Jay Bates Wins O’Reilly Auto Parts Modified Feature!
By Tim Berier

June 18, 1999; Bolivar, MO. - Fair Grove’s Jay Bates now knows what it’s like to stand
in the O’Reilly Winners Circle as he took his first ever feature win Friday night at Speedway USA.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Modified Division has been dominated by David Bates, finishing second, but this race belonged to Jay Bates. David Bates was involved in an early race incident along with Jim Hayes and Brian Kapica. David Bates was able to return to the feature. Hayes was taken to the infield by wrecker and Kapica went to the pits. Richland’s Brian Schutt took third place honors, 4th place went to   Lendall Alexander and 5th place was Jerry Garretson.

The sky was overcast all evening and so when rain began to fall, track officials decided to run the Grand American Late Models feature first. A good field of late models tookto  the track and it look as any one of several drivers might take the win. When the checkered flag fell, Springfield Larry Phillips took home the win with Steve Holt taking second.  Third place went to Steve Simmons, who placed his late model for the first time on the track this season. Fair Grove’s Ricky Icenhower took fourth, 5th Jerry Kelly, Walnut Grove, 6th - Kenny Dickinson, Lebanon, 7th - Roy Chism, Republic, 8th - Tim Swearingin, Springfield, 9th - Jim Hunt, Willard, and 10th - Sam Payne, Buffalo.

Street Stock Division placed Toby Harden of Ozark, with the winner’s trophy. Harden was able to defend the top position against hard charging Steve Maddux, Richland, who captured second. Mike Shaddy, Lebanon, took third place, Scott Johnson, Battlefield took fourth, 5th - Andy Jenkins, Rogersville, 6th - Robert Reeves, Tuscumbia, 7th - Jared Brown, Pleasant Hope, 8th-  Jeff Smith, Springfield and 9th Clyde Long, Halfway.

He has been in the winner’s circle several times already this season, but David Rich, Lebanon, placed another trophy on the self as he took the win in the Pure Street Division. Rich came through the field and place himself early ahead of Jeff Richardson, finishing second.  Third place went to Roy Gladden, Bolivar, 4th - Cleo Jasper, Buffalo, 5th - Robert Claunch, Halfway, 6th - Dan Scoggins, Springfield, 7th - Chuck Fers, Marshfield, 8th - Tom Lewis, Rogers, Ark., and 9th - Jerry Garretson.

The Baby Grands were on hands and the crowd was able to watch Lebanon’s Dusty Cromer take the 20 lap feature win. Cromer was followed to the line by 2nd place   - Trent Brumley, 3rd - Chester McDowell, 4th - Neal Kimble, 5th - Mark Laxton, 6th - Shane Loney and 7th - Mark Bartley.

In the Bolivar KART Series, Chris Newman, Webb City took the trophy in the heavy feature division. Second place was Bryan Neely, Billings, third place, Troy Young, Lebanon and fourth was Bradly Neely, Webb City.

The Medium division winner was Billing’s Bryan Neely. Second position was Chris Newman, third place went to  Travis Jones and fourth was Troy Young.

Matt Morgan came home the winner in the Junior II Division. Second spot - John Gibson, 3rd - Jeremy Rasmussen, and 4th - Robbie Bryant.

Additional information: Heat Race Results-

Street Stocks: Heat One:  Steve Maddux, Toby Harden, Jared Brown
                        Heat Two:  Scott Johnson, Andy Jenkins, Mike Shaddy

O'Reilly Auto Parts Modifieds: Heat One: David Bates, Brian Kapica, JayBates
                                                     Heat Two: Not held

Late Model Stocks: Did Not Run this evening

Grand American late Model: Heat One: Steve Simmons, Sam Payne, Ricky Icenhower
                                                 Heat Two: Steve Holt, Larry Phillips, Roy Chism

Pure Street: Heat One: Jeff Richardson, Roy Gladden, Dan Scoggins
                      Heat Two: David Rich, Robert Claunch, Jerry Garretson