Brown and Starnes Repeat Devil's Bowl Victories

Racing Saturday night, May 10 will be Super Sprints, Champ Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

Saturday May 10, will be free admission for residents of Balch Springs, Seagoville, Combine, Crandall and Kaufman with photo ID.

Mesquite, TX (May 3) – Charlie Brown captures his second straight Super Sprint win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Saturday night while Rowdy Starnes also made it two in a row by winning the USA modified main. Jimmy Goodwin captured the first Championship Sprint feature at the speedway. Michael Murphy topped the street stocks and Steve Trevathan won the late model feature

Points leader Justin Spoerl in the red Nr. 6 won the first super sprint heat, while Brown led every lap of the second heat in his City Blues / Koin Kar Wash Nr. 72. When the green flag dropped on the 15-lap feature, Brown battled side by side with John Bontrager as they raced down the front straight and into the first turn. Cutting low into the turn, Brown took the lead and never looked back. Behind him, Bontrager kept the Grice Machine Nr. 10X running fast and smooth in second. The battle of the race was for third, where Wayne McNally in the Nr. 8 fought to hold off Kevin Rowland in the Southwest Performance Engines Nr. 4 and Loyd Clevenger in the Allied glass / Braud Racing Engines Nr. 42. While that trio battled for position throughout the race, Brown pulled away on the fast tacky track. He easily led the caution free race from flag to flag to take the victory. Bontrager was second at the checkered flag, with McNally holding on to third, followed by Rowland and Clevenger.

After three close heat races won by Jay Miller in the Jeanie’s Used Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 34, Richard Miller, Jay’s son, in the Jeanie’s Used Auto Parts / Buster’s Paint & Body Nr. 1X and Rick McCommas in the Jimmy Allard’s Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39, a field of 26 USA modifieds lined up for the 15-lap feature. The point average system put David Gailley and Marc Madison on the front row. As the green flag fell Gailley had the advantage, but the caution flag soon waved as Dale Wester spun in turn one in heavy traffic. On the restart, Madison got the advantage and pulled ahead in the second turn. McCommas threaded his way between the cars and challenged Madison for the lead going into turn three. Pulling out of turn four McCommas took the lead. By the end of the second lap, McCommas had a two car length lead over Madison, while Starnes had moved up from 13^th on the start to ninth. McCommas built his lead to ten car lengths by the end of four laps. McCommas was beginning to lap cars at the back of the field on the seventh lap when Starnes moved in to fourth place. The battle was three wide for the runner up spot behind lapped cars with Starnes claiming the second spot on the ninth lap and Tony Batt took third, dropping Madison to fourth.

The yellow flag flew for the second time in the race on the 11^th lap with 25 of the original 26 cars still racing. Another yellow flew on the restart. The cautions eliminated McCommas lead and put Starnes right on his rear bumper in the Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X. They raced side by side down the back straight before Starnes took the lead. McCommas was close to the finish, but had to settle for second at the checkered flag, with Batt third in the Nr. 27 and Madison his Valvoline / S-Line Nr. 98 in fourth. Johnny Hitt rounded out the top five in the City Sign Service Nr. 90. Jerry Cowart claimed the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award by passing 14 cars on his drive from his 24^th place starting spot to a finish of 10^th.

The Championship Sprint class made its debut at Devil’s Bowl Saturday night, with Jimmy Goodwin jumping into the Nr. 3 car at the last minute. His previous experience in sprint cars payed off with wins in the heat and the feature. Goodwin was fast and smooth as he charged around the track, easily taking the wins. Second in the feature was Browde Snider in the BKS Trucking LLC Nr. 96 and David Lambert was third in the Carter Chevrolet / Red Rock Racing Fuels Nr. 66. Troy Bontrager in the Grice Machine Nr. 10T rounded out the field in fourth.

Steve Trevathan got his Nr. 3 late model on the track for the first time this season Saturday night. On the pole for the 15-lap feature was Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Troy’s Cars / First Mechanical Air & Heat Nr. 51. Ables jumped out to the early lead with Trevathan moving up from the second row to take the runner-up position early in the race. Ables, who won the heat race, was driving one of his best races at Devil’s Bowl, smooth and steady through the corners. Trevathan obviously had a faster car, but could not find a spot to pass. Several times the leaders bumped as Trevathan was able to go deeper into the corners and accelerate faster coming out of the turns. He just could not find an opening to get past Ables. Behind them Jimmy Goodwin battled to pull his RC Drywall / Speed Pro Signs Nr. 12 past Cheyney Hopkins in the Stan Hopkins Company / Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 to take the third position. Skip O’Neal in the Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8 made it a three wide battle for position at times. Up front Ables fought Trevathan and a fast tacky track as he looked to be on his way to his first win at Devil’s Bowl in a couple years. Unfortunately his car developed a push late in the race and with two laps to go slid to the top of the second turn. That was all the opening Trevathan needed. Diving to the bottom of the track, Trevathan pulled ahead to lead the field under the checkered flag. Ables was a close second, followed by Goodwin, Hopkins and O’Neal. Goodwin won the late model trophy dash.

Michael Murphy got off to a fast start last season in the street stock class, but this year has been filled with frustration. Saturday night everything finally came together for Murphy’s first win of the year. Trandel White in the Garcia’s Lawn Care / WhiteStar Trailers / Walls Racing Nr. 10 won the first heat, with Murphy taking the second heat in his Valvoline Nr. 21. When the street stocks took the green flag for the feature, Shayne Gatlin took the early lead from the outside of the front row in the All American Locksmith Nr. 30. Murphy moved up from starting inside the third row to pass Michael Grubbs for the runner-up position on the second lap. Gatlin had a five car length lead as Murphy began to close in. On the fourth trip around the half-mile clay oval, Murphy was able to duck to the inside in turn two and pull past Gatlin into the lead. Murphy has his car running perfectly as he pulled away. Using lapped traffic he built his lead to the length of the front straight over Gatlin. White got past Gatlin for second on the ninth lap. He managed to cut Murphy’s lead in half, but was second for the second straight week when the checkered flag fell. Fourth at the finish behind Gatlin was Grubbs in the Fullen’s Crankshaft Service / R.C.I. / Transpro Transmissions Nr. 00X and Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas/ Home Care Supply / Dorsett Trucking Nr. 31 rounded out the top five.

Next Saturday night, May 10, Devil’s Bowl will offer free admission to residents of Balch Springs, Seagoville, Combine, Crandall and Kaufman. Present your photo ID at the front gate for free admission to the grandstand area.

Story by Reggie Fields, Photos by Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, May 3, 2003

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1:  1. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 2. #10X, John Bontrager, Poetry; 3. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 4. #2, Carl Lamb, Garland; DNS - #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #8, Wayne McNally, Dallas; 2. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 3. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 4. #4, Kevin Rowland, Cedar Hill; 5. #78, James Fabian, Choctaw, Okla.

A FEATURE: 1. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 2. #10X, John Bontrager, Poetry; 3. #8, Wayne McNally, Dallas; 4. #4, Kevin Rowland, Cedar Hill; 5. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 6. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 7. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 8. #78, James Fabian, Choctaw, Okla.; 9. #2, Carl Lamb, Garland; DNS - #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; 3. #66, David Lee Lambert, Newalla, Okla.; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; DNS - #43, Jimmy Allard, Ennis

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #66, David Lee Lambert, Newalla, Okla.; 3. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; DNS - #43, Jimmy Allard, Ennis

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 2. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 3. #2, Brian Short, Denison; 4. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 5. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 6. #17X, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 7. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 8. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 9. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 2. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 5. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 8. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland

Heat 3: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 2. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 3. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, Okla.; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, Okla.; 6. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 8. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale; 9. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 3. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 4. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 5. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 6. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 7. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 8. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 9. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, Okla.; 10. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 11. #66, Mike Goodson, Ardmore, Okla.; 12. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 13. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 14. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 15. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 16. #2, Brian Short, Denison; 17. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 18. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 19. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 20. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 21. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 22. #92, Harry Hronas, Sunnyvale; 23. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 24. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 25. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 26. #17X, Aaron Morey, Dallas

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 3. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 4. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 5. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

Trophy Dash: 1. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 3. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; DNS - #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; DNS - #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; DNS - #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 2. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 5. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 7. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 2. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite; 3. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 4. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 6. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 7. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 4. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 5. #3, Justin Trevathan, Denton; 6. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 3. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite; 4. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 5. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 6. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 7. #5X, Thomas Weeks, Quinlan; 8. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 9. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 10. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 11. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 12. #3, Justin Trevathan, Denton; DNS - #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie

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Everyone was relieved Saturday night when the USA modifieds ran their feature with only three minor caution flags. No major wrecks or damage. The past two weeks had been filled with crashes. 

Rick McCommas certainly didn't like finishing second to Rowdy Starnes in the modified feature, but he was still happy. After three weeks of crashed cars, he finally finished a feature, running strong to the end. If there had not been the caution on the 11th lap?

Father and son Jay and Richard Miller won the first two USA modified heat races. Unfortunately their run in the feature was not as good. Richard was in the pits a couple times before dropping out on the 11th lap. Jay had to go to the pits and have a lose body panel taken off late in the race. He was running in the top five until that point.

Michael Murphy was certainly happy after winning the street stock feature. Transmission problems, debris on the track and other problems have kept him from finishing a feature this year, until Saturday night.

Michael Grubbs had his car repaired after the crash in last week's trophy dash. He was fast in the street stock feature, with a good run to finish fourth.

Marc Madison and his car owner Jay Guthrie might want to conisder keeping the "old" red car on the track. After two disappointing weeks with their best / newest car, they had to pull out the older car with one of the less expensive engines in the USA modified class.  They've run fourth and tenth, finishing both features.

Justin Spoerl and Kevin Rowland continue to lead the super sprints points race, just 20 points apart. Strong consistent runs and being at Devil's Bowl every night have paid off with the top spots early in the season.

The late models with their revised rules are very fast this season. Skip O'Neal holds the points lead with one feture win and four top five finishes in four races. Jimmy Goodwin, Britt Ables and Sloppy Hogg are second through fourth. They are the only drivers to make all four features so far this season.

It's been a couple years since Jimmy Goodwin raced a sprint car at Devil's Bowl, but he's apparently not forgotten a thing. He was fast in hot laps, fast in the heat and fast in the Championship Sprint feature.