Hi @Mac_ and welcome to TAC. Sorry for the late response. Wednesdays are my favorite days at TAC because I truly enjoy trying to improvise over a backing track. I find that Tony often tabs scales in unconventional ways – perhaps to get people thinking outside the box (lol), or get them to play in areas along the fretboard that they normally wouldn’t (you’d be surprised at the number of people who get uncomfortable playing beyond the 5th fret). Also, Tony likes to show how scales in different areas of the fretboard can be connected, hence some odd note placements in-between.
So, if you know a scale pattern that you like to use, then by all means, use it – they’re no absolute rules when improvising. After all, they’re 7 different D note locations along the fretboard between the nut and 12th fret to build a D or Dm scale from. I say choose one that suits, or if you have the ability, move around to other D note locations and have fun! Personally, I chose the F major scale to play out of (and ignored the D major scale) because it contains all the notes of the Dm scale and sounded awesome (to me) against all the chords in the backing track.
Just remember, on Wednesdays there is no one to stop you from having FUN, except yourself. So do what you want!