Edwards Takes First Super Sprint Win at Devil's Bowl

Mesquite, TX (June 25) – Martin Edwards held off a last lap charge by Chris Tarrant to claim his first super sprint feature win at Devil's Bowl Speedway Saturday night. Ray Moore topped the late models on his second trip to Devil's Bowl. Bobby Ruffin, USA modifieds, and Danny Zimmerman in street stocks each won their second straight feature.  

Saturday night's super sprint feature was a battle between two rookies in the class this season. Chris Tarrant made his first trip to victory lane a few weeks ago. Martin Edwards garnered a championship sprint feature win last season. The point average put the pair on the front row of Saturday night's 15 car field. With the track drying quickly after 90+ degree temperatures during the heat races, the super sprints charged down the front straight to take the green flag in the final 25-lapper.

Edwards held the advantage on the inside and pulled ahead as the cars exited the second turn. Tarrant and Edwards pulled slightly away from the battle for third between Tim Shaddock and Bill Waller.

Edwards rode the top line around the track, picking his line to avoid the slickest spots and forcing Tarrant to search for a different line around the track. Waller got past Shaddock on the ninth lap, with Larry Long moving into fourth on the tenth trip around the half-mile oval.

As the laps wound down Tarrant was right on Edwards rear bumper ready to take advantage of any mistake. As the white flag flew, Tarrant made his move, diving low and hard into turn one and sliding up right in front of Edwards Parks Auto Sales / Custom Cleaners Nr. 45. The move did not phase Edwards as he turned slightly wide, stayed in the throttle and pulled back past Tarrant to regain the top stop. Edwards claimed his first feature win by a couple car lengths. Third behind Tarrant's Auto Meter/ Jeff's Performance Nr. 71 was Waller in the Lubrication Engineers / Brenco Industrial Services Nr. 53 and Larry Long in the Town East Ford / Speed Specialties Nr. 28. Shaddock in the Bono's of Plano Racing Collectables / Southern Living at Home - Sue Reinhart Nr. 12 rounded out the top five.

Tarrant topped the trophy dash and first heat and Long topped the other super sprint heat race. Matt Clevenger walked away from a high flip in the second heat when he jumped a tire trying to get under Justin Spoerl in turn two on the first lap of that race. The crew got the car back together for Clevenger to start the feature.

Ray Moore made his first trip to Devil's Bowl for a regular weekly late model event last week. After starting the back, he was up to fifth before contact with another car sent him into the back straight wall. This week the driver of the Moore Wireline / Tools International / J&J Motorsports Nr. 93 was on a mission - to win.

The 16th place finish last week gave Moore a low point average and he had no trouble winning his heat race. That point average also put him in the pole position for the 15-lap late model main, alongside Doug Ingalls.

When the green flag fell, Moore powered down the front straight and led into the first turn. Doug Ingalls yielded the second spot to Jason Ingalls in the second turn. Moore then started to pull away.

He was perfect for lap after lap, hitting the corners at the right speed and flying through the turns. Behind him a battle between Doug and Jason Ingalls only helped Moore pull away and build his lead. That lead was almost a quarter lap when Moore started to work past lapped traffic on the eighth lap.

Jason Ingalls finally laid claim to the second spot in his Nash Trucking / Marshall Lube and Oil Nr. 12 about the halfway mark of the race. As the race approached the checkered flag, Jason Ingalls was able to slight narrow the gap, but did not come close to challenging Moore.

Doug Ingalls held off a strong challenge late in the race from Ronnie Long and Darren Ellis. Ingalls was third in his Nash Trucking / Marshall Lub and Oil Nr. 28I, with Ellis taking fourth in the Adams Fence / Performance Auto Supply Nr. 21X and Long rounding out the top five in his Town East Ford / Enduro Powder Coating Nr. 28.

Moore and Jack Ambern, Jr. in the Weaver Pharmacy / ABT Transmission Nr. 2 won the heat races.

Bobby Ruffin was on the outside of the sixth row when the USA modified feature started. Rick Preddy and Tim Knott battled from the front row into the first turn. It was Knott claiming the top spot in his Western Coach / Century 21 - Mike Bowman Nr. 41.

Ruffin went past cars quickly as they slid on the drying track. When the caution flew on the fourth lap, Ruffin was up to the third spot.

On the restart, Ruffin got a run on the outside and pulled past Preddy. Quickly he got around Knott to take the top spot. For the rest of the quick race without a caution, Ruffin had his Smiley's Racing / Hoosier Tire Southwest Nr. 121 running fast on his type of track. Knott was not giving up, he tracked Ruffin lap after lap and began to close the margin late in the race. But Ruffin had no trouble taking his second straight USA modifed victory.

Though he got a within a couple car lengths, Knott had to settle for second - just ahead of Troy Taylor in the Dennis Wells Racing Engines / Batson Construction Nr. 56, with Johnny Dunn, Jr. taking fourth in a great run in the Smiley's / Speed Specialties Nr. 99 and Richard Miller fifth in the Jeanie's Used Auto Parts / Rick Shipp Rebuilders N.r 1$.

Ruffin, Miller and Colby Smith in his The Shop / Innovative Design Nr. 01 won the modified heat races. Bobby Malchus in the Edge Race Cars Nr. 4X topped the B main.

Danny Zimmerman also made a repeat trip to victory lane after the street stock feature. Zimmerman also took over the street stock points lead with the feature win. 

Gary Corbin claimed the early lead from the pole position but David Gailley quickly took over the first position in his Gailley Motorsports Nr. 24.

Zimmerman was moving quickly up to the front and took the second spot on the sixth lap. For the next four trips around the track the pair battled just inches apart. Zimmerman finally got past Gailley coming out of turn two, thought the two made contact diving into turn two. Gailley got hard on the brakes to let Zimmerman recover and the battle resumed.

The white flag flew with Zimmerman's Quality Intermodal Delivery Service / Pro Muffler Nr. 11X just inches ahead of Gailley's Nr. 24. On the final circuit, Jason Trevathan went past Gailley to take second at the checkered flag in his Anson Powder Coating / Pit Stop Pizza Nr. 3. Fourth was Mark Ross in the Ross Racing / Tommy G's Welding Nr. 8 with Corbin rounding out the top five. Gailley and Terry Carter in the Nr. 35 won the heat races.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Race Results – Sat, June 25, 2005

T

Next At Devil's Bowl

Two Nights of Racing - Saturday and Sunday July 2 & 3 

Saturday

Super Sprints,  USA Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks

Sunday

FIREWORKS

SUPR Late Models

USA Modifieds - $2,000 to win

Street Stocks - $400 to win