July 17, 2004

Mesquite, TX (July 17) - Tom Lorenz topped the late models for the third straight week at Devil's Bowl Speedway Saturday night in a close battle with Ronnie Long. Charlie Brown set the pace for the Super Sprints from flag to flag. Danny Zimmerman captured his first street stock feature win this year. Rick McCommas made his second trip to victory lane this year after winning the USA modified feature.

Tom Lorenz took his fifth late model feature win, the third in a row, Saturday night after a great battle with Ronnie Long.

Lorenz in the Smiley's Racing Nr. 84 and Ronnie Long in the Town East Ford Nr. 28 had the fans on their feet for much of the late model battle. John Sliney in the Moonlight Welding Nr. 74 started on the pole and took the early lead. For the first six laps, Sliney was out front, though Long had moved up from sixth on the start to second, and Lorenz came from 10th to third.

As the leaders worked to pass slower cars, Long was able to put his car into the lead on the seventh trip around the half-mile clay oval. A couple laps later the yellow flag flew for the first caution of the race. Lorenz had taken second on the previous lap, but had not trouble maintaining the spot despite restarting on the low side of the track.

Lorenz found traction low in turns three and four and was quickly racing side by side with Long. As they raced inches apart, Lorenz was able to gain a small advantage and firmly take the lead on the 15th lap. Long stayed right with him to the checkered flag, finishing barely a car length behind. Sliney was third, with Jack Ambern, Jr. in the Weaver Pharmacy/ ABT Transmissions Nr. 2 taking fourth and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23 rounding out the top five. Sliney and Mike Ambern in the Weaver Pharmacy/ ABT Transmissions Nr. 29 won the heat races.

Charlie Brown handled lapped traffic and mastered a tricky dry track on his way to victory in the super sprint feature Saturday.

The 100 degree temperatures Saturday afternoon guaranteed that the track would dry quickly when the sprint cars hit the track for their 20-lap feature. Charlie Brown started the Keith's Truck & Accessories / Koin Kar Wash Nr. 72 on the pole and quickly pulled away. But the yellow flag flew moments later for a spin. On the restart Brown and Kurt Summers in the Soulman's Barbeque / Johnny Suggs Chassis Nr. 99 battled inches apart before Brown pulled into the lead on the back straight. The big wings dried the track very quickly, and the first car to spin on the slick spots in the turns was Martin Edwards on the fourth lap. When the race resumed, Brown pulled away, running a perfect line around the track to maintain traction and speed. Another caution waved on the ninth lap, with the yellow coming out moments after the restart for another spin by Johnny Miller in the Mack's Auto Service Nr 9.

Taking the green flag again, Brown ran a half dozen car lengths ahead of Summers until he caught lapped traffic lat in the race. Carlos Ibarra was having trouble with his car and could not see the flagman waving the black flag. There was one fast groove around the track, and Ibarra in the Nr. 50 was in that groove. Brown had trouble finding room to pass, finally getting by on the 18th lap. Behind him Summers and Matt Clevenger in the JTM Materials / JRJ Paving Nr. 31 were dueling for position, while trying to pass Ibarra. Soon Larry Neighbors in the H&H Enterprises Nr. 36 joined the battle.

With three cars all fighting to get past a slower car, the inevitable happened. On the 19th lap a couple cars touched wheels in turn two and Clevenger went flipping off the top of the turn. He was not injured. Brown took his first win of the year when the race was called complete. Summers was second, but his car came in under the minimum weight at the scales, relegating him to last place. Neighbors moved up to second, with Loyd Clevenger in the Allied Glass / Braud Racing Engines Nr. 42 credited with third. Joe Wood, Jr. in the Nr. 03 and Todd Evans in the Nr. 14E were fourth and fifth. Wood and Jeff Day in The Shop Diesel Service Nr. 41 won the heat races.

Danny Zimmerman took his first street stock feature win of the season at Devil's Bowl Saturday night.

The street stock feature got off to a rough start with plenty of beating and banging in the pack. When the yellow flew, Trandel White had a tire cut down on his Verna May/ Garcia's Lawn Care Nr. 10. Walter Dorsett in the Nikon Dallas/ R&D Racing Nr. 31 also went to the pits to change a tire. Mark Ross retired the Ross Racing / Tommy G's Welding Nr. 8 which was smoking. On the restart, the race lasted one lap with Terry Carter out front in the Nr. 35. When Jason Trevathan in the Forney Auto Tech / Pit Stop Pizza Nr. 3 and Johnny Philpot in the J&S Direct Doors Nr. 12 got together on the back straight the yellow waved again.

Danny Zimmerman got the jump in his Nr. 11 on the restart and pulled around the outside to take the lead. After that he never looked back. Dorsett ran right with the leaders after returning to the track, one lap down. But it was Michael Murphy in the Valvoline Nr. 21, Brad Wesp in the Pro Collision of Mesquite nr. 19 and Trevathan who were quickly battling Zimmerman for the lead. At times racing three wide, the top cars were very close together lap after lap in a great battle.

Zimmerman stayed out front until Trevathan pulled ahead of the other cars battling for the spot. Murphy went to the pits with a broken axle. The final laps were a battle between Zimmerman and Trevathan. Diving into turn three Trevathan could pull even a times, but Zimmerman kept his line and pulled ahead on the front straight. He did that several laps before taking the checkered flag by half a car length. Third behind Trevathan was Wesp, with Michael Clugston, Jr. fourth in the RTB Motorsports Nr. 00, his best run this year at Devil's Bowl. Flash Fifield was fifth in his Armadillo Collision Nr. 1, also his best run of the year. Trevathan and Wesp won the heat races and White topped the trophy dash.

Rick McCommas topped the USA Modifieds for the second time this month at Devil's Bowl Speedway.

It was a fast competitive group of modifieds taking the green flag for their 15-lap feature. But like several other races Saturday, a first lap spin gave every one a second chance to try the start. Rick McCommas took the Jimmy Allard Racing Engines/ B&H Painting Nr. 39 to the top of turns one and two on the second try to get the race going. That moved him from the fourth row to third when the yellow flew again. On the restart, McCommas again went to the top of the first corner and took the lead from Tracy Adams in the Nr. 4 as they cleared turn two. Johnny Dunn, Jr. in the Smiley's / Speed Specialties Nr. 99 followed to take second with Randy Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 taking third.

McCommas was able to run without interference for several laps as Dunn and Kirkland battled for second. After 11 laps, the yellow flag waved again and Dunn pulled off the track with damage to his car. His cousin, points leader Clyde Dunn, Jr. had move up to fourth and took over the third position in his Smiley's/ Crandall Cotton Gin Nr. 88.

McCommas, Clyde Dunn and Kirkland put on a great race for the final four laps. Kirkland edged into the lead as McCommas pushed on the 13th lap, but on the next circuit, Kirkland slipped off the fastest line, allowing McCommas and Dunn to move past. Inches apart at the finish, McCommas took his second victory in a three weekend span, with Clyde Dunn second and Kirkland third. Dale Wester was fourth, right with the leaders in his Jimmy Allard Machine & Supply/ T-N-T Truck Parts Nr. 12 and Steve Sickels in the Crandall Cotton Gin / Premier Auto Service Nr. 50 rounded out the top five. McCommas and Wester won the heat races.

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 2. #36, Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 3. #9, Johnny Miller, Garland; 4. #11B, Brandon Rogers, Wichita Falls; 5. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 6. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 7. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #41, Jeff Day, Greenville; 2. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 3. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound; 4. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 5. #24, David Gailley, Mesquite; 6. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 7. #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta; 8. #8, Wayne McNally, Dallas

A FEATURE: 1. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 2. #36, Larry Neighbors, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 3. #42, Loyd Clevenger, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 4. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 5. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 6. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound; 7. #24, David Gailley, Mesquite; 8. #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta; 9. #9, Johnny Miller, Garland; 10. #21, Russell Shoulders, Forney; 11. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 12. #8, Wayne McNally, Dallas; 13. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; Did not start - #11B, Brandon Rogers, Wichita Falls; #41, Jeff Day, Greenville

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 2. #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney; 3. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 5. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 6. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 7. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 8. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie

Heat 2: 1. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 4. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 6. #3Z, Richard Miller, Terrell; 7. #20, Steve Roach, Mesquite; 8. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris

A FEATURE: 1. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 4. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 5. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 6. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 7. #3Z, Richard Miller, Terrell; 8. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 9. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 10. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 11. #98, Troy Cave, Arlington; 12. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 13. #20, Steve Roach, Mesquite; 14. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris; 15. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; - Did not start - #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview; 2. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 3. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 4. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 5. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak; 6. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 7. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 8. #19R, John Ewell, Forney

Heat 2: 1. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 2. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 5. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens; 6. #9, Woody Weaver, Flint; 7. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 8. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 9. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas

A FEATURE: 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 2. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 3. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 4. #2, Jack Ambern,Jr., Arp; 5. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 6. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 7. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 8. #19R, John Ewell, Forney; 9. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 10. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview; 11. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens; 12. #9, Woody Weaver, Flint; 13. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 14. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 15. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 16. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 17. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 18. #31, Gary Lowe, Red Oak

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 2. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 3. #71, Richard Miller, Terrell; 4. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 6. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 7. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 8. #25, Kyle Selby, Lubbock; 9. #217, Jason Christopher, Terrell

Heat 2: 1. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 4. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 5. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 6. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 7. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 8. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 9. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite

Trophy Dash: 1. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 2. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 3. #71, Richard Miller, Terrell; 4. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 5. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 6. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City

A FEATURE: 1. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 2. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 3. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 4. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 5. #1, Flash Fifield, Mesquite; 6. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 7. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 8. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 9. #217, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 10. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 11. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 12. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 13. #47, Danny d'Happart, Wylie; 14. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 15. #71, Richard Miller, Terrell; 16. #25, Kyle Selby, Lubbock; 17. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 18. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City