Track champion Ray records LVMS victory

Monday, Aug. 16, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

Reigning track champion Mike Ray made his first appearance of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's 3/8-mile paved oval a memorable one, scoring a victory in the NASCAR Late Model division.

Ray, the defending Pacific Coast Region Champion for the NASCAR Winston Racing Series, held off Scott Gafforini in the 40-lap main event.

"It was just like old times with Mike out front," fellow NASCAR Late Model competitor Chris Lowden said.

"It feels really good to come back home and win," Ray said. "We are nearing a year since I won last, so it feels great to get this win."

Gafforini, the track points leader, took second place from Rich Attasani with 11 laps remaining but could not catch Ray.

Randy Swalwell held off Fabian Bray in the 35-lap Grand American Modified event to gain his third win of the season.

"It was a hard race," said Swalwell. "On one restart we were three wide, and I was the meat in the sandwich. We got into the 14 car (T.J. Clark), and he spun. I felt really bad about that. It was a great race. It would have been a great race if T.J. had still been up there. He was fast."

Glen Burke won the 25-lap Limited Late Model feature. David Quartero and Mark Ayers rounded out the top three.

Mark Schotmuller took the victory in the Mini Stock feature with Roger Kingsland following and Keith Messell finishing third.

Mike Deal led Jack Bass and John Fayt to the line in the Street Stock main event.

In the Bandolero main event, Alex Haase led the field. Joshua Gross, John Ray (Mike Ray's son) and James Bunty Jr. followed.