Sept 18, 2004

Mesquite, TX (Sept 18) - Clyde Dunn, Jr. showed he is not ready to give up on the closest championship battle in the USA modifieds in recent years with his victory Saturday night at Devil's Bowl. Dale Wester led the championship sprints, while Skip O'Neal topped the late models. Walter Dorsett padded his points lead with a victory in the street stock feature.

Clyde Dunn, Jr.'s victory in Saturday night's USA modified feature brought him to just 45 points out of the championship.

The USA modified points race is one of the closest in recent years at Devil's Bowl. Randy Kirkland, Clyde Dunn, Jr. and Rick McCommas have all led the points in recent weeks, with Kirkland holding a slim 45 point edge over Dunn after Saturday night's races. McCommas is 100 points behind Dunn, 150 points behind Kirkland. All three have a chance to claim the title on the final race night next Saturday. With 50 points for winning a heat race and with 20 points separating each position in the feature top 10 finish position, it will only take a small margin to snatch the title in the final races.

Saturday night, Dunn, Kirkland and McCommas all came through a wild feature to finish at the front of the modified feature. They started right next to each other on the sixth and seventh row when the green flag fell.

Charles Lasater in the Acelco Services Nr. 17 took the lead on the third lap, just before the caution flew for the first time, but not the last, of the race.

On the restart, the second through sixth place cars were involved in a pileup, including Clyde Dunn, Jr. However, Dunn was able to keep the Smiley's / Crandall Cotton Gin Restaurant Nr. 88 going and retained his position in the restart lineup.

Dunn got past leader Lasater on the fourth lap when the race resumed, only to have the pass cancelled due to another caution. Once the race got going again, Dunn again took the lead.

The fireworks weren't over yet. On the eighth lap, Richard Miller and Steve Sickels got together, several times. Before everything was over, both drivers and some of their crew members were invited to take a long vacation from racing.

On the track, Dunn stayed out front as Kirkland in the Reliable Plumbing / American Locksmith Nr. 77 and McCommas in the Jimmy Allard Racing Engines / B&H Painting Nr. 39 climbed to second and third position by the time the checkered flag fell. Johnny Dunn, Jr. claimed the fourth spot in the Martinez Restaurant / Speed Specialties Nr. 99 and Lasater was fifth. Clyde Dunn, Jimmy Goodwin in the Gatlin Motors Nr. 57 and Richard Miller in the Jeanie's Used Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders Nr. 1X won the heats. Goodwin topped the trophy dash.

Dale Wester topped the championship sprints for the third time this year Saturday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway.

Dale Wester shot to the front of the championship sprint feature from the second row right after the green flag fell. The driver of the T&T Truck Parts / Allard Racing Engines Nr. 12 has had an up and down season. A couple early wins, a major crash, and getting a rebuilt car back in to form have kept him busy this season. Saturday night, he took off and kept going, building a strong lead early on a clear track.

The caution flag flew on the third lap, on the eighth lap and on the eleventh lap, with Wester able to pull away every time the race got back under the green flag. Gary Grosvenor in the Enduro Powder Coating / Gary's Machine Shop Nr. 20X, Scott Christian in the Nr. 3X and Bobby Ruffin in the Nr. 6X battled for the second spot throughout the race. Wester easily claimed the victory with Ruffin getting past the others on the final restart to take the runner-up spot, with Christian third and Grosvenor fourth. Martin Edwards came back from an early spin to take fifth in the White Properties / Action Sportswear Nr. 45. Wester and Troy Bontrager in the Grice Machine / Fitness Club of Murphy Nr. 10T won the heat races.

Skip O'Neal topped the late models for the second time this year in Saturday night's action at Devil's Bowl.

The Urban Fire Protection / O'Neal Race Engines Nr. 8 lined up outside the fourth row for the late model feature. The caution flag started flying early with J.D. Wilson in the Nr. V8 and Jimmy Quick, Jr. in the Nr. 55 Lane Automotive / Ron's Racing late model getting together. Lane was able to kept going, but Wilson went to the back of the field.

Woody Weaver in the Weaver Pharmacy Nr. 47 set the early pace, only to slow suddenly as something on the car broke on the second lap.

Everyone was able to avoid Weaver's slowing car, with Quick taking over the lead. O'Neal was up to second at this point but after a couple restarts it was Britt Ables in the Ables Auto / Troy's Cars Nr. 51 moving from third to first.

For the next three laps, Ables set the pace, only to slow suddenly with a problem and dropped out.

That put O'Neal out front at the halfway point of the race. Behind him when the green flag fell, Quick and Cheyney Hopkins in the Stan Hopkins Company / Starr Graphic Designs Nr. 1 and Darren Ellis in the Blueprint Services of Plano Nr. 23 fought for the second spot.

O'Neal motored away to claim the victory while Hopkins got past Quick on the 11th lap for second shortly before Quick dropped out. But Ellis took the runner up spot as the white flag came out. Moving up to take the fourth spot behind Hopkins was Patrick Daniel in the Hi-way Auto Parts / The Shop Nr. 75 and Michael Grubbs claimed fifth in the Grubb Motorsports / Candle Art by KC Nr. 00X. Ellis and J.D. Wilson won the heat races.

Walter Dorsett padded his lead in the battle for the street stock championship with his fourth feature win this year at Devil's Bowl. It was a special night for Walter, his parents were in from Saginaw, Michigan - they've never seen Walter race before this Saturday night.

Johnny Philpot set the pace for the first lap of the street stock main, with Michael Clugston, Jr. claiming the lead on the next trip around the half-mile clay oval in the RTB Motosports Nr. 00.

With nine cars in the lead pack, Terry Carter took over the lead on the third lap in his Nr. 35. Mark Ross had worked up to second in Tommy G's Welding / Speed Specialties Nr. 8, when Carter went wide on the fifth lap, and took over the lead, with Dorsett up to second.

Moments later the Nr. 5 of Jack Couch erupted in flames to bring out the caution. Because the lap had not been completed, Carter got his postion back out front.

Dorsett got past Ross on the restart, officially taking second place and a lap later pulled past Carter for the lead. While Dorsett was out front in his Nikon Dallas/ R&D Racing Nr. 31 on his way to his fourth win of the year, Ross and Carter fought for the second spot. On the ninth lap, Ross took the position and tried to cut down Dorsett's lead. But there was not enough time left before the checkered flag fell. Carter was a strong third at the finish, with Trandel White claiming fourth in the Verna May / Garcia's Lawn Care Nr. 10 and Brad Wesp fifth in the Pro Collision of Mesquite / Matco Tools Nr. 19. Carter and Jason Trevathan in the Forney Auto Tech / Pit Stop Pizza Nr. 3 won the heat races.

CHAMPIONSHIP SPRINTS - Heat 1: 1. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 2. #20X, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; 3. #120, Preston Grosvenor, Mesquite; 4. #36, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 5. #6X, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall

Heat 2: 1. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie; 3. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 4. #3X, Scott Christian, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 5. #38, Kim Wilke, Carrollton; 6. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #12, Dale Wester, Ovilla; 2. #6X, Bobby Ruffin, Crandall; 3. #3X, Scott Christian, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 4. #20X, Gary Grosvenor, Mesquite; 5. #45, Martin Edwards, Mesquite; 6. #38, Kim Wilke, Carrollton; 7. #10T, Troy Bontrager, Wylie; 8. #120, Preston Grosvenor, Mesquite; 9. #36, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 10. #6, Randy Bryant, Mesquite; 11. #92, Shannon Thornton, Wylie

USA MODIFIEDS - Heat 1: 1. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Wylie; 4. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 5. #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris; 6. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 7. #53, William Cortelyou, Dallas

Heat 2: 1. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 3. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 4. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 5. #22, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 6. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 7. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie

Heat 3: 1. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 2. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 3. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 4. #01, Colby Smith, Greenville; 5. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 6. #2, Kevin Boling, Rowlett; 7. #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton

Trophy Dash: 1. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 2. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 6. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite

A FEATURE: 1. #88, Clyde Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 2. #77, Randy Kirkland, Mesquite; 3. #39, Rick McCommas, Balch Springs; 4. #99, Johnny Dunn, Jr., Sunnyvale; 5. #17, Charles Lasater, Garland; 6. #51, Rusty Trevathan, Wylie; 7. #4, Tracy Adams, Rowlett; 8. #01, Colby Smith, Greenville; 9. #22, Jerry Cowart, Mesquite; 10. #V8, Rick Preddy, Aubrey; 11. #35, Ed Weatherby, Dallas; 12. #3Z, Jason Christopher, Terrell; 13. #2, Kevin Boling, Rowlett; 14. #50, Steve Sickels, Rowlett; 15. #1X, Richard Miller, Terrell; 16. #53, William Cortelyou, Dallas; 17. #57, Jimmy Goodwin, Garland; 18. #9, Arin Lawrence, Carrollton; 19. #5, Billy Fronterhouse, Wylie; Did not start - #19J, Jeff Welborn, Princeton; #91, Joe Kasper, Ferris

LATE MODELS - Heat 1: 1. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 2. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 3. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 4. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 5. #47, Woody Weaver, Flint; 6. #2, Jack Ambern, Jr., Arp; 7. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens

Heat 2: 1. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 2. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 3. #75, Patrick Daniel, Wills Point; 4. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 5. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 6. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington

A FEATURE: 1. #8, Skip O'Neal, Midlothian; 2. #23, Darren Ellis, Quinlan; 3. #1, Cheyney Hopkins, Combine; 4. #75, Patrick Daniel, Wills Point; 5. #00X, Michael Grubbs, Sachse; 6. #2, Jack Ambern, Jr., Arp; 7. #V8, J.D. Wilson, Kaufman; 8. #ZZ, Sloppy Hogg, Arlington; 9. #55, Jimmy Quick, Jr., Terrell; 10. #9D, Jerry Horn, Athens; 11. #28, Ronnie Long, Dallas; 12. #51, Britt Ables, Wylie; 13. #47, Woody Weaver, Flint

STREET STOCKS - Heat 1: 1. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 2. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 3. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 4. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 5. #24, James Sterry, McKinney; 6. #5, Jack Couch, Garland; 7. #7C, Brandon Shupak, Crandall; 8. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite

Heat 2: 1. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 2. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 3. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 4. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 5. #87, Michael Gilliam, Mesquite; 6. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 7. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas

A FEATURE: 1. #31, Walter Dorsett, Royse City; 2. #8, Mark Ross, Royse City; 3. #35, Terry Carter, Balch Springs; 4. #10, Trandel White, Balch Springs; 5. #19, Brad Wesp, Dallas; 6. #3, Jason Trevathan, Mesquite; 7. #00, Michael Clugston, Jr., Royse City; 8. #12, Johnny Philpot, Sunnyvale; 9. #42, Gayla Jones, Dallas; 10. #24, James Sterry, McKinney; 11. #87, Michael Gilliam, Mesquite; 12. #11, Danny Zimmerman, Mesquite; 13. #30, Shayne Gatlin, Mesquite; 14. #7C, Brandon Shupak, Crandall; 15. #5, Jack Couch, Garland