Dorsett Tops Street Stocks at Devil's Bowl

Devil's Bowl will host the Super Sprints, Championship Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks next Saturday night. Gates open at 6 pm, races start at 8:30 

Mesquite, TX (Aug 2) – Walter Dorsett claimed his fifth street stock feature win of the year Saturday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Ronnie Long led the late models to the checkered flag while his brother Larry Long continued his domination of the super sprints. Jimmy Goodwin topped the champ sprints and Rowdy Starnes took another USA modified victory.

Dorsett was locked in a close battle for the street stock championship until about a month ago. Michael Murphy had a string of victories and top finishes while Dorsett struggled. Saturday night the tables turned. Both Dorsett and Murphy finished second in their heat races. Arin Lawrence in the A9-Align Hunter Equipment / Chapparal Auto Parts Nr. 9 and Johnny Philpot in the Nr. 12 captured the heat races. When the green flag dropped on the feature, Dorsett started on the outside of the third row. Philpot took the lead on the first lap, but Flash Fifield in the Nr. 1 took the lead on the next circuit. Dorsett was riding the rim in his Nikon of Dallas / Home Care Supply Nr. 31 and quickly moved to second while the others raced three wide behind him. As the third lap was ending, Dorsett dove to the bottom of the fourth turn as Fifield slid high to take the lead. As the top cars were running inches apart, Murphy quickly fell to the back and his car never appeared to be running at full speed.

The caution free feature did not allow other cars to close their gap on Dorsett. He built a comfortable lead and ran a perfect line to take his first feature win in over a month. The victory and Murphy’s ninth place finish narrowed the points lead to just 325 points. Lawrence got past the other cars to take second place on the fifth lap, but was half the length of the front straight behind at that point. Lawrence had to hold off Frank Shafer in the Automotive Machine Shop Nr. 84 to take the runner-up position at the checkered flag. Trandel White came out of an exciting three wide battle to take fourth in the Garcia’s Lawn Care Nr. 10 with Mark Ross rounding out the top five in the Ross Racing / Tommy G’s Welding Nr. 8.

Two fast late model heat races won by Woody Weaver in the Woody Weaver Pharmacy Nr. 47 and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23 set the field for the trophy dash. Ellis got past Weaver on the second lap of the dash. Ron Lane led the opening lap in the Ron’s Racing / Lane’s Automotive Nr. 55, but Britt Ables took the top spot on the next trip around the half-mile clay oval. Ellis moved into second. On the third lap Chuck Beusch was trying to pass Lane when Skip O’Neal made it three wide on the back straight. O’Neal and Beusch touched and O’Neal spun across the track into Lane. That put Lane’s car on the trailer, but O’Neal was able to continue. On the restart Ellis pulled even with the Ables Auto/ Troy’s Cars Nr. 51 in a bid for the lead. They battled side by side for four laps, but the battle left the top of the track open. Ronnie Long took his Town East Ford Nr. 28 to the top of the track on the seventh lap to pass Ellis and pull past Able on the start of the next lap. The battle behind Long was close and Ables spun on the ninth lap in the tight racing to bring out the yellow flag. On the lap after the restart, Sloppy Hogg made contact with O’Neal’s Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8. That sent O’Neal spinning hard into the wall on the outside of turn four. O’Neal was shaken by the hard crash, and the car severely damaged. The rest of the race was relatively calm with Long holding a one car length lead over Ellis to the checkered flag. Jimmy Goodwin in the TFA Automatic Sprinklers Nr. 12 was third, followed by Weaver and Chuck Beusch in the Family Chiropractic 1^st Care / Judy’s Café Nr. 13.

Kurt Summers won the super sprint heat race, leading flag to flag in his Soulman’s Barbeque / Johnny Suggs Racing Chassis Nr. 99. Dale Wester won the championship sprint heat in the Jimmy Allard Machine Nr. 43X. Summers was scheduled to start on the front row of the 15-lap feature, but dropped to the back. That put Loyd Clevenger and Justin Spoerl on the front row as the green flag fell. Clevenger raced down the front straight and into the first turn side by side with Spoerl, coming out of the second turn with the lead. Larry Long in the Town East Ford / Speed Specialties Nr. 28 moved into second. On the third lap Long went to the outside in turn one and around Clevenger to take over the top spot. Long quickly built a ten car length lead while Clevenger and Spoerl battled for second place. Long had lapped two slower cars by the tenth lap. Clevenger and Spoerl were trying to get past the lapped cars when Spoerl flipped in the third turn. Spoerl dove to the bottom of the turn trying to get under Clevenger, but his car turned sideways and slid into an infield tire. That sent him spinning and flipping. Jake Martens clipped Spoerl’s spinning car. Spoerl walked away from the crash.

When the race resumed Clevenger stayed in the pits, putting Martens in second and Jimmy Goodwin in the lead championship sprint was running third. Long easily pulled away to take the victory after the race resumed. Martens was second at the checkered flag with Goodwin third. Jeff Shaddock was fourth in his Garland Bolt Nr. 12 super sprint and Dale Wester was fifth overall in his championship sprint.

19 cars took the green flag for the USA modified feature and ten of them were involved in a first lap crash. Polesitter Chuck Hooks got a jump on the start in his Billy Odom Roofing & Construction / National Door & Repair Nr. 12C. His car was fishtailing down the front straight as he tried to pull away. Hooks car slid up the track and made contact with Dink McCullough’s car. Hooks tapped the outside wall near the flag stand. Hooks stayed high and pulled out of the racing line as his car slowed, but behind him drivers were running into each other like a demolition derby. Ten cars went off the top of the first turn, though several were able to continue. Five cars, including Hooks, were knocked out of the race by the crash.

Starnes moved up to the fifth row after the cars involved in the crash went to the rear for the next start attempt. McCullough and Jay Miller ran side by side when the green flag flew again, with Miller taking the lead in his Jeanie’s Used Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 34. Chris Locke drove the Locke Ventures Ltd Nr. 15 past McCullough on the second lap for the runner-up spot. The battle for fourth was three wide with Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77, Rick McCommas in the Jimmy Allard Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39 and Starnes in the Starnes Trucking / Cain’s Racing Engines Nr. 50X. Up front Locke managed to get past Miller on the fifth lap, while Starnes took third by avoiding a potential crash when Kirkland and McCommas locked wheels. Starnes got past Miller for second on the ninth.

On the 11^th lap Starnes was side by side with Locke and took the lead. The yellow flew a lap later when Johnny Dunn, Jr. stopped outside turn two. Starnes had no trouble pulling away on the restart and charging to a five car length victory at the checkered flag. Kirkland and McCommas got past Locke on the restart. They battled to the checkered flag with Kirkland second and McCommas third. Locke was fourth at the finish with Steve Sickels moving up to take fifth in his Troy’s Used Cars / S&S Fabrication Nr. 50. McCommas earned the Timber Wolf Racing Hard Charger award for the second time this year with his run from 13^th on the original start to third at the finish.

Next Saturday Devil’s Bowl will host 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, Aug 2, 2003

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 2. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 3. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 4. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview, Okla.; 5. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 6. #59, Rick Brill, Nicoma Park, Okla.; 7. #10X, Jeff Garnett, Yukon, Okla.; 8. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 9. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett

A FEATURE: 1. #28, Larry Long, Dallas; 2. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview, Okla.; 3. #12, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett; 4. #59, Rick Brill, Nicoma Park, Okla.; 5. #10X, Jeff Garnett, Yukon, Okla.; 6. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 7. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 8. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 9. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat: 1. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #88, Eddie Guinn, Choctaw, Okla.; 3. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie

A FEATURE: 1. #3, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #43X, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 3. #88, Eddie Guinn, Choctaw, Okla.; 4. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 2. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 5. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 6. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 7. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga

Heat 2: 1. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 2. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 3. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 4. #123, Dan Day, Princeton; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 6. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; 7. #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto

Heat 3: 1. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 2. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 3. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 5. #40S, Sean Doughty, Sunnyvale; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #15, Chris Locke, Mesquite; 5. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #6P, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 9. #34, Jay Miller, Terrell; 10. #00, Dink McCullough, Balch Springs; 11. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 12. #123, Dan Day, Princeton; 13. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 14. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 15. #12C, Chuck Hooks, Mesquite; 16. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 17. #40S, Sean Doughty, Sunnyvale; 18. #98, Marc Madison, Tioga; 19. #16, Clarence Greer, Mesquite; DNS - #71, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; DNS - #18, Frank Rose, Mesquite

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 3. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 4. #55, Ron Lane, Saginaw; 5. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak

Heat 2: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 2. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 3. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; DNS - #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak

Trophy Dash: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 2. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 5. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 6. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian

A FEATURE: 1. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #12, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 5. #13, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 6. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 8. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 9. #55, Ron Lane, Saginaw, DNS - #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 4. #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney; 5. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite; 6. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 7. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Terrell; 8. #3X, Jason Trevathan, Denton

Heat 2: 1. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 2. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 3. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 4. #168, Brent Cunningham, Dallas; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 6. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 7. #146L, Steve Lister, Mabank; 8. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs

A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 3. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 4. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 6. #168, Brent Cunningham, Dallas; 7. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 8. #42, Gayla Jones, Mesquite; 9. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 10. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Terrell; 11. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesuite; 12. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 13. #3X, Jason Trevathan, Denton; DNS - #47, Danny d’Happart, Wylie; DNS - #51X, Danny Florence, McKinney; DNS - #146L, Steve Lister, Mabank

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Skip O'Neal has not had a good couple weeks. Last Saturday he crashed his Barnsco Construction Materials / Urban Fire Protection Nr. 8 into the front straight wall during the late model feature. This week he tried to make it three wide on the back straight and got involved in a spinning crash which almost sent his car over on its roof. He was able to restart, but a few laps later he got tapped from behind and crashed hard  into the front straight wall. Skip was shaken, but okay, the same cannot be said for his race car.

Walter Dorsett has had a run of bad luck lately. This week the tables turned when Dorsett raced to the front of the street stock feature, and Michael Murphy had to limp around the track in last place for most of the race.

Woody Weaver looked smooth in the first late model heat as he took the lead in his Woody Weaver Pharmacy Nr. 47 and led every lap. It was a close battle with the top five cars almost side by side at the finish.

Charlie Brown could not get going well in the super sprint heat. The team got the car ready to start the feature, but he soon dropped out of that race.

Rowdy Starnes had his hands full during his heat race. The 50X pushed off the top of the turns several times, but Starnes held on to run third.

Arin Lawrence ran a strong race in winning the first street stock heat. johnny Philpot ran away with the second street stock heat.