Devil's
Bowl Speedway 
Devil's
Bowl Speedway
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Wright Claims Devil’s Bowl Nationals Championship Mesquite, TX (October 5, 2002) - Gary Wright had a 24 3/ 4 lap motor but it was enough to win Saturday night’s United Expresslines ASCS Outlaw Sprint Car feature. As Wright crossed the finish line with a blown engine, he claim the 9th Annual Devil’s Bowl Nationals title. Tom Lorenz topped the USA Modified feature win. Jimmy Goodwin won the special Late Model vs USA Modified challenge race.
The top six United Expresslines ASCS Outlaw Sprint Car drivers in points from Friday night earned starting positions on the first three rows of Saturday’s A feature. They were Wright of Hooks, TX in the Southwest Express / Pannell Motorsports Nr. 9, Friday night’s winner Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, in the F&J Construction Nr. 29, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX, in the H&H Steel Fabricators / Napa of Lewisville and Grapevine Nr. 31, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA, in the mIn Motorsports Management / Snyder Engines Nr. 4M, Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City, in the Neighbors Coffe Service Nr. 29N and Eric Payne, Garland, TX in the Speed Specialities Racing Engines / Smiley’s Racing Products Nr. 90 The track was tacky and very fast for the ASCS sprint car heat races. Danny Jennings, Norman, OK, won the first heat in the Bishop Racing Components / Jennings Garage Nr. 61J. Brian Harvill, Irving, TX, got a good run on the outside to take the lead on the start of the second heat race on his way to win in the Harvill Industries / Kendall Oil Nr. 31B. Toby Brown, Carthage, MO, also went around the top to lead and win the third heat in the ABF Truck Rebuilders / J&J Chassis Nr. 61A. At the start of the fourth heat, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, lagged back on the outside and got a run to pass Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE, in turn four. Ramey lead every lap in the Burkham Construction Nr. 7M. Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK, led every lap to win the fifth heat race, but suddenly slowed coming out of turn four on the final lap in the Express Transit / TJ’s Nr. 91. The drive line apparently broke on the car and Darren was hit on the foot. He withdrew from the rest of the evening’s race and visited a local hospital. Mike Peters, Wichita, KS took the lead on the start of the first B main in his Mid-America Millwright Nr. 49. Paul White, Temple, TX in the Builders Electric / Swofford Electric Supply Nr. 1W was the driver on the move after starting third. He took second on the fourth lap and chased down Peters. White pulled to the inside in turn two on the ninth lap and claimed the lead in turn three. The caution flew a lap later for a spin in turn three. White had no trouble leading to the finish, with Peters finishing second. Larry Pinnegar, Des Moines, IA was third and Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX fourth in the final transfer position. Claude Estes, Goodley, TX, in fifth got the first alternate spot to start the feature due to Stewart not being able to race. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD, moved up to the outside of the front row for the second B main when 2002 Devil’s Bowl USA Sprint Car Champion Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, was unable to start. Garner made the most of the move and pulled ahead on the front straight as the green flag waved. Garner quickly built his lead to ten car lengths over Cody Branchcomb, Sapulpa, OK and easily won the race. Third was Foster landon of Collinsville, OK andfourth in the final transfer spot was Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK. Don Droud, Jr. from Lincoln, NE was fifth and received a promoter’s option to make the starting field for the feature 26 cars. The first start of the 25-lap feature was waved off after Wayne Johnson took off too early on the outside. Wright set the pace on the next start attempt and pulled ahead going into turn one. Johnson was second followed by Clevenger. The race was fast though there were dry spots developing in the middle of turn three and four due to the wind off the sprint car wings. Michael Dupuy took third place from Clevenger on the second lap as the top cars quickly closed up on the cars racing at the back of the field. Wright entered lapped traffic on the fifth lap. Johnson narrowed the gap to a few car lengths, but Wright began to work past the slower cars.
Dupuy was all over Johnson and their battle allowed Wright to pull further and further away in lapped traffic. The caution flag never flew during the 25-lap feature and Wright was working in heavy traffic most of the distance. Quickly passing the slower cars, Wright built his lead to almost a quarter lap. Dupuy and Johnson had to contend with the lapped cars, but could not race without considering the other car. By the 15th lap Wright had put four cars between himself and second place Johnson. He maintained that advantage all the way to the final lap. As he powered out of turn four to receive the checkered flag, Wright’s car suddenly slowed and smoke poured from the engine. He coasted across the finish line to claim the victory, but something in the engine had let go. Lucky for Wright the race was over as he could barely finish the cool down lap.
Dupuy and Johnson’s battle lasted to the checkered flag. Dupuy found room to squeeze past a lapped car and the wall in the final turn to nip Johnson for second at the finish line. Fourth was Danny Jennings with Larry Neighbors rounding out the top five. Tim Crawley, Mablevale, AR, in the Simpson / G&A Commercial Nr. 87 was sixth and locked up the 2002 ASCS National Championship - his third title in series history. Matt Clevenger was seventh, with Eric Payne eighth. Finishing in ninth place was first B main winner Paul White with Billy Alley of Lincoln, NE tenth in his first visit to Devil’s Bowl. A special event of the evening was match race with most of the top points cars in the late model class and the USA modifieds racing side by side for a $1,000 purse. Joe Edwards in the late model Nr 991 took the early lead on the start, but Tom Lorenz in the Smiley’s Racing Products Nr. 84 modified pulled ahead to lead the opening lap. Lorenz built a five car length lead while Edwards, 2002 late model champion Skip O’Neal and Ronnie Carty in the Nr. 71 modified were battling for the runner-up spot. On the sixth lap, the leaders caught up with a lapped car, and as they went around both sides of the slower car, Carty put his Southwest Engines / Speciality Automotive Nr. 71 into the lead. A lap later O’Neal took the lead in his Urban Fire Protection / Barnsco Construction Materials Nr. 8 late model. The 15-lap feature was caution free from flag to flag and the late models were able to use their larger tires and more flexible suspensions to take the top four spots while Lorenz ended up fifth in the first modified.
Jimmy Goodwin started 12th in his Gatlin Motors / RC Drywall Nr. 12 late model. He took second place on the eighth lap. As O’Neal worked lapped traffic, Goodwin was closing in. As the white flag flew, Goodwin was a half car length ahead of O’Neal at the start-finish line. Goodwin captured the feature win with O’Neal five car lengths back at the finish. Third was Edwards in the Red Line Raceway / First State Bank Nr. 991 late model, and Ronnie Welborn took fourth in the R&R Welding / Baxter & Sons Elevator Nr. 77W with Lorenz the top modified in fifth place.
Lorenz earned the most passing points in his Smiley’s Racing Products Nr. 84 and started on the pole position. The outside was the place to be and Dale Wester had that starting spot in his T -N - T Truck Parts / D&W Towing & Recovery Nr. 12W. When the green flag dropped Wester was able to put more power on the track and pull into the lead as the cars raced down the front straight. Lorenz was a couple car lengths back, but the track was still fast and tacky, and Wester had not trouble staying out front. Even when they caught lapped cars on the fifth lap, Wester was easily able to pass the slower cars and maintain his lead. The yellow flag flew on the seventh lap. That put Lorenz in the unfavored position of restarting on the inside. Clyde Dunn, Jr. got past Lorenz on the restart, but the yellow waved immediately when two cars at the back of the field piled up in turn four. On the second restart, Lorenz tried to hold Dunn back, but the outside line was faster. It took Lorenz three laps to finally pass Dunn for second place as Dunn faded with a flat left rear tire. By then Lorenz was 10 car lengths behind Wester. Lorenz cut the lead in half, but looked to be running out of laps when Wester suddenly went off the top of the second turn on the 14th lap. The right rear tire had gone flat on Wester’s car, and Lorenz easily took the lead. Wester faded back with the shredded tire ripping bodywork off his race car while Lorenz took the win. Second was Ronnie Carty in the Southwest Engines / Speciality Automotive Nr. 71 after an exciting battle in the pack. Carty started 12th in the race. Mike Goodson was third in the Lonnie’s Transmission / Peerache Salon Nr. 66, with Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / Baber’s Garage Nr. 77 and Dave Peoples in the DaveCO Construction / Aries Spas - Rockwall Nr. 11. The modified heat races were won by Lorenz, Craig Petty in the MLH Racing / Larson Motorsports Nr. 5P and Wester. Story by Reggie Fields For more information, call Devil’s Speedway at 972-222-2421 RACE RESULTS - Devil’s Bowl Speedway - Saturday, October 5, 2002 UNITED EXPRESSLINES ASCS OUTLAW SPRINT CARS - First Heat Race: 1. #61J, Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 2. #29H, Pete Butler, Mabelvale, AR; 3. #94, Cody Branchcomb, Sapulpa, OK; 4. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 5. #45, Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK; 6. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; 7. #7B, Ian Brown, San Antonio, TX; 8. #51, Jimmy Brooks, College Station, TXSecond Heat Race: 1. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 2. #87, Tim Crawley, Mabelvale, AR; 3. #49, Mike Peters, Wichita, KS; 4. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 5. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 6. #6M, Blake Mallory, Joshua, TX; 7. #5J, Larry Raple, Wichita, KS; 8. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #61A, Toby Brown, Carthage, MO; 2. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 3. #11L, Larry Pinegar, Des Moines, IA; 4. #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #35, Greg Rilat, Texas City, TX; 6. #62, James Shoun, Oklahoma City, OK; 7. #20, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 8. #24, Scott Pace, Wolfforth, TX Fourth Heat Race: 1. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #22, Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 3. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 4. #1W, Paul White, Temple, TX; 5. #12, Rick Behr, Houston, TX; 6. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 7. #26, Derek Drown, Amarillo, TX; 8. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX Fifth Heat Race: 1. #91, Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 2. #5D, Gary Taylor, Suohomish, WA; 3. #24B, Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 4. #2D, Mitchell Moore, Edgerton, KS; 5. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 6. #0, Brian Hatlestad, Mustang, OK; Did not start - #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville, OK; Did not start - #98, J.D. Johnson, Goddard, KS First B Main: 1. #1W, Paul White, Temple, TX; 2. #49, Mike Peters, Wichita, KS; 3. #11L, Larry Pinegar, Des Moines, IA; 4. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX; 5. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 6. #26, Derek Drown, Amarillo, TX; 7. #28, Larry Long, Dallas, TX; 8. #65, Skip Wilson, Garland, TX; 9. #85B, Jerry Bell, Rowlett, TX; 10. #20, Brad Wesp, Dallas, TX; 11. #35, Greg Rilat, Texas City, TX; 12. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; Did not start - #85, Bob Ewell, Forney, TX; Did not start - #7B, Ian Brown, San Antonio, TX; Did not start - #0, Brian Hatlestad, Mustang, OK Second B Main: 1. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 2. #94, Cody Branchcomb, Sapulpa, OK; 3. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville, OK; 4. #45, Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK; 5. #24B, Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 6. #6M, Blake Mallory, Joshua, TX; 7. #12, Rick Behr, Houston, TX; 8. #62, James Shoun, Oklahoma City, OK; 9. #2D, Mitchell Moore, Edgerton, KS; 10. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 11. #5J, Larry Raple, Wichita, KS; 12. #51, Jimmy Brooks, College Station, TX; 13. #24, Scott Pace, Wolfforth, TX; Did not start - #39, Marvin Lough, Fort Worth, TX A FEATURE: 1. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 2. #4M, Michael Dupuy, Amite, LA; 3. #29, Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #61J, Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 5. #29N, Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City, OK; 6. #87, Tim Crawley, Mabelvale, AR; 7. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, TX; 8. #90, Eric Payne, Garland, TX; 10. #1W, Paul White, Temple, TX; 10. #22, Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 11. #7M, Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 12. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala, OK; 13. #29H, Pete Butler, Mabelvale, AR; 14. #1A, Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX; 15. #40, Clint Garner, Sioux Falls, SD; 16. #31B, Brian Harvill, Irving, TX; 17. #5D, Gary Taylor, Suohomish, WA; 17. #61A, Toby Brown, Carthage, MO; 19. #94, Cody Branchcomb, Sapulpa, OK; 20. #45, Robert Sellers, Mustang, OK; 21. #49, Mike Peters, Wichita, KS; 22. #24B, Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 23. #11L, Larry Pinegar, Des Moines, IA; 24. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville, OK; 25. #74E, Claud Estes, Godley, TX; 26. #5E, Brandon Erwin, Lake Kiowa, TX USA MODIFIEDS - LATE MODELS CHALLENGE RACE: 1. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland, TX; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian, TX; 3. #991, Joe Edwards, Grand Prairie, TX; 4. #77W, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton, TX; 5. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 6. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 7. #84L, Ronnie Long, Dallas, TX; 8. #19L, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 9. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 10. #11X, Brad Zimmerman, Mesquite, TX; 11. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett, TX; 12. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale, TX; 13. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 14. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 15. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 16. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 17. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 18. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie, TX; 19. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 20. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 21. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; Did not start - #23, Darren Ellis, Royse City, TX USA MODIFIEDS - First Heat Race: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 3. #1X, Paul White, Temple, TX; 4. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 5. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 6. #54, Wayne Bowman, ??; 7. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX Second Heat Race: 1. #5P, Craig Petty, Waxahachie, TX; 2. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 3. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 6. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank, TX; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX Third Heat Race: 1. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 2. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 3. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 4. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 6. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 7. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX A FEATURE: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs, TX; 2. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto, TX; 3. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, OK; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite, TX; 5. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City, TX; 6. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell, TX; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite, TX; 8. #28L, Randy Lynch, Garland, TX; 9. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton, TX; 10. #12W, Dale Wester, Ovilla, TX; 11. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett, TX; 12. #54, Wayne Bowman, ??; 13. #17G, Clarence Greer, Mesquite, TX; 14. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas, TX; 15. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank, TX; 16. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 17. #23Z, Richard Miller, Terrell, TX; 18. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland, TX; 19. #5P, Craig Petty, Waxahachie, TX; 20. #1X, Paul White, Temple, TX; 21. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite, TX |
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