenger were dicing for position and trying to pass the slower cars. On the tenth trip around the Devil’s Bowl half-mile Clevenger took the H&H Steel Fabricators / Action Sportswear Nr. 31 to the bottom of turn one and pulled into the lead. On the next circuit, Paul White was able to move past Wesp in traffic to take second. Clevenger was able to enjoy his lead for only a couple laps before White was putting the Builders Electric / Swofford Electric Supply Nr. 1 alongside Clevenger’s sprinter. For the rest of the race Clevenger battles to hold the lead against the more experienced driver. They raced side by side and swapped the lead several times, though Clevenger always managed to be ahead at the start - finish line. The duel lasted until the final corner when Clevenger protected his line in three and four and pulled ahead to take the victory. Kevin Ramey was third in the caution free race driving the Harvill Industries / Kendall Oil Nr. 7M with Brandon Erwin in the Lake Kiowa dot com / Forney Koin Kar Wash Nr. 5E finishing fourth. Wesp claimed fifth place at the finish. Ramey, Glen Stubblefield, Jr. in the Harvill Industries / Graphic Wonders Nr. 44 and Bob Ewell in the Foam Enterprises / Longhorn Urethane Contractors Nr. 85 won the heat races.
The USA modified feature got off to a typical wild start with Marc Madison getting punted in turn one and spinning in front of the entire field. After the field lined up for the second start, it was Charles Lasater taking the lead in his Acelco Services Nr. 17. As the first lap ended another crash in turn three piled up four cars, including newly crowned champion Rowdy Starnes. Lasater set the pace on the restart and pulled away from the chaotic battles for position. Rick McCommas tried to work up through the field after starting 12th in his B&H Painting / Duckworth Asphalt & Paving Nr. 39. For several laps he was eighth, but the cars ahead of him finally left an opening and McCommas zoomed up to sixth on lap seven and second on lap nine. The next time past the flag stand, McCommas took the lead. He charged ahead of the field to build a small lead as Tom Lorenz moved up to second in the Smiley’s Racing Products Nr. 84. When the yellow flag flew for a three car crash as the white flag was coming out, Lorenz was able to pull up on McCommas rear bumper for the restart. But McCommas was not leaving anything to chance as he took off on the start and stayed a couple car lengths for the final two laps. Lorenz had to settle for second with Clyde Dunn, Jr. taking third in the Dunn Brothers / Young Chevrolet Racing Nr. 88. Fourth and fifth at the finish were Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / Baber’s Garage Nr. 77 and Johnny Hitt in his Nr. 90. Lasater got shuffled back to sixth in the final laps. Lasater, McCommas and Billy Fronterhouse in the Precision Graphics / CD Henderson Nr. 5 won the heat races. Kirkland won the B main and Clyde Dunn, Jr. won the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award after passing 13 cars on his way from starting 16th to finish third.
The biggest smile in victory lane belonged to the driver of the R&D Racing / Nikon Dallas Nr. 31 - Walter Dorsett. This has been a break through season for Dorsett who captured his second feature win Saturday night. Along with two feature wins, Dorsett won a heat race this year, but it was 12 top ten finishes in 20 feature starts that earned him eighth place in the final points standings. Saturday night his car was perfect as he grabbed the lead on the front straight as the green flag fell. The caution free race gave him a chance to run away from everyone else, leading every lap of the feature and winning by almost a quarter lap over Ricky Wycough. It was actually a very good race for the runner-up spot with Wycough in a close race with Thomas Weeks and Michael Grubbs. Travis Pace pulled up to join the fight in the final laps. Wycough claimed second in his Robbins Paint Co - Wylie / Apple Homes - Seagoville Nr. 48, with Weeks third in the Bobby Duncan Nr. 5X, followed by Pace in the Gary’s Machine Shop / Action Speed Products Nr. 17 and Grubbs in the Grubbs Motorsports / Fullens Crankshaft Service Nr. 00X.Weeks and Grubbs won the street stock heat races.
Missi Smith drove Pat Walls Nr. 39 Walls Racing street stock to victory in the PowderPuff feature. It was a close battle down to the line with Kelley Miller in Jimmy Luker’s Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Scott’s Tire Nr. 34. They put on a great side by side race for the lead all the way to the checkered flag.
In racing late models at Devil’s Bowl for a decade Skip O’Neal has developed from a good drag racer into a top late model driver. Saturday night he was in his typical outside fifth row starting spot for the 15-lap late model main. Ronnie Welborn charged out front early in the R&R Welding / Baxter & Sons Elevator Nr. 77. The yellow flag flew early in the race on the second lap when Steve Trevathan started losing body parts after contact in the pack. Joe Edwards got sideways on the restart and tagged Jimmy Goodwin, spinning Goodwin into the inside wall. All the heavy action allowed O’Neal to climb up to second in the Urban Fire Protection / Barnsco Construction Nr. 8 by the fourth lap. For a couple laps Welborn and O’Neal battled for the top spot but O’Neal has been perfect all year and he rode the rim around turn two on the sixth lap to take the lead. The caution flew a lap later, but O’Neal easily pulled away to build his lead. He had almost a quarter lap on Welborn as the checkered flag fell. Third was Goodwin in the Gatlin Motors / RC Drywall Nr. 12, followed by Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 51 and Harry Hronas in fifth in the Red Line Raceway / Performance Auto Supply Nr. 92. Ables and Welborn won the heat races. O’Neal won his first championship at Devil’s Bowl this year in dominating fashion. After a fair start to the season, O’Neal took the Urban Fire Protection / Barnsco Construction Materials / Corbin TV Nr. 8 to victory lane for the first time on May 25th. He backed that up with three more feature wins in the next five weeks. Strong runs every night helped O’Neal take the points lead and stay there. He started all 21 late model features this year, finishing out of the top ten only twice. Sixteen times he was in the top five. Jimmy Goodwin made the points battle close, never far behind and finished only 310 points behind O’Neal. But for Goodwin to have a chance in the final weeks, O’Neal would have to have problems and he was almost perfect, winning the final two features. Third in late model points was Steve Trevathan, with Ronnie Long and Harry Hronas fourth and fifth.
One of the closest points races during much of the year was in the USA Modifeds with Rick McCommas leading much of the year. Rowdy Starnes showed his skill by coming on strong, taking the points lead and claiming his third straight USA modified title in the Starnes Trucking / Cain’s Machine Shop / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X. McCommas won two non-points features in March, and opened the points season with a victory. Starnes took his first win on May 18, and was the first driver to win two features, the second on June 1. Consistency was difficult in the battle for the title as the USA modifieds were the only class at Devil’s Bowl where no driver started all 23 of the points season feature races. Starnes was closest, missing only one feature, and McCommas was one of three drivers to start 20 features. Clyde Dunn, Jr. started 21 features. Fifteen top five finishes and six feature wins put Starnes ahead of McCommas for the championship. Behind McCommas in third was Dunn, with Randy Kirkland taking fourth on the final night, and Tom Lorenz fifth. Kirkland and sixth place Richard McGibboney were separated by only 60 points.
Marvin Lough returned to sprint cars this year at Devil’s Bowl, taking a turn driving the Commercial Music / Smoke Pit Bar-B-Que / David McDavid Auto Group Nr. 39. The team never had a major mechanical failure all year, with Lough able to take the green flag in all 21 feature races. Though he never won a feature, Lough put his car in the top five ten times during the season, and was in the top ten 19 times in 21 races. That consistency, along with three heat race wins helped him claim his first title at Devil’s Bowl. Kevin Ramey was second with four feature wins in 16 starts, just edging out Brandon Erwin who finished third. Defending champion Skip Wilson was fourth with Brian Harvill taking fifth in points.
After winning the street stock championship a few years ago, Travis Pace tried late models. The costs of a competitive car were too much and he came back to street stocks last season. He made only a few starts, but this year came out early and came out to win. In 2001 there were no first time winners in the street stocks, but this year was more competitive with four drivers taking their first wins. Pace did not win a feature in the Gary’s Machine Shop / Schramm’s Ammo & weapons / Action Speed Products / J&M Enterprises Nr. 17 until June. Michael Murphy took his first feature win on May 25 and two more in late June and early July. Murphy was the points leader for much of the season in his second season at Devil’s Bowl. Murphy and Pace were the only two drivers to start all 21 street stock features. Each won three heat races, but in August and September it was Pace picking up three more feature wins and taking the points lead away from Murphy late in the season. Pace finished up with four feature wins to Murphy’s three, and Pace had 16 top five finishes to Murphy’s 13. That little difference was all that separated the top two drivers with Murphy just 270 points behind Pace in the final standings. Trandel White started the season strong and finished third, with Mike Meeks, Jr. fourth in the final standings and Chuck Hall fifth. Story by Reggie Fields For more information, call Devil’s Speedway at 972-222-2421 RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Saturday, September 28, 2002 USA SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 3. #7S, Edd French, Keller, TX; 4. #1, Paul White, Temple, TX; 5. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 6. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 7. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX; 2. #20, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 3. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 4. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 5. #49, Dan Burk, Highland Village, TX; 6. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 7. #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 2. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 4. #47, Jim Holder, Georgetown, TX; 5. #34, Mike Blanton, Wylie, TX; 6. #12C, Benny Cordell, Dallas, TX; Did not start - #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX Trophy Dash: 1. #20, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 2. #55, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; Did not start - #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; Did not start - #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX A FEATURE: 1. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 2. #1, Paul White, Temple, TX; 3. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 5. #20, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 6. #44, Glen Stubblefield, Jr., Seagoville, TX; 7. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 8. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 9. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 10. #7S, Edd French, Keller, TX; 11. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 12. #47, Jim Holder, Georgetown, TX; 13. #49, Dan Burk, Highland Village, TX; 14. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 15. #99, Rick Summers, Mesquite, TX; 16. #34, Mike Blanton, Wylie, TX; 17. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 18. #12C, Benny Cordell, Dallas, TX; Did not start - #9, Greg Young, Wichita Falls, TX; Did not start - #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; Did not start - #52, Keith Walker, Irving, TX USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 2. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 3. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 4. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 5. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 6. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 7. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 8. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 9. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 3. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 4. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX; 5. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman, TX; 6. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 7. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX; 8. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 9. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie, TX; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 3. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 4. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 5. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 6. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 7. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 8. #1X, Paul White, Temple, TX; 9. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX B Main: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 3. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 4. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 5. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 6. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 7. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak, TX; 8. #1X, Paul White, Temple, TX; 9. #04, Darrell Hathcock, Dallas, TX; 10. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 11. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 12. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite, TX A FEATURE: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman, TX; 6. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 7. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 8. #85B, Bryan Bell, Garland, TX; 9. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 10. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 11. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 12. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 13. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 14. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 15. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX; 16. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney, TX; 17. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 18. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite, TX; 19. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 20. #98, Marc Madison, The Colony, TX LATE MODELS - First Heat Race: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 2. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 5. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington, TX; 7. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #77, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 2. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 3. #991, Joe Edwards, Grand Prairie, TX; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 6. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; Did not start - #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX A FEATURE: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 2. #77, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 5. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett, TX; 7. #9, Rapid Richard Robinson, Hurst, TX; 8. #21, Steve Trevathan, Forney, TX; 9. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 10. #991, Joe Edwards, Grand Prairie, TX; 11. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 12. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington, TX; 13. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; Did not start - #7, Mike Nelson, Rowlett, TX STREET STOCKS - First Heat Race: 1. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 2. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco, TX; 3. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 4. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 5. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 6. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite, TX; 7. #47, Danny Dee, Princeton, TX; 8. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 9. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 2. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 4. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 5. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 6. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 7. #49, George Parrish, Mesquite, TX; 8. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City, TX; 2. #48, Rick Wycough, Richardson, TX; 3. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan, TX; 4. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite, TX; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse, TX; 6. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris, TX; 7. #7, Chuck Hall, Mesquite, TX; 8. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite, TX; 9. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs, TX; 10. #34, Jimmy Luker, Terrell, TX; 11. #8, Mark Ross, Mesquite, TX; 12. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite, TX; 13. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite, TX; 15. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite, TX; 16. #47, Danny Dee, Princeton, TX; 17. #49, George Parrish, Mesquite, TX |
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