Sickels Takes First Modified Win at Devil's Bowl

Racing on  Saturday night, June 28, will be Super Sprints, Champ Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

Saturday June 28, will be UPS / TCI Night at Devil's Bowl.

Mesquite, TX (June 21) – Steve Sickels topped the USA modifieds for the first time at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Larry Long captured his first super sprint victory this year. Walter Dorsett edged Michael Murphy at the line to win the street stock main. Jimmy Goodwin captured his second straight late model feature win. Goodwin also topped the champ sprints.

Sickels started his Troy’s Used Cars / S&S Racing Fabrication Nr. 50 on the outside fo the fourth row when the green flag fell on the USA modified 15-lap feature. The caution flag flew early and often with five yellow flags and a half dozen cars on the trailer before the second lap was completed. Tracy Adams led the first laps from the pole in his Broadband Specialists / US Broadband Fleet Service Nr. 4. Sickels avoided the early carnage and moved up to second place by the third lap. It was a tight three way battle for the lead before Sickels took over the top stop with a charge out of turn four on the sixth lap. Skip O’Neal also got past Adams as the Nr. 4 appeared to slip on the drying track.

Sickels was able to build a small lead as O’Neal battled with Tom Lorenz for the runner-up spot. The yellow flag flew again on the tenth lap. Under the caution, O’Neal pulled into the pits, apparently with overheating problems. That gave Lorenz an opening on the restart. He pulled even with Sickels in turn one, but Sickels held the faster line and stayed out front all the way to the checkered flag. The Smiley’s Race Car Products / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84 of Lorenz was second, with Rowdy Starnes in the Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X taking third. Adams ran a strong fourth with Tony Batt in the Nr. 27 rounding out the top five. Starnes won the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award for the second time this year after starting 18^th and passing 15 cars on his way to finishing third.

O’Neal won the B main in his first night this season in the Nr. 8 modified. Ronnie Carty ran a strong race to win his heat in the Southwest Engines / Hanson and Sons Chassis Shop Nr. 71. Russell Shoulders topped the second heat in the Nr. 21 and Chris Locke won the third heat in his Broadband Specialists / US Broadband Fleet Services Nr. 15.

Larry Long ran away from the rest of the super sprint field to claim his first victory this season. The Town East Ford / Enduro Powder Coating Nr. 28. After easily topping the super sprint heat race, Long had to settle for second in the trophy dash as Kurt Summers in the Soulman’s Bar-B-Que / Johnny Suggs Racing Chassis Nr. 99 got the jump on the start to lead the four lap race. In the 15-lap sprint feature, Summers again got off to a quick start, but Long was ready for the young driver and went around the outside to take the lead going into the first turn. The only caution of the race flew on the second lap when Charlie Brown slowed to a stop. When the race resumed, Long pulled away steadily. He had to be careful passing slower cars as he flew around the track on his way to victory. Summers was second at the checkered flag. Charles Armstrong Jr., Charles Armstrong III and Jeff Leep rounded out the top five super sprints.

Jimmy Goodwin led the championship sprints in the feature, third overall at the finish in his Nr. 3. David Jones was the second championship sprint in the Jones Welding / Airflow Racing Wings Nr. 64, followed by Browde Keith Snider, Troy Bontrager and heat winner Dale Wester in the Jimmy Allard Nr. 43X.

Walter Dorsett and Michael Murphy again provided the best race of the night with a wild side by side, hooked together finish. George Parrish got the jump on Johnny Philpot at the start of the 12-lap street stock main. Parrish stayed out front until the third lap in his Jeanie’s Auto Parts / Parrish Racing Nr. 49. That’s when Murphy got past low in turn four to take the lead in his Pinnacle Funding Home Loans / Valvoline Nr. 21. As Murphy pulled away, Parrish and Mark Ross raced for second with Dorsett in the middle of the battle. The caution flew on the fifth lap when Mike Meeks got sideways and was pushed around by Travis Pace.

The restart allowed Ross and Dorsett to get past Parrish. On the sixth trip around the Devil’s Bowl half-mile, Dorsett was able to pass Ross and try to catch Murphy. The two raced around the track for the final laps. Murphy’s five car length lead slowly evaporated as Dorsett was able to move around and find a faster line. They were bumper to bumper when the white flag flew. Murphy looked to be in position to hold off Dorsett as they entered the final turns, but a lapped car right in front of the leaders forced them high. Dorsett had the advantage in his Nikon Dallas/ Home Care Supply Nr. 31. Murphy tried to squeeze into the narrow opening, and the two cars came together. With their bumpers hooked together, the pair crossed the finish line with Dorsett a half-car length ahead. Ross crossed the finish line a close third, but his car was under the minimum weight at the scales, as was the fifth car across the line, Arin Lawrence. Travis Pace was credited with third in his Gary’s Machine Shop / Schramm’s Ammo & Weapons Nr. 17. Michael Grubbs was fourth in the Fullen’s Crankshaft Service / Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 00X and Trandel White fifth in the White Star Trailers / Garcia’s Lawn Care Nr. 10. Dorsett and Ross in the Ross Racing / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 8 won the heats.

Jimmy Goodwin had to chase down Jeff McGibboney before winning his second straight late model feature at Devil’s Bowl. From the pole, McGibboney took off in the McGibboney Chassis / Outlaw Fabrication Nr. 19. On the sixth lap, Goodwin took the TFA Automatic Sprinklers Nr. 12 low in turn four and pulled ahead of McGibboney. A lap later the first of three cautions flew. Ronnie Long took over the runner-up spot. It was a fast race track for the final half of the race, with Goodwin holding his lead and Long second in the Town East Ford Nr. 28. Darren Ellis brought the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23 home in third, with Skip O’Neal in the Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8 fourth and Wood Weaver in the Woody Weaver Pharmacy Nr. 47 taking fifth. Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Troy’s Cars Nr. 51 and Jack Ambern Jr. in the Woody Weaver Pharmacy and Home Medical Nr. 2 won the late model heat races.

Next week Devil’s Bowl Speedway hosts UPS / TCI night. 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 21, 2003

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 2. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 4. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 5. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 6. #34, Jeff Leep, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 7. #02, Charles Armstrong III, Joshua; 8. #01, Charles Armstrong, Jr., Joshua

Trophy Dash: 1. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 2. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 3. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; DNS - #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; DNS - #34, Jeff Leep, Oklahoma City, Okla.

A FEATURE: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 2. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 3. #01, Charles Armstrong, Jr., Joshua; 4. #02, Charles Armstrong III, Joshua; 5. #34, Jeff Leep, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 6. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 7. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 8. #15, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Sunnyvale

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #64, David Jones, Oklahoma City; 4. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; 5. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #64, David Jones, Oklahoma City; 3. #96, Browde Keith Snider, Nichol Hills, Okla.; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 5. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 2. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 3. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp; 4. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite; 5. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 6. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 7. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 9. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland

Heat 2: 1. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 5. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 6. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 7. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 8. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; DNS - #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank

Heat 3: 1. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 2. 34, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 8. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 9. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney

B Main: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 5. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 6. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 7. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 9. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 10. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank; 11. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 12. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale (Penalized for Rough Driving)

A FEATURE: 1. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 5. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 6. #50D, David Gailley, Mesquite; 7. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 8. #27, Tony Batt, Princeton; 9. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 10. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 11. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 12. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 13. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite; 14. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 15. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 16. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 17. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 18. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 19. #74, Kevin Hazelip, Kemp; DNS - #88 Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 4. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 5. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 6. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford; 7. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville; 8. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak

Heat 2: 1. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 2. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 3. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 4. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 5. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 6. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 7. #18, Tommy Davis,Jr., Edgewood; 8. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan

A FEATURE: 1. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 5. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 6. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 7. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 8. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 9. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 10. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 11. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford; 12. #44, Cameron Wilson, Gainesville; 13. #18, Tommy Davis,Jr., Edgewood; 14. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 15. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 16. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler (Penalized for Rough Driving)

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite; 4. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 5. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 6. #27, Ed Lee, Wylie; 7. 33, Justin Trevathan, Denton; 8. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 9. #24, Raymond Parker, McKinney

Heat 2: 1. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 2. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 3. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 4. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 6. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 7. #85, Donny Foster, Wylie; DNS - #146, Jesse Harper, Allen; DNS - #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs

A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite; 4. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 5. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 6. #27, Ed Lee, Wylie; 7. #85, Donny Foster, Wylie; 8. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 9. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 10. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 11. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 12. #3, Justin Trevathan, Denton; 13. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 14. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City (Penalized for being under minimum weight); 15. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton (Penalized for being under minimum weight) DNS - #24, Raymond Parker, McKinney; DNS - #146, Jesse Harper, Allen; DNS - #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs

T

Jeff Leep took a nasty tumble in the super sprint heat race. As the field slowed when Charlie Brown had problems, Leep entered turn one fast at the bottom, pushed over the top of the turn and flipped high in the air. Leep was not injured, and was able to start the feature, without a top wing.

Charles Lasater continues to be caught up in other people's accidents. When Billy Fronterhouse spun during the first heat race, Charles was boxed in by all the cars trying to miss Fronterhouse and could not avoid hitting the stopped car. Both drivers were able to make enough repairs to start the B main, but neither transferred to the feature .

Dale Wester had a good run going in the Championship Sprint heat to hold off Jimmy Goodwin and win his first sprint heat race.

When Raymond Parker slapped the front straight wall and lost his wheel in the first street stock heat race, Danny d'Happart also hit the wall. There was concern he might have broken his collar bone, but he started the A feature. The car was obviously damaged from the earlier crash and did not handle well in the A main.

The longest run of bumper cars seen in a long time went on almost all night between Travis Pace and Arin Lawrence in the street stock class. Their paint swapping, blocking, hitting and spinning started in the heat and continued through the feature.

Walter Dorsett and Michael Murphy's professionalism and racing competitiveness again showed how well races can be run, something that is not happening in the other classes. They and the rest of the World Class Street Stocks are putting on the best show at Devil's Bowl this season.

Michael Murphy picked up a new sponsor over the last couple weeks - Pinnacle Funding Home Loans. He's been running his car with only minimal help so far this season.

It seems like the standard at Devil's Bowl now is to push drivers out of the way if a problem makes them slow for an instant. A couple drivers earned the black flag Saturday night for pushing cars around that had gotten loose. If drivers do not lift and try to avoid contact with the other car, they should not be surprised if they are sent to the trailer for the rest of the night, or a couple weeks.

Rowdy Starnes was probably the most surprised at his third place finish. Fuel pump / pressure gremlins kept his car from getting a good run out of the corners all night. At least once, the slow acceleration helped him avoid a crash.

Several drivers had a hard time avoiding the infield tires Saturday night. Maybe it was the glare from the sun in hot laps, and maybe some new glasses might help.

Ronnie Carty and Rick McCommas continued their feast or famine seasons. Both were knocked out of the USA Modified feature in the first crash after great runs in their heat races.