Gailley Takes Career First Sprint Win At Devil's Bowl

Mesquite, TX (April 10) – David Gailley was in the right place at the right time Saturday night to take the lead and the victory in the Championship Sprint feature. Danny Jennings topped the Super Sprints as Devil's Bowl opened the 2004 racing season. Rowdy Starnes got off to a good start in his drive for a fifth straight championship by winning the USA modified feature. Tom Lorenz led the late models to the checkered flag and Walter Dorsett dominated the street stocks.

David Gailley found a new interest in racing last season. After several years of running modifieds, he took a few laps on one of the new championship sprints at Devil's Bowl. That turned out to be the most fun he'd had in a race car in years. After several trial runs, David decided to go to sprints full-time for the 2004 season.

Saturday night he ran second in the Champ Sprint heat race. After the green flag dropped on the feature, David settled into second place behind Michelle Decker. They charged quickly around the track and soon caught the slower cars in the field.

As Michelle tried to go around Randy Bryant, they made contact, sending Michelle flipping hard off the top of turn one. Bryant's car was also damaged in the crash.

After the cleanup, Gailley started up front and stayed there. As the checkered flag fell, Gailley had captured his first sprint car feature win. Gary Grosvenor came in second, followed by Troy Bontrager, Jimmy Goodwin and Richard Gosey to round out the top five.

Danny Jennings started on the third row of Saturday night's 15-lap Super Sprint feature. Up front Jeff Day got the jump on Johnny Miller to take the lead as the cars charged down the front straight as the green flag waved. Day pulled away as Miller and Brandon Rogers battled briefly for the runnerup spot. Jennings quickly moved up, and when the caution flew for Kurt Summer's spin, that erased Day's lead.

After the restart Jennings was soon on Day's rear bumper and pulled into the lead on the back straight. Jennings pulled away, with Day in second. Behind the leaders, Matt Clevenger was working his way throught he field. He climbed from the last row to third before his left rear tire came apart with two laps to go in the race.

Clevenger was able to get off the track without bringing out the caution flag, so Jennings had no one close as he took the checkered flag. Jake Martens got past Day late in the race to take second. Fourth behind Day was Miller with Rogers finishing fifth. Miller and Day won the super sprint heat races.

Rowdy Starnes had to think his night was going to end badly Saturday when he spun early in the USA Modified feature. After winning his heat race and starting up front based on the passing points system, Rowdy had most of the tough 21 car field behind him.

But his spin put Rowdy at the back. The high winds out of the north all day were drying the track, taking away any horsepower advantage. Rick McCommas was up in the lead and trying to pull away. Randy Kirkland and cousins Clyde Dunn, Jr. and Johnny Dunn, Jr. were all battling for the chance to get past McCommas.

The caution flag waved only a couple times in the race, but the driver on the move was Starnes, flying around the top of the track. He got up to fifth by the time the next caution flag flew. Just after that restart, he pulled past the Dunn's and was battling Kirkland for second. Rowdy had just gotten past Kirkland when the last caution of the race came out.

Restarting on the inside behind the leader, Starnes was able to put the power on the track and pull up right on McCommas' car. It was not long before Starnes was able to get past McCommas into the lead.

As the cars raced to the checkered flag, Starnes claimed the first feature of the points season just ahead of McCommas. Johnny Dunn, Jr. took third place after a spirited battle with Clyde Dunn, Jr. Jerry Cowart moved up to take over fifth as Kirkland fell out late in the race.

Clyde Dunn, Jr., Starnes and Kirkland won the USA Modfied heat races.

Tom Lorenz had to chase down and pass Wayman McMillan on his way to victory in the opening night late model main at Devil's Bowl. When the green flag fell, McMillan pulled in to the lead. The late models were fast around the track. McMillan held the early lead, after getting past polesitter Britt Ables.

After taking second, Lornez soon pulled up right behind McMillan and claimed the lead a couple laps later. Darren Ellis also was able to pass McMillan as the race wound to completion.

Ellis had to settle for second as he followed Lornez under the checkered flag. McMillan was third at the finish, with Patrick Daniel a strong fourth and Skip O'Neal rounding out the top five. Daniel and Ables won the heat races in the late model class.

Walter Dorsett was unstoppable Saturday night. Quickly pulling away to win his heat race, Dorsett earned enought passing points to start the 12-lap feature on the outside of the front row. Danny Zimmerman, winner of the other heat, started on the pole. But once the green flag dropped, it was all Dorsett. He quickly pulled away and never looked back. Zimmerman tried to keep up, but could not catch Dorsett. The victory was Dorsett's second of the season, having won a non-points feature during the SpringNationals in March. Zimmerman held the runner-up spot, with Johnny Philpot showing a lot of improvement from last season with a strong third place run. Mike Meeks, Jr. came back from having to drop out of his heat to finish fourth, with Mark Ross taking the fifth spot.

Story & photos by Reggie and  Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, April 10, 2004

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #9, Johnny Miller, Burleson; 2. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 3. #61J, Danny Jennings, Norman, Okla.; 4. #67, Ryan Beechler, Anna; 5. #1, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound

Heat 2: 1. #41, Jeff Day, Greenville; 2. #11B, Brandon Rogers, Wichita Falls; 3. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite; 4. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview, Okla.; 5. #14E, Todd Evand, Georgetown

A FEATURE: 1. #61J, Danny Jennings, Norman, Okla.; 2. #48, Jake Martens, Fairview, Okla.; 3. #41, Jeff Day, Greenville; 4. #9, Johnny Miller, Burleson; 5. #11B, Brandon Rogers, Wichita Falls; 6. #67, Ryan Beechler, Anna; 7. #14E, Todd Evand, Georgetown; 8. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound; 9. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 10. #6, Justin Spoerl, Mesquite

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #12S, Michelle Decker, Gunthrie, Okla.; 2. #3X, David Gailley, Mesquite; 3. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 4. #6X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 5. #20X, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; 6. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 7. #35, Richard Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 8. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite; 9. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, David Gailley, Mesquite; 2. #20X, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; 3. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 4. #6X, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 5. #35, Richard Gosey, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 6. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 7. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 8. #12S, Michelle Decker, Gunthrie, Okla.; 9. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 4. #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris; 5. #115, Tommy Evans;; 6. #18X, David Read, Edgewood; 7. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #22, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 4. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton; 5. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 6. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 7. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris

Heat 3: 1. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 2. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 3. #18N, James Neighbors, Lawton, Okla.; 4. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 5. #55, Dustin Woods, Forney; 6. #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank; 7. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell

A FEATURE: 1. #50X, Rowdy Starnes, McKinney; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 3. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #22, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 6. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 7. #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris; 8. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton; 9. #115, Tommy Evans;; 10. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 11. #52, Joseph Kasper; Ferris; 12. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 13. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 14. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 15. #18X, David Read, Edgewood; 16. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 17. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 18. #55, Dustin Woods, Forney; 19. #18N, James Neighbors, Lawton, Okla.; 20. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 21. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell; Did not start - #1, Mark Johannesen, Mabank

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #75, Patrick Daniel, Mesquite; 2. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 3. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 4. #13, C J. Beusch, Red Oak; 5. #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton; 6. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 7. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 8. #203, Tony Ruyle, Euless; 9. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine

Heat 2: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #14, Wayman McMillan, Gladewater; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 5. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 6. #2, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 7. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 8. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse

A FEATURE: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #14, Wayman McMillan, Gladewater; 4. #75, Patrick Daniel, Mesquite; 5. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 6. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 7. #2, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 8. #2X, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 9. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 10. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 11. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 12. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 13. #47, Woody Weaver, Tyler; 14. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 15. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 16. #203, Tony Ruyle, Euless; 17. #13, C J. Beusch, Red Oak; Did not start - #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; #20, Ronnie Welborn, Princeton

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 2. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 3. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco; 4. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 5. #33, Danny Clark, Garland; 6. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; Did not start - #98, Gerald Dunn, Combine

Heat 2: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 3. #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; 4. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 5. #69, Derek Koonce, Grand Saline; 6. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville

A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 3. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 4. #37, Mike Meeks, Jr., Mesquite; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 6. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 7. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 8. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 9. #69, Derek Koonce, Grand Saline; 10. #98, Gerald Dunn, Combine; 11. #39, Pat Walls, Frisco; Did not start - #84, Frank Shafer, Balch Springs; #33, Danny Clark, Garland

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Next weekend, April 17, all five classes will be racing at Devil's Bowl - the Super Sprints, Championship Sprints, USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks.

Saturday, Apr 17, will be HUG-A-BEAR Night at Devil's Bowl. Children will be admitted free to the grandstand with the donation of a new unwrapped teddy bear, or stuffed animal. The bears will be distributed to local police departments. Officers carry the stuffed animals in their police cars to be used to provide comfort small children involved in tragic situations.