Walker Wows WoO Crowd at Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals

The 2003 points season starts Saturday, April 

Past WoO Races at Devil's Bowl
Mar 16, 2002
Mar 15, 2002
Oct 27, 2001 Oct 26, 2001
Mar 10, 2001
Mar 9, 2001
Mar 11, 2000

Mesquite, TX (Mar 15) – Tyler Walker was turning flips in victory lane after winning his first O'Reilly World of Outlaws A Feature at Devil's Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Dave Peoples topped a close USA modified feature.

Steve Kinser set the fastest time of 14.418 seconds on his second lap around the half-mile clay oval. A total of 29 World of Outlaws sprinters were on hand for the evening's races, the 30th consecutive year the Edwards family has hosted the Spring Nationals at Devil's Bowl.

Oklahoma driver Daryn Pittman in the Hop & Sack/ Pepsi Nr. 21 won the first heat race ahead of another Oklahoman, Aaron Berryhill. Devil's Bowl regular Matt Clevenger was unable to start the heat, and scratched for the evening with mechanical problems.

Shane Stewart, also out of Oklahoma, won the second heat in the MiN Motorsports Nr. 4M, with Jason Sides second. It was Jac Haudenschild in the Wirtgen America/ Guy Forbrook Nr. 5 winning the third heat race with young Blake Mallory from Joshua, Texas second.

Donny Schatz won the World of Outlaws feature Friday night and put himself in position for a weekend sweep by winning the first dash in his Parker Stores Nr. 15. That put Schatz on the pole position for the 30 lap feature. Johnny Herrera, who battled Friday with Schatz, was second in the Heintz Brothers Nr. 2W, to earn the inside second row starting position.

Tyler Walker in the C&W Motorsports Nr. 35 topped the second dash to earn the outside front row starting spot, ahead of Joey Saldana in the Eagle Raceway Nr. 17.

Jason Johnson, who used to drive a top sprinter based in Greenville, made some big changes last winter, including getting married, moving to Ohio, and taking over the driving duties for the Harrison Trucking Nr. 22. He finished seventh Friday night, but had to run the B main Saturday. Easily taking the win in that race ahead of Gary Wright in the Southwest Express Nr. 9.

Randy Hannagan had trouble Friday, and his woes continued Saturday, as he was forced to use a provisional to make the feature. Jeremy Campbell also used a provisional to make the feature a 26 car race.

While running the second dash, Daryn Pittman had motor problems. They lost a motor Friday night, and the motor they used Saturday did not last the night. Pittman dropped to the back of the field for the start of the feature, and had trouble getting across the start / finish line before the leaders Donny Schatz and Tyler Walker passed him.

Schatz and Walker ran side by side through the first corner before Schatz pulled ahead. Several early cautions kept the leaders from racing each other, but Walker quickly proved he had the faster car, closing in on Schatz once the cars got up to speed. Walker went high entering the first turn on the tenth trip around the track and pulled ahead of Schatz as they raced down the back straight. However, before they could get to the flagstand, the yellow flag flew and Schatz was placed out front as the race lined up after nine complete laps.

On the restart, Schatz move up to block Walker, who quickly dived to the bottom and claimed the lead again out of turn two. Then it was bye-bye as Walker pulled away lap after lap.

The battles of the race were between third running Johnny Herrera and Steve Kinser, while Danny Lasoski and Mark Kinser fought for fifth. Lasoski was on his third motor of the night, changing engines after the heat and the dash. Lasoski was not able to get a good start in the J.D. Byrider Nr. 20 but as the race continued under green, he was able to move up to challenge and eventually pass Mark Kinser in the Durst Auctions / Williams Properties Nr. 5M.

Steve Kinser got his Quaker State Nr. 11 around Herrera late the race to take the third position. Just before the white flag flew, Schatz car started to smoke, and then large plumes of smoke / steam escaped from the Nr. 15 as he coasted to a stop just after the checkered flag.

Walker had been charging around the track, picking off lapped car after lapped car as he built his lead. Schatz had fallen a quarter lap behind Walker, and when he slowed, Steve Kinser took over second. He was just entering turn four when Walker took the checkered flag. Herrera finished third with Lasoski retaining the World of Outlaws points lead with a fourth place finish. Mark Kinser was fifth.

A field of 27 USA modifieds was on hand for their first race of the season. Richard McGibboney in the Baber's Garage / Red's Meat Company Nr. 19, Peoples in the DaveCo / Aries Spa Nr. 11 and Todd Short in the Kustom Machine Shop / ABC Salvage Nr. T2 won the three heat races. Jerry Cowart in the Texas Roadhouse / Mortage Support Services Nr. 6P won the B main.

The passing points system put McGibboney and Peoples on the front row for the 15-lap main. Racing side by side for most of the first lap, it was Peoples pulling into the lead as the opening lap finished. an early caution slowed the race, and Peoples managed to pull slightly ahead on the restart. His race went from perfect to frustrating very quickly when Chris Locke pulled onto the track. Involved in the first caution, Locke pulled back on the track two laps down, but right in front of the leaders.

Peoples tried to get past Locke for a clear track and to pad his lead, but Locke was just fast enough to stay ahead for several laps. Tony Batt almost made the battle for the lead three wide on the opening lap, but settled for third until passing McGibboney for the runner-up spot on the third lap. Todd Short moved up to third on the fifth lap as the top four cars were just a few feet apart. Unfortunately Short's raced ended a lap later with problems.

Peoples finally broke free to pass Locke with just a couple laps left in the race. Peoples took the checkered flag with two lapped cars between himself and second place Batt. Bobby Ruffin  moved past McGibboney for third on the final lap, with Randy Kirkland rounding out the top five.

Devil's Bowl wil host a practice session on Sunday, March 23 from 2-6 pm. The points season opens on Saturday, April 5 with all the regular weekly classes of sprints, modifieds, late models and street stocks racing.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, March 15, 2003

O'REILLY WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CARS – Time Trials – 1. Steve Kinser, #11, 14.418; 2. Danny Lasoski, #20, 14.673; 3. Sammy Swindell, #1, 14.694; 4. Jeff Shepard, #11H, 14.812; 5. Jason Johnson, #22, 14.840; 6. Mark Kinser, #5M, 14.962; 7. Kraig Kinser, #11K, 14.971; 8. Craig Dollansky, #7, 14.973; 9. Joey Saldana, #17, 14.998; 10. Donny Schatz, #15, 15.104; 11. Tyler Walker, #35, 15.119; 12. Johnny Herrera, #2W, 15.236; 13. Daryn Pittman, #21, 15.285; 14. Jason Sides, #7S, 15.312; 15. Blake Mallory, #6M, 15.326; 16. Jac Haudenschild, #5, 15.346; 17. Shane Stewart, #4M, 15.412; 18. Aaron Berryhill, #97, 15.425; 19. Gary Wright, #9, 15.431; 20. Brian Brown, #6, 15.530; 21. Derek Beckman, #50D, 15.608; 22. Matt Clevenger, #31, 15.665; 23. Brooke Tatnell, #66, 15.672; 24. Zach Chappell, #50Z, 15.721; 25. Jeremy Campbell, #10C, 15.821; 26. Ricky Logan, #17G, 16.004; 27. Foster Landon, #11F, 16.084; 28. Randy Hannagan, #1X, 16.114; 29. Bob Bennett, #3, 17.099

Heat 1 --  1. #21, Daryn Pittman, Tulsa , Okla. ; 2. #97, Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow , Okla. ; 3. #2W, Johnny Herrera, Harrisburg , N.C. ; 4. #11K, Kraig Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 5. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, Ind. ; 6.  #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 7. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, Texas ; 8. #10C, Jeremy Campbell, Monroe , Mich. ; 9. #1X, Randy Hannagan, San Jose, Calif., DNS - #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, Texas

Heat 2 --  1. #4M, Shane Stewart, Bixby , Okla. ; 2. #7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett , Tenn. ; 3. #35, Tyler Walker, Los Angeles , Calif. ; 4. #7, Craig Dollansky, Elk River , Minn. ; 5. #20, Danny Lasoski, Dover , Mo. ; 6. #66, Brooke Tatnell, San Soucy , New South Wales , Australia ; 7. #22, Jason Johnson, Thomasville , Penn. ; 8. #17G, Ricky Logan, Little Rock , Ark. ; 9. #6, Brian Brown, Higginsville , Mo. ; 10. #3, Bob Bennett, Lewisberry , Penn.

Heat 3 --  1. #5, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster , Ohio ; 2. #6M, Blake Mallory, Joshua , Texas ; 3. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg , Ind. ; 4. #15, Donny Schatz, Fargo , N.D. ; 5. #11H, Jeff Shepard, Upperco , Md. ; 6. #1, Sammy Swindell, Bartlett , Tenn. ; 7. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville , Okla. ; 8. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala , Okla. ; 9. #50D, Derek Beckman, Runnells , Iowa

Dash 1 --  1. #15, Donny Schatz, Fargo , N.D. ; 2. #2W, Johnny Herrera, Harrisburg , N.C. ; 3. #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 4. #7, Craig Dollansky, Elk River , Minn. ; 5. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, Ind. ; 6. #1, Sammy Swindell, Bartlett , Tenn. ; 7. #5, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster , Ohio ; 8. #7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett , Tenn.

Dash 2 --  1. #35, Tyler Walker, Los Angeles , Calif. ; 2. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg , Ind. ; 3. #11H, Jeff Shepard, Upperco , Md. ; 4. #20, Danny Lasoski, Dover , Mo. ; 5. #11K, Kraig Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 6. #4M, Shane Stewart, Bixby , Okla. ; 7. #6M, Blake Mallory, Joshua , Texas ; 8. #21, Daryn Pittman, Tulsa , Okla.

B-Main --  1. #22, Jason Johnson, Thomasville , Penn. ; 2. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, Texas ; 3. #6, Brian Brown, Higginsville , Mo. ; 4. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala , Okla. ; 5. #17G, Ricky Logan, Little Rock , Ark. ; 6. #50D, Derek Beckman, Runnells , Iowa ; 7. #10C, Jeremy Campbell, Monroe , Mich. ; 8. #11F, Foster Landon, Collinsville , Okla. ; 9. #1X, Randy Hannagan, San Jose , Calif. ; 10. #3. Bob Bennett, Lewisberry , Penn. ; DNS - #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound, Texas

A-Main --  1. #35, Tyler Walker, Los Angeles , Calif. ; 2. #11, Steve Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 3. #2W, Johnny Herrera, Harrisburg , N.C. ; 4. #20, Danny Lasoski, Dover , Mo. ; 5. #5M, Mark Kinser, Oolitic, Ind. ; 6. #1, Sammy Swindell, Bartlett , Tenn. ; 7. #17, Joey Saldana, Brownsburg , Ind. ; 8. #11H, Jeff Shepard, Upperco , Md. ; 9. #4M, Shane Stewart, Bixby , Okla. ; 10. #5, Jac Haudenschild, Wooster , Ohio ; 11. #9, Gary Wright, Hooks, Texas ; 12. #7S, Jason Sides, Bartlett , Tenn. ; 13. #22, Jason Johnson, Thomasville , Penn. ; 14. #10C, Jeremy Campbell, Monroe , Mich. ; 15. #1X, Randy Hannagan, San Jose , Calif. ; 16. #66, Brooke Tatnell, San Soucy , New South Wales , Australia ; 17. #7, Craig Dollansky, Elk River , Minn. ; 18. #50Z, Zach Chappell, Talala , Okla. ; 19. #50D, Derek Beckman, Runnells , Iowa ; 20. #15, Donny Schatz, Fargo , N.D. ; 21. #6M, Blake Mallory, Joshua , Texas ; 22. #6, Brian Brown, Higginsville , Mo. ; 23. #17G, Ricky Logan, Little Rock , Ark. ; 24. #97, Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow , Okla. ; 25. #11K, Kraig Kinser, Bloomington , Ind. ; 26. #21, Daryn Pittman, Tulsa , Okla.

USA MODIFIEDS – Heat 1 --  1. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 2. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite ; 4. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp; 5. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite ; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 7. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 8. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 9. #123, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite

Heat 2 --  1. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City ; 2. #42, Sonny Kirkland , Mesquite ; 3. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton ; 4. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 5. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 8. #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm; DNS, #3, Jason Cooper, Mabank

Heat 3 --  1. #T2, Todd Short, Denison ; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #41, Bobby Malchus, Ovilla; 5. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite ; 6. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 7. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite ; 8. #69, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 9. # 17, Charles Lasater, Garland

B-Main --  1. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 3. #123, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite ; 4. #69, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 5. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 6. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland ; 7. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 8. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite ; 9. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; DNS - #64, Rick Preddy, Little Elm; DNS - #3, Jason Cooper, Mabank

A-Main --  1. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City ; 2. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton ; 3. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 4. #42, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite ; 5. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 6. #42, Sonny Kirkland , Mesquite ; 7. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank; 8. #41, Bobby Malchus, Ovilla; 9. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite ; 10. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp; 11. #69, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 12. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 13. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite ; 14. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 15. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 16. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 17. #T2, Todd Short, Denison ; 18. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 19. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 20. #123, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite

The winningest sprint car driver in Devil's Bowl history returned Saturday - Sammy Swindell - driving the Ore-Cal/ Beef Packers Nr. 1 to finish 6th in the A Feature

Walker also flipped last year, after a grinding crash with Brook Tatnall and Terry McCarl. This year's celebrator back flips were a lot more fun.

Dave Peoples' 2002 season also started with a victory at Devil's Bowl - winning the first points race of f2002 at the ASCS Outlaw Sprint Car opener on April 19 last year. It was Peoples' only win of the 2002 season at the Bowl.

For the second straight night - all three Kinser's were in the same heat race - cousins Steve and Mark - both former WoO champions - and Steve's son Kraig all started in the first heat. They all qualified for the A feature. Steve finished second, with Mark fifth. Kraig was 25th after brake problems put him into the front straight wall early in the race.

J oey Saldana holds the Devil's Bowl record for the fastest lap 13.366 seconds in October 1999 in his World of Outlaws sprint car.