Johnny Dunn, Jr. Claims First Modified Win at Devil's Bowl

Mesquite, TX (Aug 14) - Johnny Dunn Jr. kept it in the family Saturday night, beating his cousin and USA modified points leader Clyde Dunn, Jr. to the finish line to win the first feature of his career at Devil's Bowl. Danny Zimmerman swept the street stocks, Johnny Miller led the super sprints from start to finish and Tom Lorenz topped the late models for the seventh time this season.

Starting on the outside of the fifth row when the green flag fell, Johnny was up to eighth a laps later when the first yellow flag of the race waives. Chad Ewell set the early pace in his Longhorn Urethane/ Foam Enterprises Nr. 19R. When the race restarted, Ewell fell to the outside charge of former Devil's Bowl modified champion Bobby Ruffin in the Smilery's/ Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 121. Johnny got past Rick McCommas on that restart and was soon battling with Richard McGibboney for the fourth spot.

The race changed on the sixth lap when Ruffin slowed and coasted across the finish line. He managed to clear the track without bring out a yellow flag. Ewell, McGibboney in the Baber's Garage/ Outlaw Fabrication Nr. 19 and Johnny Dunn were all battling for the lead, and McGibboney took the top spot on the eighth trip around the Devil's Bowl oval. Johnny Dunn put his Martinez Restaurant / Speed Specialties Nr. 99 into second and continued to chase McGibboney. Ewell was sandwiched between the battle for the lead and a fight for his spot, with Clyde Dunn, Jr. and McCommas trying to get past.

As the tenth lap ended, Ewell had problems and brought out the second yellow of the race. McGibboney, Johnny Dunn, Clyde Dunn and McCommas all held their positions at the top of the pack on the restart, but two laps later Johnny Dunn claimed the top spot, just as another yellow flag flew.

For the final three laps, it was a family battle, Johnny Dunn in his Nr. 99 and Clyde Dunn in the Crandall Cotton Gin/ Smiley's Nr. 88. On the 13th circuit, Clyde got ahead, but Johnny reclaimed the lead  as the white flag flew and stayed there to win his first modified feature. Clyde was second, with McCommas a strong third in the Jimmy Allard Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39. Randy Kirkland ran another strong race, climbing into the top five on the 11th lap to fnish fourth i the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77. Tracy Adams in the Nr. 4  got past a slowing McGibboney on the final straight to take fifth.

Chad Ewell, Bobby Ruffin and Charles Lasater in the Acelco Services Nr. 17 won the heat races.

Danny Zimmerman had a perfect night in the Nr. 11 street stock. Starting outside the second row, he quickly went to the front and won his heat race. He made a similar strong run to win the street stock trophy dash. This all in a race car which crashed hard in to the turn four wall last week, shoving the rear bumper up to the back of the passenger compartment.

The hard work Danny's team used to get the car back in shape to race paid off perfectly. Though he's had one previous feature win this year, Danny's point average is low due to several DNF's. He started the 12-lap street stock main on the outside of the second row.When the green flag dropped on the feature, polesitter Gayla Jones took off to lead the opening lap in her Imperial Electric / Walls Racing Nr. 42. 

The yellow flew as the first las was completed when Walter Dorsett spun in turn four. On the restart, Zimmerman pulled past Jones to take the top spot, and never looked back. A couple cautions made sure Zimmerman in the Nr. 11 didn't get far out front. By the fourth lap, Trandell White had taken the second spot. His Verna May / Garcia's Lawn Care Nr. 10 was also badly damaged a crash last week.

But Zimmerman and White ran like their cars were brand new, turning lap after lap jsuta  couple car lengths apart to the checkered flag and Zimmerman's first sweep at Devil's Bowl. Mark Ross ran third much of the race in his Ross Racing / Tommy G's Welding Nr. 8, but contact when Brad Wesp in the Pro Collision of Mesquite / Matco Tools Nr. 19 passed Ross damages the Nr. 8. Ross limped home in sixth spot, while Wesp took third at the checkered flag. Dorsett recovered in the Nokon Dallas / R&D Racing Nr. 31 to finish fourth, in another exciting battle with Michael Murphy in the Valvoline Nr. 21, who won the other street stock hear and rounded out the top five.

Johnny Miller jumped to the front early and charged to victory in the super sprint feature in his Mack's Auto Service Nr. 9. 

Miller got past pole sitter Marvin Edwards in the White Properties / ActionSportswear Nr. 10 an dstarted to build his lead. The first caution flag waived on the fourth lap, just after Jeff Day had taken the second spot from Edwards. On the restart, Edwards looped his car in turn two. When the race got going again under the green flag, Miller was able to quickly open a five car length advantage over Day in the Nr. 41 The Shop Diesel Service / TP Wings sprinter. 

The track was fast and smooth as Miller and Day pulled ways. Miller opened and maintained a comfortable seven to eight car length advantage for the rest of the race, running comfortable to the checkered flag with no caution flags to slow the action. Even when moving past slower traffic, Miller easily maintained his head. The victory put Miller firmly atop the super sprint points standings for the 2004 season.

Day easily took second, with Kurt Summers in the battle of the race before finishing third in the Soulman's Barbeque/ Johnny Suggs Chassis Nr. 99. Most of the race it was Summers and Joe Woods, Jr. battling for the third spot, but Summers holding the position to the checkered flag. Fifth behind Wood's Nr. 03 was Matt Clevenger in the JTM Materials / JRJ Paving Nr. 31. Day and Miller topped the super sprint heat races.

Carlos Ibarra in the Nr. 50 super sprint out of Atlanta, Texas took a nasty looking flip down the front straight at the start of the second sprint heat race. The car flipped nose over tail four or five times, but Carlos walked away from the mangled pile of metal.

There is only one way to describe Tom Lorenz' 2004 season in the Nr. 84 Smiley's Racing/ Hoosier Tire Southwest late model - DOMINATING.

Every night he's been on the track, the car was fast and working great. On Saturday night, he needed a great handling race car, starting in the 15th position for the 20-lap late model main. 

Woody Weaver jumped out front in the Weaver Pharmacy/ ABT Transmisson Nr. 47 from the outside of the front row. Michael Grubbs in the Grubbs Motorsports / Candle Art by KC Nr. 00X came from the thrid row to second  by the end of hte second lap.

Weaver, Gubbs and Jeff McGibboney in the Red's Meat Company / Outlaw Fabrication Nr. 19 fought for the lead in a close battle. Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Service of Plano Nr. 23 took the third spot from McGibboney on the sixth lap. The top cars were just a couple car lengths apart when the first yellow of the race came out after the ninth lap. The restart was what Ellis needed to jump out front and take the lead from the outside. Two laps later Weaver went around in turn three to being out the yellow once again. Lornez had joined a coup of cars getting past Grubbs on the restart. When Weaver got tapped and spun in turn three, Lonrez was in position to take over second.

Charging into the first turn after the green flag waved, Ellis hold off Lorenz. They raced bumper to bumper for a couple laps before Ellis' car pushed up between turns one and two. That was all the opening Lorenz needed and he took the lead pulling out of the turn.

Jack Ambern in the Weaver Pharmacy/ ABT Transmission Nr. 2 also got past Ellis to setup the final dash to the checkered flag. Ambern was fast, but Ellis stayed close enought that he could not pull away and race Lorenz for the lead. 

Lorenz took this seventh win of the season by about four car lengths, with Ellis slipping ahead of Ambern in the final turn to take second. Fourth was Cheyney Hopkins in the Stan Hopkins Company/ Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 and Bob Ewell got his Longhorn Urethane / Foam Enterprises Nr. 85 past Michael Grubbs on the last lap to take fifth. Jeff McGibboney ran a great race to win the third heat, as did Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Troy's Cars Nr. 51 and Jimmy Quick, Jr. in the Ron's Racing / Lane Automotive Nr. 55 when they won their heat races.

Next Saturday night, Devil's Bowl hosts the ASCS Outlaw Sprint cars in a shootout between the Gulf States region drivers vs the Sooner region drivers. Gates open at 5 Saturday evening. Also racing will be the USA modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks.

Story & photos by Reggie and  Linda Fields

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, Aug 14, 2004

SUPER SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #41, Jeff Day, Greenville; 2. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 3. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound; 4. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 5. #56, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; Did not start - #5, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett

Heat 2: 1. #9, Johnny Miller, Garland; 2. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; 3. #15, Kerry McAlister, Mustang, Okla.; 4. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 5. #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta; 6. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.

A FEATURE: 1. #9, Johnny Miller, Garland; 2. #41, Jeff Day, Greenville; 3. #99, Kurt Summers, Mesquite; 4. #03, Joe Wood,Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 5. #31, Matt Clevenger, Flower Mound; 6. #15, Kerry McAlister, Mustang, Okla.; 7. #56, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 8. #14E, Todd Evans, Georgetown; 9. #10, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 10. #72, Charlie Brown, Greenville; Did not start - #5, Jeff Shaddock, Rowlett; #50, Carlos Ibarra, Atlanta

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney; 2. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 3. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 4. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 5. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 6. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 7. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 3. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 4. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 5. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris; 6. #20, Steve Roach, Mesquite

Heat 3: 1. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 2. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 3. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 4. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 5. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 6. #14, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto; Did not start: #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas

A FEATURE: 1.#99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 2. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 5. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 6. #19, Richard McGibboney, Dallas; 7. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 8. #52, Joseph Kasper, Ferris; 9. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 10. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 11. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 12. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 13. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 14. #20, Steve Roach, Mesquite; 15. #19R, Chad Ewell, Forney; 16. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 17. #121, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 18. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; 19. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 20. #14, Ronnie Carty, DeSoto

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 2. #316, Mike Rucker, Wichita Falls; 3. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 4. #2, Jack Ambern, Jr., Arp; 5. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 6. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview

Heat 2: 1. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 2. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 3. #47, Woody Weaver, Flint; 4. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney; 5. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington

Heat 3: 1. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 2. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 3. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 4. #31, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 5. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 6. #75, Patrick Daniel, Wills Point

A FEATURE: 1. 1. #84, Tom Lorenz, Balch Springs; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #2, Jack Ambern, Jr., Arp; 4. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 5. #85, Bob Ewell, Forney; 6. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 7. #75, Patrick Daniel, Wills Point; 8. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 9. #31, Chuck Beusch, Red Oak; 10. #29, Mike Ambern, Longview; 11. #24, Aaron Morey, Dallas; 12. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 13. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 14. #74, John Sliney, Keller; 15. #19, Jeff McGibboney, Dallas; 16. #47, Woody Weaver, Flint; 17. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 18. #316, Mike Rucker, Wichita Falls

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 2. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 3. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 4. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; 5. #24, James Sterry, McKinney; 6. #14, Steve Trevathan, Post Oak Bend; 7. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 8. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 4. #39S, Doug Smith, Mesquite; 5. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 6. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 7. #5, Jack Couch, Garland; 8. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas

Trophy Dash: 1. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 2. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 3. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 4. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 5. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; Did not start - #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris

A FEATURE: 1. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 2. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 3. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 4. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 5. #21, Michael Murphy, Ferris; 6. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 7. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 8. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 9. #39S, Doug Smith, Mesquite; 10. #49, George Parrish, Terrell; 11. #24, James Sterry, McKinney; 12. #5, Jack Couch, Garland; 13. #15, Derek Eckles, Mesquite; 14. #26, Brandon Leopolos, Seagoville; Did not start: #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; #14, Steve Trevathan, Post Oak Bend 

T

Next weekend, August 21, will be a special program - the ASCS Outlaw Sprints - a Gulf South Region vs Sooner Region Shootout. Also racing will be the USA Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks racing at Devil's Bowl . Gates open at 5:00, Races at 8