Ables Takes Late Model Win at Devil's Bowl

Devil's Bowl celebrates CHRISTMAS IN JULY on Saturday, July 26. Children ages 15 and under will be admitted free to the speedway grandstand with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots campaign. Racing that night will be Super Sprints, Championship Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. 

Mesquite, TX (July 19) – Britt Ables claimed his first late model feature win at Devil's Bowl Saturday night in a close race with Darren Ellis. Mike Walls topped the street stock main by a car length over Michael Murphy. Larry Long led the super sprints under the checkered flag for his fourth straight victory. Dale Wester topped the championship sprints. Rowdy Starnes topped the USA modifieds.

Britt Ables has run near the front several times over the years of racing late models at Devil's Bowl. This season he has been the most consistent in recent years, often finishing in the top five. He's led several features, but late race restarts have allowed other drivers to pass him and eventually win feature races. Saturday night he was almost flawless in the Ables Auto / Troy’s Cars / First Mechanical Nr. 51 as he won his first feature at Devil’s Bowl. Ron Lane pulled out from the pole to lead the opening lap in his Nr. 55. Ables quickly moved into second place on the back straight. By the second lap he was side by side with Lane and made the pass for the lead on the third trip around the Devil’s Bowl half-mile. However, the yellow flag flew before the lap was complete after Jerry Horn and Tom Lorenz tangled and spun on the back straight. When the race resumed, Ables was back on Lane’s rear bumper. The pair battled for the lead side by side several times over the next few laps, with Ables finally taking the lead on the sixth lap. Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23 made it a three way battle for the top spot.

Cheyney Hopkins moved the Stan Hopkins Company / Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 into third place and was soon joined by Jimmy Goodwin in the TFA Automatic Sprinklers Nr. 12 and Ronnie Long in the Town East Ford Nr. 28 as the top five cars were just inches apart as they raced around the track. Ellis appeared to be ready to make his move for the top spot as Ables car began to push through the last part of the turns in the final laps, but Ables was able to use the lapped car of Horn to keep Ellis lined up behind him. Ables took the checkered flag by barely a car length over Ellis, with Hopkins, Goodwin and Long rounding out the top five. Ables and Ellis won the late model heat races,

Mike Walls started on the second row of the street stock feature and was soon chasing early leader Arin Lawrence from the second position. While Lawrence pulled away in his Barnes Motorsports Nr. 9, Walls had to contend with challenges from Mike Meeks, Jr. in the Meeks Paint & Body Nr. 37 and Michael Grubbs in the Fullens Crankshaft Service / Grubbs Motorsports Nr. 00X as they raced three wide for the second spot. Meeks brought out the caution on the sixth lap when the drive shaft failed on his car. The restart gave Walls the opportunity he needed to fly around the outside entering turn one and take the lead in his Walls Motorsports Nr. 38. Michael Murphy in the Pinnacle Funding Home Loans Nr. 21 and Travis Pace in the Gary’s Machine Shop / Schramm’s Ammo & Weapons Nr. 17 also made strong moves on the restart. Lawrence spun in turn three and dropped out a lap later. Murphy moved into second and was pulling alongside Walls in the battle for the lead. Several times over the last few laps Murphy would pull up on Walls’ rear fender, but Walls stayed straight and fast to hold the top spot every time. Walls beat Murphy to the checkered flag by less than a car length. Pace had a battle on his hands for third, holding off Frank Shafer in the Automotive Machine Shop Nr. 84 and Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas / Home Care Supply Nr. 31 in a close race. Lawrence and Murphy won the heat races.

Larry Long easily topped his super sprint heat race in the Town East Ford / Speed Specialties Nr. 28, while Jeff Day on the other super sprint heat in the Enduro Powder Coating Nr. 95. Engine problems on Day’s car forced him to start the 15-lap feature on the back. Charlie Brown jumped out the early lead in the feature in his Koin Kar Wash / City Blues Nr. 72. Long was soon right behind him, and on the third lap, Long claimed the lead. Brown was fast, but not fast enough as Long built his lead throughout the race. The most challenging part of the race was lapping slower cars. Long and Brown both had to use the brakes several times to avoid potential crashes. Behind them Justin Spoerl had his car fixed after handling problems in his heat race. He ran a strong third in his Nr. 6, with Jeff Shaddock taking fourth in the Garland Bolt Nr. 12. Carlos Ibarra was credited with fifth in the super sprints on his first visit to Devil’s Bowl this year.

Dale Wester topped the championship sprint heat race in his Jimmy Allard Machine Nr. 43X. He was also the top running champ sprint in the feature, taking his second straight champ sprint win, with Troy Bontrager second in the champ sprints in his Grice Machine Nr. 10T.

Some shuffling of the USA modified lineup by drivers who wanted to start on the rear moved Rowdy Starnes in his Starnes Trucking / Big G Auto Supply Nr. 50X to start on the inside of the sixth row. At the front of the field, Charles Lasater made a great move on the opening lap to take the early lead in his Acelco Services Nr. 17. Lasater had to battle with first heat winner Russell Shoulders in the Nr. 21, but was able to pull away to a small lead. The caution flag flew on the sixth lap. By that time Starnes was up to fourth with Steve Sickels up to third in his Troy’s Used Cars / S&S Fabrication Nr. 50. The restart trapped Shoulders on the inside, with Sickels and Starnes both getting past. A lap later the yellow flew again. The cars were slipping and sliding in the turn and Lasater washed up high in turn two after the green came back out. That let Starnes have an open lane on the bottom. He dove into the spot and pulled into the lead as the cars raced down the back straight.

The Texas Demo Derby Series closed out the night. Nine cars lined up on the front straight and went at each other hard and fast. After making quick work of most of the other cars, Jerry Perry in the Nr. 81 and Dan Nastansky in the Nr. 45 battled for the top spot and the $1,000 first place prize. Perry finally put Nastansky out to take the win.

Story by Reggie Fields. Photos by Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, July 19, 2003

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #95, Jeff Day, Greenville; 2. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 3. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 4. #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta; 5. #35, Richard Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Heat 2: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 2. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett; 3. #8C, Tim Clark, Royce City; 4. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 5. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 2. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 3. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 4. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett; 5. #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta; 6. #8C, Tim Clark, Royce City; 7. #35, Richard Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 8. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie; 9. #95, Jeff Day, Greenville; DNS - #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 4. #36, Mitchell Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.

A FEATURE: 1. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 3. #36, Mitchell Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.l DNS - #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 2. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 3. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 4. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 5. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 6. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 7. #40, Mark Bullock, Sunnyvale

Heat 2: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 6. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite

Heat 3: 1. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 4. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 5. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 6. #89, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite

Trophy Dash: 1. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 2. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; DNS - #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 3. #30, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 5. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 6. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 8. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 9. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 10. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 11. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 12. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; 13. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 14. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 15. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 16. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 17. #89, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 18. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 19. #40, Mark Bullock, Sunnyvale

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 2. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 3. #47, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 4. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 5. #55, Ron Lane, Saginaw; 6. #148, Russell Moore, Conroe; 7. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs

Heat 2: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 5. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens; 6. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

A FEATURE: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 4. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 6. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 7. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 8. #47, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 9. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 10. #55, Ron Lane, Saginaw; 11. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens; 12. #148, Russell Moore, Conroe; DNS - #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite; 4. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 5. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 6. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 7. #57, Don Tyner, Forney; 8. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale

Heat 2: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 4. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 5. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesuite; 6. #146L, Steve Lister, Mabank; 7. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 8. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City

A FEATURE: 1. #38, Mike Walls, Flower Mound; 2. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 3. #17, Travis Pace, Mesquite; 4. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 5. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 6. #3, Steve Trevathan, Forney; 7. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 8. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 9. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 10. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesuite; 11. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 12. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 13. #57, Don Tyner, Forney; 14. #146L, Steve Lister, Mabank; 15. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; DNS - #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale

TEXAS DEMO DERBY SERIES - 1. #81, Jerry Perry, Odessa; 2. #45, Dan Nastansky, Odessa

T

Chris Locke's try for a sweep of the USA modifieds ended on the sixth lap of the feature. He got a little out of shape in the second turn and Clyde Dunn, Jr. could not avoid tagging Locke, who soon dropped out of the feature.

Problems after the heat race forced Jimmy Goodwin to miss the Championship Sprint feature - the first one he's missed all season.

Mike Walls won his second street stock feature of the year in a different car than his first win. That victory on April 19 was driving Trandel White's Nr. 10, and this win came in Walls' Nr. 38

Chuck Hooks had a good run going in the Billy Odom Roofing & Construction Nr. 12C during the first USA modified heat, until the fourth lap when he slid high in turn two, allowing Chris Locke to take the lead.

Skip O'Neal dropped out on the sixth lap of his heat with major mechanical problems on the Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8. He was upable to make repairs and start the feature.

Arin Lawrence ran away with the first street stock heat race in his Barnes Motorsports Nr. 9. He also led the feature for half the race, but problems put him off the track after seven laps.

Randy Kirkland had just taken the lead in his heat race when the rear end broke on his USA modified. Kirkland and the crew of the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 replaced the entire rear end to get ready for the feature. Starting 16th, Kirkland passed 11 cars to finish fifth, earning his first Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger Award of this season.

The street stock drivers did a good job avoiding Johnny Philpot when his car broke on the start of the first street stock feature. The problem was serious, ending Johnny's night, but the other drivers paying attending prevented a potentially serious crash.

Tom Lorenz did not have a good night in his late model. A crash on the opening lap of his  heat sent the Nr. 84 to the pits for repairs. And he was caught with Jerry Horn early in the feature, damaging his wounded car even more. The modified races were better, a third in his heat and fourth in the feature.

The Texas Demo Derby Series put on a great show. Though there were only nine cars on hand,  the narrow Devil's Bowl front straight made for an action packed event. The winner and second place drivers, Jerry Perry and Dan Nastansky are from Odessa and have come up against each other many times in the past.

All attempts to get certain USA modified drivers to enter their cars in the demo derby failed - despite some of the driver's records this year and the looks of their cars.

MMike Meeks and Mike Meeks, Jr. both participated in the demo derby.

Justin Spoerl had his hands full during his super sprint heat race. He almost dumped the car three or four times before pulling out. Don't know what the problem was, but handling much better in the feature.

Trandel White put some white paint from the front straight wall on the tires and side of his Nr. 10 street stock early in the feature. The racing was close on a fast track and Trandel went high to slap the wall pretty hard coming out of turn four.