Gailley Grabs Modified Victory at Devil's Bowl

Racing on  Saturday night, June 14, will be Super Sprints, Champ Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

Saturday June 7, will be free admission to the grand stands for all children ages 15 and under.

Mesquite, TX (June 7) – David Gailley led every lap of Saturday night’s USA Modified feature on his way to his first victory at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Michael Murphy topped the Street Stocks, Jimmy Goodwin captured the Late Model main. Loyd Clevenger took the Super Sprint victory and Michael Brown was the top Championship Sprint.

Gailley was fast all night in his Rector Equipment Company / Stanley Commission Company Nr. 50D, taking the win in his heat race after a great battle with Clyde Dunn, Jr. In the Master Auto Body / Dunn Motorsports Nr. 88. Ronnie Carty in the Southwest Engines / Hanson & Sons Chassis Shop Nr. 71 and Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 won the other modified hear races. Rowdy Starnes in the Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X won the B main.

The twenty fastest modifieds lined up for the feature start with Tracy Adams and Gailley on the front row. Gailley got a good run on the outside and pulled ahead, but as the cars were coming through turn three, Johnny Dunn, Jr. spun bringing out the yellow flag. Adams got off to a better start when the race was restarted. Gailley managed to pull ahead after a three car wide battle on the back straight. Just after completing the first lap the yellow flew again when Jeff Liles got turned around in turn two. On the restart, contact in the tight pack forced Johnny Hitt high where he brushed the wall. At the same time, Adams and some other drivers got together entering turn one. As drivers tried to dodge the suddenly slowing modifieds, they jammed together with seven cars involved in the crash in turn two.

Gailley got off to a good run on the restart and pulled away as Russell Shoulders, Richard McGibboney and Randy Kirkland all battled for the second spot. Shoulders soon fell back and eventually dropped out. Kirkland and McGibboney had a great battle for five laps before Kirkland pulled ahead. Soon Kirkland was challenging Gailley for the lead of the race. They were bumper to bumper on the straights, and Kirkland tried the high line several times in the turns. Gailley held off every challenge and maintained his lead.

It looked as if Gailley’s luck had run out when Liles and Dale Wester spun in the second turn on the 11^th lap. The restart put Kirkland and Tom Lorenz right on Gailley’s rear bumper. But as the cars came down for the green, Kirkland either had a flat right rear tire, or the car broke loose as he accelerated. His modified slid up the track exiting turn four and clipped Lorenz, spinning both cars. Kirkland’s car was too damaged to continue, and Lorenz was sent to the back of the field. That left McGibboney, who built Gailley’s new modified, and Chris Locke lined up behind Gailley.

The final restart was fast with McGibboney and Locke side by side behind Gailley. Exiting turn four on the next lap, Locke slid from the bottom to the top of the track, forcing McGibboney out of the racing line, and having to slow to miss hitting the wall. Locke could not catch Gailley as he charged to the checkered flag for his career first feature win at Devil’s Bowl. Locke’s Broadband Specialists / US Broadband Fleet Services Nr. 15 was the second car across the line. He also earned the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award by passing 15 cars in his run from 17^th on the start to 2^nd. Rowdy Starnes battled in thick traffic the entire race before finishing third, with Steve Sickels in the Troy’s Used Cars / S&S Fabrication Nr. 50 in fourth and Tony Batt in the Nr. 27 rounding out the top five. McGibboney in the Baber’s Garage / Red’s Meat Company Nr. 19 fell back to eighth.

Michael Murphy and Walter Dorsett continued their battle for the street stock championship. They each won their heat races and they lined up side by side on the fourth row for the 12-lap feature. Mark Ross led the opening lap in this Ross Racing / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 8. The next trip around the half-mile clay oval, it was Johnny Philpott leading in his Nr. 12. Murphy was second and Dorsett fourth as the top five cars were side by side in the fight tor the top spot. Murphy soon took the lead by riding the rim around three and four as he put the Valvoline Nr. 21 out front. Dorsett followed to put his Nikon Dallas / Home Care Supply Nr. 31 in the runner up spot. They raced around the track less than a car length apart for several laps with Dorsett pulling alongside in the corners . On the ninth lap Mike Walls got together with Mark Ross, spinning Ross. Walls was able to challenge Dorsett for second after the restart, while Murphy stayed out front. They went under the checkered flag, Murphy first, Dorsett second and Walls third just a car length apart. Danny Florence ran a good race to finish fourth on his initial trip to Devil’s Bowl this year in his Nr. 51X. Michael Grubbs rounded out the top five in the Fullen’s Crankshaft Service / Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 00X.

Chuck Beusch was on his way to sweeping the late models after winning his heat and the trophy dash in the Family Chiropractic First Care / Judy’s Café Nr. 13. He took the lead on the opening lap of the late model feature. Three early cautions kept the field close, and on the lap four restart, Jimmy Goodwin was able to pull past Beusch in his TFA Automatic Sprinklers / RC Drywall Nr. 12. Beusch stayed close to Goodwin, hoping to regain the lead until a seventh lap caution when Tom Lorenz broke the center out of his right rear wheel and spun. Beusch never came up to full speed after the caution and soon dropped out. Goodwin pulled away after the final yellow and built a strong lead over a close battle for second. Ronnie Long moved up from starting seventh to take second in the Town East Ford Nr. 28. Skip O’Neal came back from an early spin to take third in the Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8, with Sloppy Hogg in the Nr. ZZ fourth and Woody Weaver in the Woody Weaver Pharmacy / Kenny’s Machine Shop Nr. 47. Britt Ables won the other late model heat race in the Ables Auto / Troy’s Cars Nr. 51.

After Jimmy Goodwin won the championship sprint heat race and Jeff Day topped the super sprint heat, a field of eleven sprint cars took the green flag for their 15-lap main event. Day took off and left the rest of the field behind. A post race inspection found that there was an ASCS motor under the hood of the Nr. 95, and Day was disqualified. Behind him was some of the best sprint car racing of the season with Loyd Clevenger in the Allied Glass / Braud Racing Engines Nr. 42 battling with John Bontrager in the Grice Machine Nr. 10 battling for what became the lead of the race. Working through lapped traffic in mid-race, Clevenger was able to firmly establish his position, which gave him the victory. Bontrager was credited with second.

The championship sprints had their best battle of the season as Michael Brown battled Jimmy Goodwin the entire distance. Brown ended up third overall and first in the championship sprints with Goodwin right behind him. The BKS Trucking Nr. 96 champ sprint of Brodie Keith Snider was fifth overall.

Next week Devil’s Bowl Speedway hosts Kids night on Saturday night. All children ages 15 and under will be admitted free to the speedway grandstands. Racing will be the Super Sprints, Championship Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks.

Story by Reggie Fields. Photos by Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, June 7, 2003

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #10, John Bontrager, Poetry; 2. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 3. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 4. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 5. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 6. #69, Larry Howery, Hearne; DQ - #95, Jeff Day, Greenville

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #15, Michael Brown, Lawton, Okla.; 3. #9, Joe Farley, Lawton, Okla.; 4. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; DNS - #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; DNS - #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla

SPRINT CAR A FEATURE: 1. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 2. #10, John Bontrager, Poetry; 3. #15, Michael Brown, Lawton, Okla.; 4. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 5. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; 6. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 7. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 8. #9, Joe Farley, Lawton, Okla.; 9. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 10. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 11. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; DNS - #69, Larry Howery, Hearne; DQ - #95, Jeff Day, Greenville

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 2. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 3. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 4. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 5. #56X, Jeff Liles, Forney; 6. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 7. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 8. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 9. #60X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney

Heat 2: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 2. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 3. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 4. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 5. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 6. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 7. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 8. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 9. #24, Spud Charlton, Overton

Heat 3: 1. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 4. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 5. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 7. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 8. #64, Rick Preddy, Aubrey

B Main: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 3. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 7. #24, Spud Charlton, Overton; 8. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 9. #64, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 10. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 11. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell

A FEATURE: 1. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 2. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 6. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 7. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 8. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 9. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 10. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 11. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 12. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 13. #56X, Jeff Liles, Forney; 14. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 15. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 16. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 17. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 18. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 19. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 20. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 3. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 5. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 6. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

Heat 2: 1. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 2. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 4. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 5. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney

Trophy Dash: 1. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 2. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 4. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 5. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 6. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

A FEATURE: 1. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 3. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 4. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 5. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 6. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 7. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 8. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 9. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 10. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 11. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 3. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 4. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 5. #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney; 6. #86, William Ott, Lancaster; 7. #57, Don Tyner, Forney; 8. 342, Gayla Jones, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 3. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 4. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 5. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 6. #156, Jesse Harper, Allen; 7. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 4. #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 6. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 7. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 8. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 9. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 10. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 11. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 12. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 13. #57, Don Tyner, Forney; DNS - #86, William Ott, Lancaster; DNS - #156, Jesse Harper, Allen

T

Troy Bontrager became the first championship sprint to get upside down this year. During hot laps, Dale Wester spun in turn three. Bontrager tried to go around the outside in his Grice Machine Nr. 10T, but clipped Wester's right reat. He slit sideways off the turn, rolled over once and then the car stood straight up on its nose. Finally the car settled down on its wheels. Bontrager was able to get the car repaired enough to make a few laps in the feature without the top wing.

The second, third, fourth and fifth place drivers in the USA modified feature all came from the B main, starting in 17th, 16th, 19th and 20th positions respectively. Chris Locke, Steve Sickels and Tony Batt all improved their position by 15 spots, with Locke taking the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award by finishing second ahead of the other drivers. Rowdy Starnes improved 13 spots from 16th to third.

The third USA modified heat was a great race. Clyde Dunn, Jr. was very fast, but David Gailley was just fast enough to control the preferred line through the corners. The two raced just inches apart for most of the eight lap distance. The great battle showcased Gailley's driving and his newly built chassis by Richard McGibboney. Dunn also demonstrated his skill in controlling his Smiley's Race Cars Nr. 88. Dunny's  maturity as a greatly improved driver was very evident during the race.

While the ASCS sprinters were completing their speedweek at Lawton Speedway, a couple of Lawton championship sprints made the trip to Devil's Bowl. Michael Brown provided the closest competition yet for Jimmy Goodwin in the growing class. Brown is currently third in points at Lawton and has one feature win.

Joe Farley drove the other Lawton based champ sprint, the Clinton - Herring Lincoln Mercury Nr. 9.

Mike Meeks, Jr. made his first driving appearance at Devil's Bowl this year Saturday night, bring the Nr. 37 street stock. Meeks also drives a wrecker at the track each weekend. He finished seventh in the street stock feature.

An old race track expression is that a driver hit every car on the track except the ambulance when a driver has a rough night with a big front bumper. Saturday night during the street stock feature, it seemed every car on the track hit Johnny Philpott's Nr. 12. Running near the front of the feature, Philpott's car didn't seem to come out of the corner as quickly as the other cars. Consequently, almost every other driver in the race got into Philpott's rear quarter panels at one point in the feature.

Philpott was also part of a great battle early in the second  street stock heat, along with Mark Ross and Walter Dorsett. Dorsett went on to win that race.

Larry Howery's Nr. 69 John's Wrecker Service super sprint ended its night with an oil fire. The motor problems developed in the heat race and he was done for the night.

Super sprint points leader Justin Spoerl fell out of the feature in a cloud of smoke on the fifth lap, about the same time Charlie Brown, second in super sprint points, pulled off the track.

Rowdy Starnes dropped out of his modified heat race and went right to the trailer where they used the lift to make changes under the car. Starnes won the B main easily, but was caught up in several of the crashes in the feature. He still managed to take third place in the feature.

Rick McCommas clipped an infield tire about the tenth lap of the modified feature and pulled out with damage to his car.

Ronnie Carty took home another beat up race car. After a couple weeks to repair damage from his last trip to Devil's Bowl, Carty got caught up in the second lap crash in turn two, ending his night early on the trailer again.