Speedway USA Opens 1999 Racing Season!!
By Tim Berier

May 7, 1999; Bolivar, MO. - Ozark race fans were treated to two nights of action pack racing and a tribute to all Mothers, as Speedway USA, opening night, and Lebanon's 1-44 Speedway brought out the cars and stars of short track racing.

Speedway USA saw the return of the Grand American Late modets as they took to the fast track, and also making their first appearance of weekly racing was the go carts from the Bolivar KART Racing series.

As the Grand American Late models returned to Speedway USA, five time NASCAR champion returned to his usual position, that of taking the checkered flag. Phillips was challenged by hard charging Paul Wallen of Arcola, but Wallen was unable to make the necessary pass to hold off Phillips. Wallen took second with newcomer to the division, Mike Hoover of Springfield taking the third spot.

In the O'Reilly Auto Parts Modtfleds, it was the Bates brothers finishing first and second, David Bates, #91, and Jay Bates, #81, both from Fair Grove, took to the groove early in the feature race, David Bates found the fast way around the oval as he pulled away from his brother, Jay, to take the checkered flag for his first of two feature wins of the weekend. Rounding out the top four was Joplin's Jim McMurray and Richland's Brian Schutt.

In what has been shown as one of the most competitive division on the short track, the Street Stocks took to the asphalt for their 20 lap feature, Young Toby Harden,of Ozark, took the checkered flag. Harden who has raced for only his second season was able to keep his car in front of Lebanon's Mike Shaddy, coming in the third and fourth positions were Willard's Randy Boyce and Battlefield's Scott Johnson.

Pure Street Division, is always fun to watch as you can see raw talent on the raceway, saw Jerry Garretson, of Bolivar, take his first win of the season Friday night, Garretson look charge of the front as Rogersville's Steve Shaw and Buffalo's Cleo Jasper baffled for the second and third position. When the checkered flag fell, first, Garretson, second, Shaw, third, Jasper and fourth Marshfleld's Chuck Fare.

Bolivar KART Racing Series made their debut Friday night at Speedway USA, Racing each week will be three divisions of go karts, juniors, age 12-16, medium and heavy. Making their way around a shortened track, they push their karts to the timit. In the Junior division Matt Morgan took his kart to the front and never looked back. Jacob Magnin finished second, John Gibson took third and Mike Haulman finished fourth,

In the medium kart division, Travis Jones took the checkered flag followed by Bryan Neely, Chance Hines, and Bradley Neely. In the heavy division, Travis Jones took his second feature win of the night from Bryan Neely, Second. Third position went to Bradley Neely, and Chance Hines took fourth.

The Baby Grand paced themselves around the 3/8 mile oval and when the flag flew anyone could have taken the checkered.  Coming home ahead of the field was Nixa native Trent Brumley, Brumley had to hold off Lebanon's Dusty Cromer, second and Ozark's Jim Bush, in third.