April 12, 2003 Results

Mesquite, TX (Apr 12) – Ronnie Carty looked to be running a short feature Saturday night when his car began to smoke at times during the USA modified main at Devil's Bowl Speedway. The car held together and Carty captured the first points feature of the season at Devil's Bowl. Travis Pace had a battle on his hands on his way to winning the street stock main. Tom Lorenz claimed the opening late model main. Dennis Park led the super sprints flag to flag.

Carty started the Southwest Engines / Hanson & Sons Chassis Shop Nr. 71 on the second row of the 15 lap USA modified main. As front row starters Kevin DeLashaw and Marc Madison battled into the first turn, Carty pulled up and came out ahead as the three wide battle charged to complete the opening lap. In his heat race, Carty's car had shown a little smoke when he lifted as he entered the turns. The crew worked on the car and early in the feature, there was no sign of smoke.

Carty built an early lead as DeLashaw, Richard McGibboney, Rowdy Starnes and Randy Kirkland battled for second. The yellow flag flew on the sixth and eighth laps. After the second caution, McGibboney gave Carty his strongest challenge for the lead, but a lap later Starnes charged to second. Kirkland kept the battle going, with Carty pulling away. Kirkland took second place on the 11th lap as the battle brought the large crowd to its feet.

On the 13th trip around the half-mile clay oval, the yellow flew again. While under caution a huge cloud of white smoke came out from under Carty's modified as he slowed the pace. The smoke stopped, but everyone wondered if the car would last two more laps. When the green flag flew, Carty pushed as hard as before, and had a close battle with Starnes for the final two laps. The pair were side by side several times, and Carty's machine puffed smoke as he entered the turns, but it was Carty holding the edge out of turn four on the final lap to take the checkered flag ahead of Starnes in the Starnes Truckins / Cain's Engine Repair Nr. 50X. Kirkland was on their rear bumper in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77, followed by Dale Wester in the Jimmy Allard Machine & Supply / T-N-T Truck Parts Nr. 12 and Tony Batt in the Nr. 27 to round out the top five.

Kirkland, Marc Madison in the Valvoline / S-Line Nr. 98, Johnny Hitt in the City Sign Service Nr. 90 and Richard McGibboney in the Baber's Garage / Red's Meat Company Nr. 19 won the heat races. Batt won the B main ahead of Wester.

Travis Pace made his bid for the lead of the street stock feature early in the opening lap. Pace won his heat race in the Gary's Machine Shop / Schramm's Ammo & Weapons Nr. 17, as did Michael Murphy in the Valvoline Nr. 21. Murphy started his heat closer to the rear and earned more passing points to take the pole for the 12-lap feature. Shayne Gatlin also earned a lot of passing points to start the feature on the outside fo the front row. Pace was inside the second row as the green flag fell. Racing into the first turn, Gatlin slid high and Pace dove low to put him right on Murphy's rear bumper. Mark Walls made the biggest early move, coming from eighth to third on the opening circuit in the WhiteStar Trailers / Garcia Lawn Care Nr. 10. Murphy was out front for the opening lap, but Pace charged out of turn four and took the lead entering turn one. Murphy soon faded and dropped out, reportedly with transmission problems.

Walls gave Pace a battle for the top spot, pulling even and taking the lead on the back straight on the third lap. The next trip around the Devil's Bowl oval, Pace was able to get the low line through turn three. The cars made a little contact in the turn with Pace edging ahead on the straight. Walls soon ducked into the pits with a flat tire, leaving Pace out front. He had a straightaway lead over Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas / Home Car Supply Nr. 31. The race went caution free to the checkered flag with Pace easily taking the win. Dorsett was fast, but too far back to narrow the margin, finishing second with Frank Shafer in the B.L. Carbs of TX / Automotive Machine Shop Nr. 84. Mark Ross in the Ross Racing / Tommy G's Welding Nr. 8 and George Parrish in the Jeanie's Auto Parts / Parrish Racing Nr. 49 had good opening nights with their fourth and fifth place finishes.

Tom Lorenz had the fastest late model on the track Saturday (maybe the lack of decals helped cut wind resistance). Lorenz easily topped the 15-lap feature.

The late model class is going through a transition year at Devil's Bowl as the cars move closer to the rules of regional late model racing groups. A group of fast cars turned out Saturday with defending late model champion Skip O'Neal in the Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8 and Michael Coleman in the Welsh Racing / KMD Racing D-Cals Nr. 5A winning the heat races. Coleman and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano / Adams Fence Nr. 23 earned the most passing points to start on the front row. Coleman got a bad start, going around on the opening circuit.

Tom Lorenz moved up to the front row for the complete restart and put the Smiley's Racing Nr. 84 in the lead when the green waved again. Pulling clear of the battle for second, Lorenz started building his lead lap by lap. The only other incident of the race came when Britt Ables, whose car was damaged in the opening lap altercations, and Jimmy Goodwin, who had a hard to handle setup on his car, got together and spun on the fourth lap. Otherwise the feature was a clinic put on by Lorenz of how quickly a perfectly setup car can get around the track. Ellis had a good race on his hands for much of the feature with O'Neal and Cheyney Hopkins in the Stan Hopkins Company / Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 battling for the runner-up spot. Coleman came from the back of the field to challenge the others.

None could close on Lorenz as he cruised past lapped cars and took the checkered flag by a comfortable margin. Ellis claimed second, followed by Hopkins, Coleman and O'Neal to round out the top five.

.Dennis Park made his trip to Devil's Bowl a fun weekend with a victory in the Super Sprint main.

Also in a transition year at Devil's Bowl are the sprint cars. Saturday night was the first appearance for the new fuel injected Super Sprint class, with eight cars on hand for the first night. Dennis Park has run his car under these rules at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, and his experience with the package was evident as he flew around the track on his way to winning the super sprint feature in his Nr. 10. Jake Martens was also fast in the Nr. 48, also a veteran of this rules package at State Fair Speedway. Kevin Rowland was the fastest of the newly built metroplex based cars with his Southwest Performance Engines Nr. 4 taking third. Justin Spoerl ran some good laps in his Nr. 6 to take fourth place in the main. Kurt Summers got off to a rocky start early in the evening, but soon found his pace driving the Souldman's Bar-B-Que / Johnny Suggs Racing Chassis Nr. 99 painted in the red which his father Ricky drove for many years at Devil's Bowl. Shannon Thornton also had his sprinter on the track, along with Charlie Brown.

Besides the super sprints, Devil's Bowl will host the Championship Sprint class this season, starting in May. Jimmy Allard had his car out for a few race laps Saturday to test the 2-bbl carberurated engine for that class.

Friday night, April 18, Devil's Bowl hosts the ASCS O'Reilly Outlaw Sprint Cars along with the USA Modifieds. Gates open at 5, races at 8:30.

Saturday night, April 19, Devil's Bowl asks all race fans to support area children with HUG-A-BEAR NIGHT. Fans are asked to donate new teddy bears, which are carried in area police cars. When police officers respond to traumatic situations, the bears are used to comfort young children. The support of racers and fans will help many youngsters when faced with frightening emergencies in the coming months.

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #10, Dennis Park, Liberal, Kan. ; 2. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview , Okla. ; 3. #4, Kevin Rowland, Cedar Hill; 4. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite ; 5. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie; 6. #43, Jimmy Allard, Ennis; 7. #99Kurt Summers, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview , Okla. ; 2. #10, Dennis Park, Liberal, Kan. ; 3. #4, Kevin Rowland, Cedar Hill; 4. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite ; 5. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie; 6. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite

A FEATURE:1. #10, Dennis Park, Liberal, Kan. ; 2. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview , Okla. ; 3. #4, Kevin Rowland, Cedar Hill; 4. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite ; 5. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite ; 6. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie; Did not start - #43, Jimmy Allard, Ennis

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite ; 2. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite ; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney ; 4. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton ; 5. #41, Bobby Malchus, Ovilla; 6. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 7. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore , Okla. ; 8. #64, Rick Preddy, Aubrey

Heat 2: 1. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 2. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 3. #2X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland ; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 6. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite ; 7. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 8. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney

Heat 3: 1. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 3. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite ; 4. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 5. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 6. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton ; 7. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 8. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite

Heat 4: 1. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 2. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix , Okla. ; 3. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland ; 4. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 5. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 6. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 7. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City

B Main: 1. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton ; 2. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 3. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 4. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore , Okla. ; 5. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #11, Dave Peoples, Royse City ; 8. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 9. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite ; 10. #64, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 11. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite ; 12. #41, Bobby Malchus, Ovilla; 13. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton ; 14. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs, Did not start - #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale

A FEATURE: 1. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 2. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney ; 3. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite ; 4. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 5. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton ; 6. #2X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland ; 7. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 8. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite ; 9. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix , Okla. ; 10. #23, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 11. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 12. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 13. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite ; 14. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 15. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 16. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland ; 17. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 18. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale ; 19. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 20. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite ; 21. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 22. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore , Okla.

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian ; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 4. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington ; 5. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland ; 6. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 4. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville ; 5. #77, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton

A FEATURE: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 4. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 5. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian ; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington ; 7. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland ; 8. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 9. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville ; 10. #77, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton ; 11. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 3. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City ; 4. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City ; 5. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite; 6. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 7. #86, William Ott, Lancaster, Did not start - #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite

Heat 2:1. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite ; 2. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite ; 3. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale ; 4. #10, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 5. #66, Keith Ross, Mesquite ; 6. #72, Joe Crowder, Garland ; 7. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs, Did not start - #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite ; 2. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City ; 4. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City ; 5. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 6. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 7. #66, Keith Ross, Mesquite ; 8. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite; 9. #10, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 10. #86, William Ott, Lancaster; 11. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 12. #72, Joe Crowder, Garland ; 13. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite, Did not start - #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale ; #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie