Ashley Nips Adams for Devil's Bowl SUPR Victory

Racing on  Saturday night, July 5, will be Super Sprints, Champ Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

The ASCS Outlaw Sprint Cars return to Devil's Bowl on Saturday night, July 12 for a Sooner Region vs Gulf South Region Shootout. Also racing that night will be USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

Mesquite, TX (July 3) – David Ashley pulled past Ronny Adams as the white flag came out and went on to win Thursday night’s O’Reilly SUPR Outlaw Late Model feature at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Rowdy Starnes claimed his second straight USA Modified feature victory.

A field of 38 Southern United Professional Racing Outlaw Late Models filled the pits to start their three day Independence Day weekend with their only appearance at Devil’s Bowl this season. Due to rule changes for this season, several regular Devil’s Bowl late models were able to compete with the visiting cars.

The action was fast from the start with Jon Mitchell from Texarkana, Doug Ingalls from Longview, David Ashley from Zachary, La., Jason Ingalls from Longview and Keith Craft from Arkadelphia, Ark. winning the heat races. The passing points system advanced 16 cars to the feature. That left 23 drivers to fight it out in a pair of B main races for the final four spots in the 40-lap feature lineup.

A Devil’s Bowl regular, Sloppy Hogg started on the pole for the first B main with Kelly King on the outside front row. Kenny Merchant was scheduled to start on the outside, but his team was changing the motor in his car and was not ready for the B main. Hogg took off on the start and held the early lead while King soon fell back and dropped out after a few laps. The driver on the move was SUPR points leader Ryan Plaisance from Westwego, La. He has won six features so far this season and showed why he is leading the points as he came from the fourth row to win the first B main. Hogg was second to earn the other transfer spot to the feature.

In the second B main, Michael Coleman from Tyler was on the pole. He has raced at Devil’s Bowl several times this season and used his knowledge to take an early lead. This was a much closer race, with a couple scary crashes. Curt Lipsey of Hammond, La. took second at the checkered flag. Tom Lorenz and Junior Taylor barely avoided a major crash when Lornez spun completely around coming out of turn two halfway through the race. A couple other cars spun off the track in the same wild three wide scramble. Taylor was a bit behind them and barely missed crashing head on into Lorenz at full speed.

Kenny Merchant and Robbie Starnes used provisional options to make the fill the A feature lineup with 22 cars.

Darren Ellis was the best qualifying of the six Devil’s Bowl regulars on the A main grid, starting on the inside of row four. Up front was a pair that has been seen at Devil’s Bowl many times over the years, Ronny Adams on the pole and Doug Ingalls outside. When the green flag dropped Adams powered off the bottom to lead into the first turn. The yellow flag waved before the first lap was over when Darren Ellis got punted into the infield marker tire in turn four. The crash damaged the car, forcing Ellis out of the race.

The field lined up for a complete restart and Adams again pulled ahead to lead the opening lap. Just after the end of the third lap Ryan Plaisance and Steve Latson stopped on opposite ends of the track. Plaisance was able to return to the field, one of at least four cars changing flat tires under the caution. Latson was in the pits for several laps while his crew worked on his car.

When the green flag waved, the field took off again with Adams pulling ahead of Ingalls. The leader was fast as the 20 cars on the track strung out. There were close battles throughout the field. Ingalls tried to keep up with Adams, even making a bid for the lead on the eighth lap when Adams slipped in turn two. But there was not catching Adams when he had a clear track in front of him. Of course that did not last long as the leaders started lapping cars at the back of the field on the 11^th lap. David Ashley had moved up from his fifth starting spot to third and challenged Ingalls for the runner-up spot. On the 12^th lap Ashley went to the inside and took the position. He quickly chased down Adams and was right on his rear bumper.

For the next 20 laps of green flag racing Adams and Ashley raced through lapped traffic. They were seldom more than a car length apart in a close thrilling race. They pulled away from Ingalls and the close racing for the other top five positions.

By the 35^th lap there were just nine cars still on the lead lap with 10 lapped cars also circling the track. The driver making the most impressive move during this run was Kenny Merchant, who started on the 11^th row. He was up to sixth at the end of the 35^th lap. Jeff Chanler took the third position from Doug Ingalls on the 33^rd lap with Jon Mitchell running fifth at the time.

Ashley was trying everything he could to gain an advantage and get past Adams. Everything he tried did not work, he couldn’t use lapped cars as a pick, he couldn’t find a faster line out of the turns. The leaders were almost a half lap ahead of the battle for third when they got the two laps to go signal. Adams car had developed a push in the middle of the turns and he went a bit high in turns one and two. All race Adams had hugged the pole to make sure Ashley did not have an opening.

With a little room on the bottom Ashley tried to get alongside Adams. When Adams got his car moving the way he wanted, he moved to the bottom of turn two. The two made contact with Ashley hard on the brakes to avoid spinning both cars. Ashley quickly moved to the outside as Adams left rear tire was damaged from the contact and started to lose air. Going through turns three and four to take the white flag, Adams tire started to shred and Ashely flew around the top of the track to take the lead. He charged to the checkered flag and the win. Adams was able to hold on to second despite slowing rapidly.

Jeff Chanler was third with Kenny Merchant taking fourth in the final couple laps. Doug Ingalls rounded out the top five.

As leader in the USA modified points Rowdy Starnes lined up his Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X on the outside of the seventh row for the 15-lap feature. An opening lap crash knocked out Rick McCommas. Jerry Cowart took the early lead in his Texas Roadhouse / Mortage Support Services Nr. 6P. Tom Lorenz quickly moved up and took second on the third trip around the half-mile clay oval. A seven car crash on the fourth lap brought out the yellow flag again. Lorenz made a run at Cowart on the restart and pulled ahead on the sixth lap, but another yellow flag was waving, so the pass did not count.

Lorenz had his Smiley’s Racing / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 84 in the right place on the restart and took the lead. Starnes was up to third and also got past Cowart on the next lap. For three laps Lorenz and Starnes battled up front, with Starnes taking the top spot on the tenth circuit.

He was able to pull away to a three car length lead, but that evaporated when the fourth yellow flag of the race flew with just two laps to go. Lorenz had his final chance but Starnes took off quickly on the restart and had no trouble taking his second straight victory, his fourth of the season. Behind Lorenz in third was Clyde Dunn, Jr. in the Master Auto Body of Mesquite Nr. 88, followed by B main winner Steve Sickels in the Troy’s Used Cars / S&S Fabrication Nr. 50 and Cowart rounding out the top five. Starnes earned his fourth Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award of the season. Ronnie Carty in the Southwest Engines / Hanson & Sons Chassis Shop Nr. 71, Starnes and Chris Locke in the Broadband Specialists / US Broadband Fleet Services Nr. 15 won the heat races.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway continues its Independence Day festivities on Saturday night the Super Sprints, Championship Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks will all be racing at Devil's Bowl. Next weekend, on July 12, Devil’s Bowl will host a special ASCS Outlaw Sprint Car program - a Gulf South Region versus Sooner Region Shootout, along with the USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks.

Story by Reggie Fields. Photos by Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Thur, July 3, 2003

O’REILLY SUPR OUTLAW LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #5M, Jon Mitchell, Texarkana; 2. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 3. #3J, James Ward, Lettsworth, La.; 4. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 5. #85, Curt Lipsey, Hammond, La.; 6. #1H, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 7. #R25, Ryan Plaisance, Westwego, La.; 8. #93, Ray Moore, Shreveport, La.

Heat 2: 1. #28I, Doug Ingalls, Longview; 2. #B23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #28L, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 4. #C28, Kenny Merchant, Ruston, La.; 5. #57K, Kelly King, Iowa Park; 6. #77, Robbie Starnes, Baytown; 7. #21. Lee Davis, Greenwood, La.; DNS - #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney

Heat 3: 1. #14, David Ashley, Zachary, La.; 2. #12G, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #9, Steve Latson, Flint; 4. #115, Trey Beene, Bossier City, La.; 5. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 6. #88, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 7. #148, Russell Moore, Conroe; 8. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

Heat 4: 1. #12I, Jason Ingalls, Longview; 2. #6X, Rob Litton, Alexandria, La.; 3. #10P, Jody Prince, Sibley, La.; 4. #1C, Eric Connor, Kirby, Ark.; 5. #75, Allen Tippen, Minden, La.; 6. #46, Bobby Russell, Shreveport, La.; 7. #15, Odie Green, Fouke, Ark.

Heat 5: 1. #8C, Keith Craft, Arkadelphia, Ark.; 2. #1A, Ronny Adams, Greenwood, La.; 3. #11C, Jeff Chanler, Minden, La.; 4. #25G, Rodney Garza, Conroe; 5. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford; 6. #1T, Junior Taylor, Kilgore; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

First B Main: 1. #R25, Ryan Plaisance, Westwego, La.; 2. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 3. #25G, Rodney Garza, Conroe; 4. #1H, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 5. #46, Bobby Russell, Shreveport, La.; 6. #55, Ron Lane, Bedford; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 8. #57K, Kelly King, Iowa Park; DNS - #146, Russell Moore, Conroe. DNS - #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney

Second B Main: 1. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 2. #85, Curt Lipsey, Hammond, La.; 3. #1C, Eric Connor, Kirby, Ark.; 4. #15, Odie Green, Fouke, Ark.; 5. #77, Robbie Starnes, Baytown; 6. #1T, Junior Taylor, Kilgore; 7. #75, Allen Tippen, Minden, La.; 8. #88, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 9. #21, Lee Davis, Greenwood, La.; 10. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 11. #93, Ray Moore, Shreveport, La.

A FEATURE: 1. #14, David Ashley, Zachary, La.; 2. #1A, Ronny Adams, Greenwood, La.; 3. #11C, Jeff Chanler, Minden, La.; 4. #C28, Kenny Merchant, Ruston, La.; 5. #28I, Doug Ingalls, Longview; 6. #5M, Jon Mitchell, Texarkana; 7. #115, Trey Beene, Bossier City, La.; 8. #R25, Ryan Plaisance, Westwego, La.; 9. #6X, Rob Litton, Alexandria, La.; 10. #8C, Keith Craft, Arkadelphia, Ark.; 11. #28L, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 12. #12I, Jason Ingalls, Longview; 13. #3J, James Ward, Lettsworth, La.; 14. #10P, Jody Prince, Sibley, La.; 15. #5A, Michael Coleman, Tyler; 16. #12G, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 17. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 18. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 19. #85, Curt Lipsey, Hammond, La.; 20. #77, Robbie Starnes, Baytown; 21. #9, Steve Latson, Flint; 22. #B23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 4. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 6. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 7. #64X, Matt Weston, Grand Prairie; 8. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 9. #T2, Todd Short, Denison

Heat 2: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 4. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 5. #217, Richard Miller, Terrell; 6. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 7. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 8. #28, Larry Ray, Fort Worth

Heat 3: 1. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 4. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 5. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 6. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, Okla.; 7. #81, David Flanagan, Terrell; 8. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite

B Main: 1. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 2. #T2, Todd Short, Denison; 3. #64X, Matt Weston, Grand Prairie; 4. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, Okla.; 5. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 6. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite; 7. #81, David Flanagan, Terrell; 8. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 9. #90, Johnny Hitt, Kaufman; 10. #28, Larry Ray, Fort Worth

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 6. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 7. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 8. #K2, Kevin DeLashaw, Hendrix, Okla.; 9. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 10. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 11. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 12. #64X, Matt Weston, Grand Prairie; 13. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 14. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 15. #217, Richard Miller, Terrell; 16. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 17. #T2, Todd Short, Denison; 18. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 19. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 20. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto

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