At one time in Dallas’ not so distant past, there was a place where race cars charged around a black clay track as thick dust billowed from their tires. The engines roared, drowning out the sound of thousands of fans, as each machine fought to make it to the front of the pack. When the white flag flew, signalling the last lap of the race, they sprinted toward the finish line.
The original Devil’s Bowl Speedway, located on Buckner Boulevard in Dallas, was a popular racing site for Dallasites who appreciated the speed and the sport. And covered the major events at the one-time racing destination. From big wins to injuries and promising careers cut short, the old Devil’s Bowl made a major impact on local racing history.
Background
The Devil’s Bowl Speedway: This was first mentioned in The News on March 16, 1941, in an article that called it “a newly constructed pit for the purpose of racing junk cars.” It had an oval dirt track, grandstands and weekly events during the racing season. Its popularity was thanks in part to businessman Roy Carter, the track’s promoter. He bought the race track’s concession rights in the early 1940s and eventually gained complete control. The News credited him with turning it into one of the country’s most active by the 1960s.
Dallas Racing Club: During the 1960s, the club was a home for hot rod enthusiasts, both car owners and drivers. In 1960, when the club formed according to a legacy filing with the state, The News said it had 200 members, but in 1968, that number had dropped to 67 registered super-modified sprin
The club and the speedway: It was one club and a half mile of dirt. The Devil’s Bowl was the club’s home base and, according to a 1960 article, the club organized events and helped make the race track’s rules.
The club’s events ranged from serious to spectacular. One had local DJs competing in a destruction derby, while on another weekend, the club sponsored the Southwest Championship Race drawing drivers from across the Southwest. For a time, fans had a shot at winning a race each week. A lucky few were chosen to compete in a spectator race in whatever car they were assigned.
In 1962, the International Auto Daredevils, a stunt driving group, dazzled fans at the Devil’s Bowl with jumps, spins and rollover exhibitions. Some years, including 1966, championship meets ended with a 100-lap race, meaning durability of the race car and the driver’s skill were of equal importance.
Club events were not limited to men. Women, often the wives of Devil’s Bowl drivers, raced jalopies. They were built of salvaged parts to keep costs down because of the high rate of crashes during races, according to author Rae Tyson.
Tragedy
By the late 1960s, the Devil’s Bowl was attracting fans in large numbers, thanks to Carter’s efforts to expand seating, and The News reported on race results and star drivers. The coverage was positive, but for a brief time in 1968, the tone changed.
That year, the Dallas Racing Club lost three of its members: A.D. Trowell, William Merle “Bill” Rogers and Jim Lunday. All three were killed while racing at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Devil’s Bowl veteran A.D. Trowell
Beginning in the 1950s, racing coverage in The News often featured A.D. Trowell and his brother, Jiggs, who dominated the sport with a style called “smooth-riding.” A.D. Trowell won the Devil’s Bowl stock car racing championship multiple times and, while he was mentioned in The News less frequently by the 1960s, he was a top driver.
