By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Webb City’s Chance Hines, second last week, posted his first late model A feature victory on Sunday night at the Monett Speedway.

Hines, who started outside on the second row, beat Brandon McCormick of Lebanon and Darrin Barton of Aurora in the 25-lap race at the 3/8-mile clay track.

“I was very happy,” Hines said Monday. “It makes everything worthwhile.”

Hines, 28, is in his first season driving a late model. He previously drove a modified for a brief time. But his driving experience mainly has been in go-karts.

“I drove go-karts for eight years (successes included two national titles),” Hines said. “That built a good foundation for stock car racing. Those experiences taught me a lot of lessons.”

Hines is a 1997 graduate of Webb City High School and competed in soccer and tennis for the Cardinals.

Main sponsors are stepdad Jim Newman (Newman Auto Sales), dad Roger Hines (former late model driver), brother Chris Newman (The Sign Stop) and Brian Jordan (Roger Hines’ partner in Gator Industrial).

Chris Newman and Jim Newman are regulars in the pits, Chance said.

Track reporter Nicki Looney said that several of the late model drivers visited Hines to offer congratulations on his first win.

Completing the A feature winners were Shawn Strong (bomber), Jody Tillman (factory stock), Chad Williams (rookie), Tony Jackson Jr. (modified) and Randy Lebow (B-modified).

Nevada Speedway

Monett’s Jordan Holloway won his first A feature on the late model Race Brothers Show-Me Racin’ Series Tour on Saturday night at the quarter-mile dirt track.

Holloway, who earned $1,000, beat the Southwest Missouri group of Don Cloyd (Fair Grove), Leslie Essary (Crane) and Ken Essary (Cape Fair).