O'REILLY AUTO PARTS
                           PROFESSIONAL PARTS PEOPLE







                                                                  April 3, 2002

Dear Shareholder:

     You are cordially invited to attend the 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of O'Reilly  Automotive,  Inc.  to be held at the  University  Plaza  Convention
Center,  Arizona Room,  333 John Q. Hammons  Parkway,  Springfield,  Missouri on
Tuesday, May 7, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. local time.

     Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual  Meeting are given in
the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

     In  addition  to the  specific  matters to be acted  upon,  there will be a
report on the  progress of the  Company  and an  opportunity  for  questions  of
general interest to the shareholders.

     It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting.  Whether or
not you plan to attend in person,  please  complete,  sign,  date and return the
enclosed  proxy card in the envelope  provided at your earliest  convenience  or
vote via telephone or Internet using the  instructions on the proxy card. If you
attend the  meeting,  you may vote your  shares in person  even  though you have
previously signed and returned your proxy.

     In order to assist us in preparing  for the Annual  Meeting,  please let us
know  if you  plan  to  attend  by  contacting  Tricia  Headley,  our  Corporate
Secretary, at 233 South Patterson,  Springfield,  Missouri 65802, (417) 862-2674
ext. 1161.

     We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.



      David E. O'Reilly                           Larry P. O'Reilly
      Co-Chairman of the Board and                Co-Chairman of the Board and
      Chief Executive Officer                     Chief Operating Officer


                            O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
                               233 South Patterson
                           Springfield, Missouri 65802
                        --------------------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            To be held on May 7, 2002

                        --------------------------------

Springfield, Missouri
April 3, 2002

To the Shareholders of O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.:

     The Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of  O'Reilly  Automotive,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2002, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at
the  University   Plaza  Convention   Center,   333  John  Q.  Hammons  Parkway,
Springfield, Missouri 65806, for the following purposes:

(1)  To elect three Class III Directors to the Company's Board of Directors,  to
     serve for three years; and

(2)  To transact such other  business as may properly come before the meeting or
     any adjournments thereof.

     The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business  on  February  28,
2002,  as the record  date for the  determination  of  shareholders  entitled to
notice  of  and  to  vote  at  the  Annual  Meeting  and  any   adjournments  or
postponements.  A list  of all  shareholders  entitled  to  vote  at the  Annual
Meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of and number of
shares held by each  shareholder,  will be available during usual business hours
at the  principal  office of the  Company at 233 South  Patterson,  Springfield,
Missouri 65802,  to be examined by any  shareholder  for any purpose  reasonably
related to the Annual  Meeting for 10 days prior to the date  thereof.  The list
will also be available for examination throughout the conduct of the meeting.

     A copy of the Company's  Annual  Shareholders'  Report for fiscal year 2001
accompanies this notice.

                                            By Order of the Board of Directors


                                            TRICIA HEADLEY
                                            Secretary


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   IMPORTANT
Please VOTE by proxy card,  telephone  or Internet  whether or not you intend to
attend the meeting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                            O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
                               233 South Patterson
                           Springfield, Missouri 65802

                                -----------------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                -----------------

The  enclosed  proxy  is  solicited  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  O'Reilly
Automotive, Inc. (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of the Company's
shareholders to be held at the University Plaza Convention  Center,  333 John Q.
Hammons Parkway, Springfield,  Missouri 65806, on Tuesday, May 7, 2002, at 10:00
a.m., local time, and at any adjournments thereof.  Whether or not you expect to
attend the meeting in person,  please return your executed proxy in the enclosed
envelope or vote via telephone or Internet using the  instructions  on the proxy
and the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with your wishes.
This Proxy Statement and the  accompanying  proxy card are first being mailed to
shareholders on or about  April 3, 2002.

                              REVOCABILITY OF PROXY

If,  after  sending  in your  proxy,  you  decide to vote in person or desire to
revoke your proxy for any other reason, you may do so by notifying the Secretary
of the Company in writing of such  revocation at any time prior to the voting of
the proxy.


                                   RECORD DATE

     Shareholders  of record at the close of business on February 28, 2002, will
be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

                         ACTION TO BE TAKEN UNDER PROXY

     All properly  executed proxies received by the Board of Directors  pursuant
to  this  solicitation  will be  voted  in  accordance  with  the  shareholders'
directions  specified in the proxy. If no such directions have been specified by
marking the appropriate  squares in the accompanying proxy card, the shares will
be voted by the persons named in the enclosed proxy card as follows:

(1)  FOR the  election  of  David E.  O'Reilly,  Jay D.  Burchfield  and Paul R.
     Lederer,  named herein as nominees for Class III  Directors of the Company,
     to hold office until the annual  meeting of the Company's  shareholders  in
     2005 and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; and

(2)  According to their  judgment on the  transaction  of such other business as
     may properly come before the meeting or any  postponements  or adjournments
     thereof.

     None of the three nominees have indicated that they would be unable or will
decline to serve as a Director.  However,  should any nominee  become  unable or
unwilling to serve for any reason,  it is intended that the persons named in the
proxy will vote for the  election of such other  person in their stead as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is not aware of any
reason that might cause any nominee to be unavailable to serve as a Director.

                       VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS

     On  February  28,  2002,  there  were  52,857,496  shares of  Common  Stock
outstanding,  which  constitute  all of the  outstanding  shares  of the  voting
capital stock of the Company. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote
on all  matters to come before the Annual  Meeting,  including  the  election of
Directors.



     A majority of the  outstanding  shares present or represented by proxy will
constitute a quorum at the meeting.  The  affirmative  vote of a majority of the
votes of the  shares  present  in person or  represented  by proxy at the Annual
Meeting and  entitled to vote is  required  to elect each person  nominated  for
Director.  Shares present at the meeting but which abstain or are represented by
proxies which are marked  "WITHHOLD  AUTHORITY'' with respect to the election of
any person to serve on the Board of Directors  will be considered in determining
whether  the  requisite  number of  affirmative  votes are cast on such  matter.
Accordingly,  such  proxies  will  have the same  effect as a vote  against  the
nominee as to which such abstention or direction applies.  Shares not present at
the meeting will not affect the election of directors. Broker non-votes will not
be treated as shares  represented at the meeting with respect to the election of
directors, and therefore will have no effect.

     The vote required for any other matter properly  brought before the meeting
will be the  affirmative  vote of the  majority  of the  shares of Common  Stock
present in person or  represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to
vote on the proposal unless Missouri law or the Company's  Restated  Articles of
Incorporation  or By-laws require a greater vote.  Shares present at the meeting
which  abstain  (including  proxies  which deny  discretionary  authority on any
matters  properly  brought before the meeting) will be counted as shares present
and  entitled to vote and will have the same  effect as a vote  against any such
matter.  Broker  non-votes  will not be  treated  as shares  represented  at the
meeting as to such matter(s) voted on and therefore will have no effect.


                 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

     The following  table sets forth  information as of February 28, 2002,  with
respect to each person (other than management)  known to us to be the beneficial
owner of more than five percent (5%) of our outstanding  shares of Common Stock.
Unless otherwise indicated,  the Company believes that the beneficial owners set
forth in the table have sole voting and investment power.




    Name and Address of          Amount and Nature of             Percent
      Beneficial Owner           Beneficial Ownership             Of Class
                                                                
 T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.         4,905,800 (1)                 9.3%
 100 E. Pratt Street
 Baltimore, Maryland  21202



(1)  As reflected on such  beneficial  owner's  Schedule 13G dated  February 14,
     2002,  provided to the Company in accordance  with the Securities  Exchange
     Act of 1934, as amended.  These securities are owned by various  individual
     and institutional investors, to whom T. Rowe Price Associates,  Inc. (Price
     Associates)  serves as investment  adviser with power to direct investments
     and/or sole power to vote the  securities.  For  purposes of the  reporting
     requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  Price  Associates is
     deemed  to  be a  beneficial  owner  of  such  securities;  however,  Price
     Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of
     such securities. Of the 4,905,800 shares reported, Price Associates claimed
     sole  voting  power  of  751,200  shares,  no  shared  voting  power,  sole
     dispositive power of 4,905,800 shares and no shared dispositive power.




                                       2



                        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

     The following  table sets forth,  as of February 28, 2002,  the  beneficial
ownership of each current Director  (including the three nominees for Director),
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth
herein,  and the executive officers and Directors as a group, of the outstanding
Common  Stock.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the  Company  believes  that  the
beneficial owners set forth in the table have sole voting and investment power.




                                          Amount and Nature of          Percent
Name                                      Beneficial Ownership(a)       of Class
----                                      -----------------------       --------
                                                                    
Charles H. "Chub" O'Reilly, Sr. (b).......        87,224                     *

Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr. (c)..............      1,226,232                 2.3%

David E. O'Reilly (d).....................      2,613,696                 5.0%

Lawrence P. O'Reilly (e)..................      1,653,659                 3.1%

Rosalie O'Reilly-Wooten (f)...............      2,205,517                 4.2%

Ted F. Wise (g)...........................        213,766                   *

Greg Henslee (h)..........................         38,331                   *

Jay D. Burchfield (i).....................         24,000                   *

Joe C. Greene (j).........................         28,400                   *

Paul R. Lederer (k).......................         30,000                   *

All Directors and executive
   officers as a grouP (11 person) (1)....      8,131,520                15.4%



*less than 1%

(a)  Reflects the number of shares  outstanding on February 28, 2002,  and, with
     respect to each person,  assumes the exercise of all stock  options held by
     such person that are  exercisable  currently  or within 60 days of February
     28,  2002  (such  options  being  referred  to  hereinafter  as  "currently
     exercisable options").

(b)  The stated number of shares includes 71,000 shares held through the Charles
     H. O'Reilly,  Sr. Rev. Trust, 4,969 shares held in the O'Reilly  Automotive
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan with UMB Bank,  N.A. as trustee,  3,000 shares
     held by Mr.  O'Reilly's wife and 8,255 shares held in the O'Reilly Employee
     Savings Plus Plan with SunTrust Bank as trustee.

(c)  The stated  number of shares  includes  745,661  shares  held  through  the
     Charles H.  O'Reilly,  Jr. Rev.  Trust,  475,936  shares  controlled by Mr.
     O'Reilly  as trustee  of a trust for the  benefit  of his  children,  4,635
     shares held in the O'Reilly  Employee  Savings Plus Plan with SunTrust Bank
     as trustee and no shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 2002.

(d)  The stated number of shares includes  617,354 shares held through the David
     E. O'Reilly Rev.  Trust,  1,908,174  shares  controlled by Mr.  O'Reilly as
     trustee of a trust for the benefit of his  children,  3,168  shares held in
     the O'Reilly  Employee  Savings Plus Plan with SunTrust Bank as trustee and
     85,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28,
     2002.

(e)  The stated  number of shares  includes  1,068,277  shares held  through the
     Lawrence P. O'Reilly Rev. Trust,  495,460 shares controlled by Mr. O'Reilly
     as trustee of a trust for the benefit of his children, 4,922 shares held in
     the O'Reilly  Employee  Savings Plus Plan with SunTrust Bank as trustee and
     85,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28,
     2002.

(f)  The stated number of shares  includes  828,460 shares held through  Rosalie
     O'Reilly-Wooten,  Rev.  Trust,  993,172 shares  controlled by Ms. Wooten as
     trustee  of a  trust  for  the  benefit  of her  children,  350,788  shares
     controlled  by Ms.  Wooten's  husband  as  trustee  for the  benefit of Ms.
     Wooten's children and their descendants,  3,097 shares held in the O'Reilly
     Automotive  Savings  Plus Plan with  SunTrust  Bank as  trustee  and 30,000
     shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2002.

(g)  Includes  104,726  shares held of record by a revocable  trust of which Mr.
     Wise,  as the sole  trustee,  has sole voting and  investing  power,  4,040
     shares held in the O'Reilly  Employee  Savings Plus Plan with SunTrust Bank
     as trustee and 25,000 shares subject to options  exercisable within 60 days
     of February  28,  2002.  Also  includes  80,000  shares held of record by a
     revocable  trust of which Mr. Wise's wife,  as the sole  trustee,  has sole
     voting and investment power.

(h)  The stated  number of shares  includes  9,651 shares  jointly  owned by Mr.
     Henslee and his wife,  1,589 shares held in the O'Reilly  Employee  Savings
     Plus  Plan  with  SunTrust  Bank as  Trustee,  259  shares  awarded  by the
     Company's  Performance Incentive Plan and 3,082 shares held in the O'Reilly
     Automotive  Stock  Purchase  Plan  with UMB Bank,  N.A.  as  trustee.  Also
     includes  23,750 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 2002.

(i)  Includes  20,000 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 2002, and 4,000 shares directly owned.

(j)  Includes  20,000 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 2002, and 8,400 shares directly owned.

(k)  Includes  10,000 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 2002, and 20,000 shares directly owned.

(l)  Includes  options  to  purchase  a  total  of  306,250  shares  held by the
     Company's Directors and executive officers as a group which are exercisable
     within 60 days of February 28, 2002.




                   PROPOSAL 1-ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS

Information About The Nominees And Directors Continuing in Office

     The  Company's  Amended  and  Restated  By-laws  and  Restated  Articles of
Incorporation,  currently  provide for three  classes of  Directors,  each class
serving for a three-year term expiring one year after  expiration of the term of
the preceding  class,  so that the term of one class will expire each year.  The
terms of the  current  Class I and Class II  Directors  expire in 2003 and 2004,
respectively.  The Board of Directors has nominated  David E.  O'Reilly,  Jay D.
Burchfield  and Paul R. Lederer who are the current Class III  Directors,  for a
term expiring at the Company's annual shareholders meeting in 2005.

     The following  table lists the principal  occupation  for at least the last
five years of each of the  nominees  and the  present  Directors  continuing  in
office,  his or her present positions and offices with the Company,  the year in
which he or she  first  was  elected  or  appointed  a  Director  (each  serving
continuously since first elected or appointed unless otherwise  stated),  his or
her age and his or her  directorships  in any company with a class of securities
registered  pursuant to Sections 12 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934 or in any company  registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (as  specifically  noted).  Charles H. O'Reilly,  Sr. is the
father of  Charles  H.  O'Reilly,  Jr.,  Rosalie  O'Reilly-Wooten,  Lawrence  P.
O'Reilly and David E. O'Reilly.



                                                                                                          Director
Name                           Age              Principal Occupation                                       Since
----                           ---              --------------------                                     ----------
                                                   Nominees for Director-Class III
                                      (To Be Elected to Serve a Three-Year Term Expiring in 2005)
                                                                                                   

David E. O'Reilly............   52    Co-Chairman  of the  Board  since  August  1999;  Chief  Executive    1972
                                      Officer  since  March  1993;  President  from March 1993 to August
                                      1999; Vice-President of the Company from 1975 to March 1993.

Jay D. Burchfield............   55    President of Oklahoma City Bakery,  Inc. in Springfield,  Missouri    1997
                                      from January  1999 to present;  Chairman of the Board and Director
                                      of Trust  Company  of the  Ozarks in  Springfield,  Missouri  from
                                      April  1998  to  present;  Director  of  Quest  Capital  Alliance,
                                      Springfield,  Missouri  from January 2002 to Present;  Director of
                                      The Primary Care  Network in  Springfield,  Missouri  from January
                                      1998 to  present;  Chairman  of the  Board  and  Director  of City
                                      Bancorp in  Springfield,  Missouri  from  January 1997 to present;
                                      Chairman  of the  Board  and  CEO of  Boatmen's  National  Bank of
                                      Oklahoma in Tulsa,  Oklahoma  from January  1996 to January  1997;
                                      Chairman,   President  and  CEO  of  Boatmen's  Bank  of  Southern
                                      Missouri  in  Springfield,  Missouri  from  April  1987 to January
                                      1996.  Mr.  Burchfield's  career has spanned more than 25 years in
                                      the banking industry.

Paul R. Lederer..............   62    Retired  October  1998;  Executive  Vice  President  of  Worldwide    2001
                                      Aftermarket of Federal-Mogul  Corporation February 1998 to October
                                      1998;  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer  of  Fel-Pro  from
                                      November  1994  to  February   1998,   when  it  was  acquired  by
                                      Federal-Mogul  Corporation;  presently a Director of the following
                                      companies:  R & B,  Inc.,  FPM,  Inc.,  Icarz.com  and  Trans-Pro,
                                      Inc.  Serves as a member of the advisory  boards of the  following
                                      companies:  Richco,  Inc.,  Turtle Wax, Inc.,  Ampere Products and
                                      The Wine Discount  Center.  Mr. Lederer had been a Director of the
                                      Company from April 1993 to July 1997 and was appointed  again as a
                                      Director in 2001.


                                              Directors Continuing in Office-Class I
                                                      (Terms Expiring in 2003)

Charles H. O'Reilly, Sr......   89    Chairman  Emeritus  since   March  1993  and  co-founder   of         1957
                                      the Company; Chairman of the Board from 1975 to March 1993.

Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr......   62    Continues  as  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Board  since  August  1999.    1966
                                      Retired from active company management,  February,  2002. Chairman
                                      of the Board from March 1993 to August 1999;  President  and Chief
                                      Executive Officer of the company from 1975 to March 1993.


                                              Directors Continuing in Office-Class II
                                                      (Terms Expiring in 2004)
Lawrence P. O'Reilly.........   55    Co-Chairman of the Board since August 1999; Chief Operating           1969
                                      Officer since March 1993; President from March 1993 to August
                                      1999; Vice President of the Company from 1975 to March 1993.

Rosalie O'Reilly-Wooten......   60    Continues as a Director.  Retired from active company management,     1980
                                      February, 2002.

Joe C. Greene................   66    Attorney-At-Law,  managing  partner of the  Springfield,  Missouri    1993
                                      firm  of  Greene  &  Curtis,  LLP,  Director  of Bass  Pro,  Inc.,
                                      Director of Ozarks  Coca-Cola  Bottling Co.,  Chairman of Missouri
                                      Sports  Hall  of  Fame,   Executive  Secretary  of  Missouri  Golf
                                      Association  and Director of Commerce Bank,  N.A. in  Springfield,
                                      Missouri;  Mr. Greene has been engaged in the private  practice of
                                      law for more than 30 years.




The Board of Directors  recommends a vote "FOR" each of the Class III  nominees.

Information Concerning Board of Directors

     During fiscal year 2001, four meetings of the Board of Directors were held.
During such year, each Director attended 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the
total  number of meetings of the Board of  Directors  held during the period for
which he or she has been a Director and (ii) the total  number of meetings  held
by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served during the
period for which he or she served,  with the  exception of Charles H.  O'Reilly,
Sr., who attended 50% of the aggregate of such meetings.

     The Board of Directors has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and
the Compensation Committee.  The Company has no standing nominating committee or
other committee performing a similar function.

     The Audit Committee  currently consists of Messrs.  Burchfield,  Greene and
Lederer, each of whom are "independent" pursuant to the standards imposed by the
Nasdaq  Stock  Market.   The  Audit  Committee   recommends  the  engagement  of
independent  accountants,  confers with internal and external auditors regarding
the adequacy of our financial control and fiscal policy,  and directs changes to
financial  policies  or  procedures  as  suggested  by the  auditors.  The Audit
Committee  functions pursuant to a written charter, a copy of which was attached
as an appendix to the Company's 2001 proxy  statement.  During fiscal year 2001,
two Audit Committee meetings were held.

     The  Compensation  Committee  consists  of Messrs.  Burchfield,  Greene and
Lederer.  The purpose of the  Compensation  Committee is to act on behalf of the
Board of Directors with respect to the establishment  and  administration of the
policies  which  govern  the  annual  compensation  of the  Company's  executive
officers. The Compensation Committee also administers the Company's stock option
and other benefit  plans.  During fiscal year 2001, two  Compensation  Committee
meetings were held.

Compensation of Directors

     The  Company  pays  an  annual  fee of  $10,000  to  Directors  who are not
employees of the Company. In addition,  the Company pays non-employee  Directors
$500 for each Board of Directors  meeting or  committee  meeting  attended.  The
Company  also  reimburses  Directors  for  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  in
connection  with their  attendance at Board and committee  meetings.  Directors'
fees of $32,500 were paid during 2001.

     The Company also maintains a Directors' Stock Option Plan, providing for an
automatic  annual grant (on April 22 or the first  business day  thereafter)  to
each  director  who is not an employee of the Company of a  non-qualified  stock
option to purchase  10,000 shares of Common Stock at a per share  exercise price
equal to the fair  market  value of the  Common  Stock on the date the option is
granted.  Director stock options expire  immediately  upon the date on which the
optionee ceases to be a director for any reason or seven years after the date on
which the option is granted, whichever first occurs. Each of the Company's three
non-employee  directors in 2001 were granted options during the year to purchase
10,000 shares of Common Stock under the Company's  Directors'  Stock Option Plan
at an exercise price of $20.65 per share.


                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following  information is given for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999,  concerning annual and long-term  compensation for services
rendered to the Company and its  subsidiaries  for the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and each of the Company's four other most highly  compensated  executive
officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) during fiscal year 2001.



                           Summary Compensation Table

                                                                     Long Term Compensation
                                         Annual Compensation                  Awards
                                     --------------------------      -------------------------
                                                                     Restricted
                                                                       Stock       Securities    All Other
     Name and                       Salary     Bonus      Other        Awards     Underlying       Compen-
Principal Position         Year      ($)(a)     ($)      ($)(b)        ($)(c)     Options(d)(#)  sation($)(e)
------------------         ----     --------  -------   ---------    ----------- -------------  ------------

                                                                                
David E. O'Reilly          2001      330,000  330,000           -            -        30,000          4,835
   Co-Chairman of the      2000      312,000  312,000           -            -             -         13,107
   Board and Chief         1999      300,000  300,000           -            -        50,000         15,538
   Executive Officer

Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr.   2001       87,500   87,500           -            -        15,000          5,118
   Vice-Chairman of the    2000      142,500  142,500           -            -             -         10,400
   Board                   1999      167,500  167,500           -            -             -         14,206

Lawrence P. O'Reilly       2001      264,000  264,000           -            -        25,000          4,929
   Co-Chairman of the      2000      275,000  275,000           -            -             -         12,945
   Board and Chief         1999      300,000  300,000           -            -        50,000         15,538
   Operating Officer

Ted F. Wise                2001      247,500  122,500           -            -        30,000          5,833
   Co-President            2000      235,000  115,000           -            -             -         13,002
                           1999      215,000  105,000           -            -        50,000         14,985

Greg Henslee               2001      207,500  102,500           -            -        30,000          6,044
   Co-President            2000      167,500   82,500      20,007        9,992            -          15,727
                           1999      175,000        -      19,660        9,824        50,000         13,067

 

(a)  Includes portion of salary deferred at named executive's election under the
     Company's Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

(b)  Cash awarded under the Company's Performance Incentive Plan ("PIP").

(c)  Shares  awarded to Mr.  Henslee under the Company's  Performance  Incentive
     Plan ("PIP") include (i) 778 shares in fiscal year 2000, having a per share
     fair market value of $12.84375 on the day awarded,  for an aggregate  value
     of $9,992 and (ii) 428 shares in fiscal year 1999,  having a per share fair
     market value of $22.95325 on the day of the awarded, for an aggregate value
     of $9,824. As of December 31, 2001, Mr. Henslee owned in the aggregate, 660
     number of such shares  having an  aggregate  value of  $24,070.  All shares
     awarded under the PIP vest in equal  installments  over a three year period
     commencing  on the  first  anniversary  of the  award  and are based on the
     achievement of certain performance goals for the year preceding the year in
     which the awards are made.  No dividends  are paid on shares of  restricted
     stock.

(d)  See  "Aggregated  Option  Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End
     Option  Values"  tables for  additional  information  with respect to these
     options.

(e)  "All Other Compensation" for the year ended December 31, 2001, includes (i)
     Company contributions of $4,326,  $4,559,  $4,413, $5,557 and $5,924 to its
     Profit Sharing and Savings Plan made on behalf of Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr.,
     David E.  O'Reilly,  Lawrence P.  O'Reilly,  Ted F. Wise and Greg  Henslee,
     respectively,  and (ii) the benefits  inuring to Charles H.  O'Reilly,  Jr.
     ($792), David E. O'Reilly ($276),  Lawrence P. O'Reilly ($516), Ted F. Wise
     ($276),  and Greg Henslee ($120) from the Company's payment of certain life
     and health insurance premiums, vehicle expenses, memberships and services.




Information as to Stock Options

     The following  table  provides  certain  information  concerning  grants of
options to purchase  Common  Stock made during the 2001 fiscal year to the named
executive  officers.  All stock  options were granted  pursuant to the Company's
1993 Stock Option Plan.



                       Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
                                                                                    Potential Realizable
                                                                                   Value at Assumed Annual
                                                                                    Rates of Stock Price
                                                                                   Appreciation For Option
                                            Individual Grants                               Term
                            -------------------------------------------------     --------------------------

                             Number of    % of Total
                             Securities     Options    Exercise
                             Underlying   Granted to   Price                                                   Grant Date
                              Options      Employees   Per         Expiration                                   Present
Name                         Granted(#)     in 2001    Share($)       Date           5% ($)        10%($)       Value($)
----                         ----------   ----------   --------    ----------     ----------      ---------     --------

                                                                                            
David E. O'Reilly            30,000 (1)      2.6%        26.51      06/14/11       1,295,496      2,062,803      795,300
Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr.     15,000 (1)      1.3%        26.51      06/14/11         647,730      1,031,402      397,650
Lawrence P. O'Reilly         25,000 (1)      2.1%        26.51      06/14/11       1,079,550      1,719,003      662,750
Rosalie O'Reilly-Wooten      15,000 (1)      1.3%        26.51      06/14/11         647,730      1,031,402      397,650
Ted F. Wise                  30,000 (1)      2.6%        26.51      06/14/11       1,295,496      2,062,803      795,300
Greg Henslee                 30,000 (1)      2.6%        26.51      06/14/11       1,296,496      2,062,803      795,300


(1)  Stock options become  exercisable with respect to 25% of the covered shares
     one year from the date of grant; 50% exercisable two years from the date of
     grant; 75% exercisable three years from the date of grant and the remainder
     become exercisable four years from the date of grant.






                 Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
                        and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
                                                                                             Value
                                                                     Number of          of Unexercised
                                                                    Unexercised          In-The-Money
                                Number of                              Options             Options at
                               Securities                            At FY-End(#)        FY-End ($)(1)
                             Underlying Options       Value          Exercisable/         Exercisable/
Name                            Exercised (#)      Realized ($)     Unexercisable        Unexercisable
----                         ------------------    ------------     -------------      -----------------
                                                                           

David E.  O'Reilly              80,000             1,424,002        85,000/55,000      1,832,137/677,738
Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr.        32,000               662,200             0/15,000              0/149,400
Lawrence P. O'Reilly            80,000             2,123,306        85,000/50,000      1,832,137/627,938
Rosalie O'Reilly-Wooten              -                     -        30,000/15,000        726,600/149,400
Ted F. Wise                    100,000             1,503,060        25,000/55,000        378,938/677,738
Greg Henslee                    42,500               428,719        23,750/58,750        437,569/744,188



(1)  Represents the market value of the underlying  Common Stock on December 31,
     2001, less the aggregate exercise price.





Employment Arrangements with Executive Officers

     The Company entered into written employment agreements effective January 1,
1993, with David E. O'Reilly,  Lawrence P. O'Reilly and Charles H. O'Reilly, Jr.
Such agreements,  which are in substantially identical form, provide for each of
the  foregoing  executive  officers  to be employed by the Company for a minimum
period of three years and automatically renew for each calendar year thereafter.
As compensation for services rendered to the Company, the agreements provide for
each executive officer to receive (i) a base annual salary of $220,000 for David
and Lawrence O'Reilly and $176,000 for Charles O'Reilly,  Jr., adjusted annually
for increases in the cost of living as reflected by the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban  Consumers as  determined  by the United  States  Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics,  and (ii) a bonus, the amount of which is determined
by  reference  to  such  criteria  as may  be  established  by the  Compensation
Committee.

     The Company has also entered into written retirement  agreements with David
E.  O'Reilly,  Lawrence  P.  O'Reilly,  Charles H.  O'Reilly,  Jr.  and  Rosalie
O'Reilly-Wooten.  Such  agreements,  as amended  and which are in  substantially
identical  form,  provide  for each of the  foregoing  executive  officers to be
employed as a consultant upon retirement,  for a period of ten years at a yearly
salary of $125,000, adjusted annually three percent for inflation and payable in
equal monthly payments.  The agreements also provide for each officer to receive
medical benefits, death and disability benefits, as well as the use of a car.

     An executive  officer's  employment  may be  terminated  by the Company for
cause (as defined in the agreement) or without cause. If an executive  officer's
employment  is terminated  for cause or if an executive  officer  resigns,  such
executive  officer's  salary  and bonus  rights  will  cease on the date of such
termination  or  resignation.  If the Company  terminates  an executive  officer
without cause, all compensation  payments will continue through the remainder of
the  agreement's  term.  Pursuant  to  his  or her  respective  agreement,  each
executive  officer  has  agreed for so long as he or she is  receiving  payments
thereunder to refrain from disclosing information confidential to the Company or
engaging,   directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  automotive  parts  distribution,
manufacturing  or sales  business  in the states in which the  Company  operates
without prior written consent of the Company.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     Joe C.  Greene,  a Director of the  Company and member of the  Compensation
Committee,  is the  Managing  Partner  of the law firm of Greene & Curtis,  LLP,
which has provided  legal services to the Company in prior years and is expected
to provide  legal  services to the Company in the future.  The Company  believes
that  the  terms  of the  legal  services  provided  by Mr.  Greene  are no less
favorable  to the  Company  than those that  would  have been  available  to the
Company in comparable transactions with unaffiliated parties. Mr. Greene is also
a Director of Commerce Bank, N.A. in  Springfield,  Missouri which has loaned $5
million to the Company under a promissory note.

Compensation Committee Report

     Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  that might be  incorporated  by reference in
future  filings,  including  this  proxy  statement,  in whole  or in part,  the
following  Compensation Committee Report shall not be incorporated into any such
filings.

General

     The  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors is  responsible  for
recommending  to the Board of  Directors a  compensation  package  and  specific
compensation levels for the executive officers of the Company. Additionally, the
Compensation  Committee  establishes  policies and  guidelines for other benefit
programs and  administers  the award of stock options  under the Company's  1993
Stock Option Plan. The Compensation  Committee is composed of three non-employee
members of the Board of Directors.

Policy

     The Compensation  Committee's policy with respect to executive compensation
is to provide the  executive  officers of the Company with a total  compensation
package which is  competitive  and equitable  and which  encourages  and rewards
performance  based in part upon the Company's  performance in terms of increases
in share value. The key components of the Company's compensation package for its
executive  officers  are  base  salary,   annual  cash  bonuses  and  long-term,
stock-based incentives.

Base Salary

     The minimum annual base salary of each of Charles H.  O'Reilly,  Jr., David
E. O'Reilly and Lawrence P. O'Reilly is fixed under their employment  agreements
with  the  Company,  subject  to  increases  by the  Board of  Directors  (after
considering the recommendations of the Compensation Committee).  The base salary
for each of these  executive  officers was  established  prior to the  Company's
initial public offering in April 1993. The minimum annual base salary, which was
set by the  Board  of  Directors  (as  then  constituted)  for  purposes  of the
employment  agreements  with  each  of the  aforementioned  executive  officers,
represented  the  subjective  judgment  of  the  Board  as  to  a  fair  minimum
compensation  level,  taking into account the then  contemplated  initial public
offering and the potential for  additional  cash  compensation  in the form of a
bonus for 1993.  Any future  recommendation  by the  Compensation  Committee for
adjustments  to the annual base salary of an  executive  officer will be for the
purposes of bringing them in line with base  compensation then being paid by the
Company's  competitors  for executive  management,  based upon the  Compensation
Committee's  review of, among other  things,  compensation  data for  comparable
companies and positions,  and, in the case of executive  officers other than the
Chief  Executive  Officer,  the  Chairman  of the Board or the  Chief  Operating
Officer,  reflecting  increased  responsibilities.  The  Compensation  Committee
believes that the Company's principal  competitors for executive  management are
not  necessarily  the same  companies  that  would be  included  in a peer group
compiled  for  purposes of  comparing  shareholder  returns.  Consequently,  the
companies that are reviewed for such  compensation  purposes may not be the same
as the  companies  comprising  the  Nasdaq-Amex  Retail  Trade Stock Price Index
included  in this  Proxy  Statement.  The base  salaries  of the  aforementioned
executive  officers were increased in 2001 to reflect  increases in the Consumer
Price  Index  from  2000  to  2001,  increases  in  responsibilities  due to the
Company's growth and to align executive  compensation with comparable  companies
and positions.

Bonuses

     The  Compensation  Committee  has  established  a bonus  plan for the Chief
Executive Officer,  the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Operating Officer of
the Company  based upon  objective  criteria.  Under this bonus plan,  the Chief
Executive Officer,  the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Operating Officer of
the  Company  each will  receive a bonus  based  upon a  percentage  of  pre-tax
earnings  (with no minimum  level of pre-tax  earnings  required),  exclusive of
extraordinary  items,  earned by the  Company,  subject to a maximum  cash bonus
equal to such  executive  officer's base salary for the year in which such bonus
is earned.  The  bonuses to be awarded to all other  officers of the Company are
based upon each such  officer's  contribution,  responsibility  and  performance
during  the  year,  and are  thus  subjective  in  nature.  In  formulating  its
recommendation  for the  bonuses  of such other  officers  of the  Company,  the
Compensation  Committee  considers,  among other things,  the  evaluation of the
Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company  with  regard  to  the  contribution,
responsibility  and  performance of the officer in question and his views on the
appropriate compensation level of such executive officer.

Long-Term Incentives

     The only long-term incentive currently offered for senior executives by the
Company  is stock  option  awards.  Stock  options  may be  awarded to the Chief
Executive Officer,  the other individual executive officers and upper and middle
managers  by the  Board of  Directors,  based  upon,  in the  case of the  Chief
Executive Officer and other individual executive officers, the recommendation of
the Compensation Committee.

     It is the stock option  program which links rewards to the  achievement  of
long-term  corporate  performance.  In determining  whether and how many options
should be granted, the Compensation  Committee may consider the responsibilities
and  seniority  of  each of the  executive  officers,  as well as the  financial
performance  of the  Company  and such other  factors  as it deems  appropriate,
consistent with the Company's compensation  policies.  However, the Compensation
Committee has not  established  specific  target  awards  governing the receipt,
timing  or size of option  grants.  Thus,  determinations  with  respect  to the
granting of stock options are subjective in nature.

CEO Compensation

     The base salary of Mr. David E. O'Reilly,  the Chief  Executive  Officer of
the Company,  was  established  under his employment  agreement dated January 1,
1993,  and the  criterion  to be achieved  for his bonus was  determined  by the
Compensation  Committee in February 2001, based upon a percentage of the pre-tax
earnings,  exclusive of extraordinary items, earned by the Company in 2000. This
cash  bonus,  in an amount  equal to his base  salary for 2001,  was paid to the
Chief  Executive  Officer in equal monthly  installments  during 2001.  The cash
bonus to be paid to the Chief  Executive  Officer in 2002 will be based upon the
same percentage of pre-tax earnings, exclusive of extraordinary items, earned by
the Company in 2001, not to exceed the Chief Executive Officer's base salary for
2002.

                             Respectfully submitted,


                                   THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
                                   BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                                   O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.


                                   Jay D. Burchfield
                                   Chairman of the Compensation Committee

                                   Joe C. Greene
                                   Member of the Compensation Committee

                                   Paul. R Lederer
                                   Member of the Compensation Committee


Audit Committee Report

     In connection  with the December 31, 2001 financial  statements,  the Audit
Committee has:

o    reviewed and discussed  with  management  the Company's  audited  financial
     statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001;

o    discussed with the Company's  independent  auditors the matters required to
     be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,  Communication with
     Audit Committees,  as amended,  by the Auditing Standards Board of American
     Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and

o    received  and  reviewed  the  written  disclosures  and the letter from the
     Company's  independent  auditors  required by Independence  Standard No. 1,
     Independence  Discussions  with  Audit  Committees,   as  amended,  by  the
     Independence  Standards  Board,  and have  discussed  with the auditors the
     auditors' independence.

     Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial  statements
referred to above be included in the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.


                                   THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE
                                   BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                                   O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

                                   Jay D. Burchfield
                                   Chairman of the Audit Committee

                                   Joe C. Greene
                                   Member of the Audit Committee

                                   Paul R. Lederer
                                   Member of the Audit Committee




Transactions with Insiders and Others

     Sixty-nine of the Company's  stores were leased from one of two real estate
investment  partnerships  and a  limited  liability  corporation  formed  by the
O'Reilly family. David E. O'Reilly,  Lawrence P. O'Reilly,  Charles H. O'Reilly,
Jr. and Rosalie O'Reilly-Wooten,  their spouses, children and grandchildren each
hold a  beneficial  interest  in  such  partnerships  or the  limited  liability
company. Leases with affiliated parties generally provide for payment of a fixed
base rent,  payment of certain tax, insurance and maintenance  expenses,  and an
original  term of six years,  subject to one or more  renewals at the  Company's
option.  The Company has entered into separate master lease agreements with each
of the affiliated real estate investment  partnerships and the limited liability
company  for the  occupancy  of the stores  covered  thereby.  The master  lease
agreements with the real estate investment  partnerships expired on December 31,
1998, and were renewed through  December 2004. The term of the master lease with
the limited  liability company expires on December 31, 2013. The total aggregate
rent payments paid by the Company to the partnerships and the limited  liability
company was $2,894,000 in fiscal 2001.  The Company  believes that the terms and
conditions of the  transactions  with  affiliates  described  above were no less
favorable  to the  Company  than those that  would  have been  available  to the
Company in comparable transactions with unaffiliated parties.

     Joe C. Greene,  a Director of the Company,  is the Managing  Partner of the
law firm of Greene & Curtis,  LLP,  which has  provided  legal  services  to the
Company in prior years and is expected to provide legal  services to the Company
in the  future.  The  Company  believes  that the  terms of the  legal  services
provided by Mr.  Greene are no less  favorable  to the  Company  than those that
would  have been  available  to the  Company  in  comparable  transactions  with
unaffiliated  parties.  Mr. Greene is also a Director of Commerce Bank,  N.A. in
Springfield,  Missouri,  which has  loaned $5  million  to the  Company  under a
promissory note.

Performance Graph

     Set forth below is a line graph comparing the annual  percentage  change in
the cumulative  total  shareholder  return of a $100  investment on December 31,
1996, in the Company's  Common Stock against the Nasdaq-Amex  Stock Market Total
Return  Index and the  Nasdaq-Amex  Retail  Trade  Stocks  Total  Return  Index,
assuming reinvestment of all dividends.



                                  December 31,


 Measurement Period           O'Reilly           Nasdaq U.S.       Nasdaq Retail
(Fiscal Year Covered)      Automotive, Inc.      Stock Market       Trade Stocks
---------------------     -----------------     --------------    --------------
                                                               
       12/96                    100                  100                100
       12/97                    164                  122                117
       12/98                    295                  173                143
       12/99                    269                  321                125
       12/00                    334                  193                 77
       12/01                    456                  153                106



Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  requires
the Company's  executive  officers and Directors,  and persons who own more than
10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
Such  individuals  are  required by SEC  regulation  to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.  Based on the  Company's  review of
the  copies of such  forms  furnished  to it and  written  representations  with
respect to the timely  filing of all reports  required to be filed,  the Company
believes that such persons  complied with all Section 16(a) filing  requirements
applicable to them with respect to transactions during fiscal 2001.

                RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The firm of Ernst & Young LLP served as the Company's  independent auditors
for the fiscal year ended  December  31, 2001,  and the Board of  Directors  has
selected this firm to serve as  independent  auditors for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2002.  Representatives  of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to attend
the annual meeting and will have the  opportunity to make statements and respond
to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Fees Billed By Independent Public Accountants

     The  following  table  sets  forth  the  amount  of audit  fees,  financial
information systems design and implementation fees, and all other fees billed or
expected to be billed by Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's principal  accountant,
for the year ended December 31, 2001:



                                                            Amount
                                                      -------------
                                                   
          Audit Fees(1)                               $  197,500.00
          Financial Information Systems Design
             and Implementation Fees(2)                         -0-
          All Other Fees(3)                               63,000.00
                                                      -------------
             Total Fees                               $  260,500.00



(1)  Includes  annual  financial  statement audit and limited  quarterly  review
     services.

(2)  No such  services  were  provided  by Ernst & Young LLP for the most recent
     fiscal year.
(3)  Primarily  represents audit related fees, including audits of the Company's
     benefit plans, SEC registration  statements,  consents and consultations on
     accounting  standards and  transactions,  as well as certain tax consulting
     services.




     The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has considered
whether the provision of financial information systems design and implementation
and other non-audit  services is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young LLP's
independence.

                           ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' REPORT

     The Annual  Shareholders' Report of the Company for fiscal 2001 containing,
among other things,  audited  consolidated  financial statements of the Company,
accompanies this Proxy Statement.


                        FUTURE PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS

     Shareholder  proposals  intended  to be  presented  at the year 2003 Annual
Meeting and included in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating
to that  meeting  pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must be received
by the Company at the Company's principal executive offices by December 4, 2002.
In order for shareholder proposals made outside of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange
Act to be  considered  "timely"  within the meaning of Rule  14a-4(c)  under the
Exchange  Act, such  proposals  must be received by the Company at the Company's
principal  executive  offices by February 17, 2003. The Company's Amended Bylaws
require  that  proposals  of  shareholders  made outside of Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act must be  submitted,  in  accordance  with the  requirements  of the
By-Laws,  not later than  February  21,  2003,  and not earlier than January 20,
2003.

                                 OTHER BUSINESS

     The Board of Directors knows of no business to be brought before the Annual
Meeting other than as set forth above. If other matters properly come before the
meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the solicited proxy to vote
the proxy on such  matters  in  accordance  with their  judgment  as to the best
interests of the Company.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     The Company  will pay the cost of  soliciting  proxies in the  accompanying
form.  In addition to  solicitation  by use of the mails,  certain  officers and
regular employees of the Company may solicit the return of proxies by telephone,
telegram or personal  interview and may request brokerage houses and custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries to forward soliciting  material to their principals and
will agree to reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

     Shareholders  are  urged to  mark,  sign,  date  and send in their  proxies
without delay or vote via telephone or Internet  using the  instructions  on the
proxy card.

                            HOUSEHOLDING OF MATERIALS

     In some  instances,  only one copy of this proxy statement or annual report
is being  delivered  to multiple  shareholders,  sharing an address,  unless the
Company  has  received  instructions  from  one or more of the  shareholders  to
continue to deliver  multiple  copies.  We will  deliver  promptly  upon oral or
written  request a separate  copy of the proxy  statement or annual  report,  as
applicable,  to any  shareholder  at your  address.  If you  wish to  receive  a
separate copy of the proxy statement or annual report,  you may call us at (417)
862-6708,  or send a written  request to O'Reilly  Automotive,  Inc.,  233 South
Patterson,  Springfield,  Missouri 65802, Attention:  Secretary.  Alternatively,
shareholders  sharing an address  who now receive  multiple  copies of the proxy
statement  or annual  report may  request  delivery  of a single  copy,  also by
calling us at the number or writing to us at the address listed above.

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     Additional  information regarding the Company can be found in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     A copy of the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for  fiscal  year (as
filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission),   including  financial
statements and financial statement schedules (excluding exhibits),  is available
to  shareholders  without charge,  upon written request to O'Reilly  Automotive,
Inc., 233 South Patterson, Springfield, Missouri 65802, Attention: Secretary.

                                 By Order of the Board of Directors


                                 Tricia Headley
                                 Secretary

Springfield, Missouri
April 3, 2002


                                       A-1
                                   APPENDIX A

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Form of Proxy (Proxy Card)

                                     PROXY

                          O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
                Annual Meeting of Shareholders - Tuesday 7, 2001

         (THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

The  undersigned  hereby  appoints David E.  O'Reilly,  Lawrence P. O'Reilly and
Charles H.  O'Reilly,  Jr.,  and each of them,  as  proxies,  with full power of
substitiution,  and  hereby  authorizes  them  to  represent  and  vote  as  the
undersigned designates, all shares of Common Stock of O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.,
a Missouri corporation (the "Company"),  held by the undersigned on February 28,
2002 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders  (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on
May 7, 2002,  at 10:00 a.m.  Central  Time in  Springfield,  Missouri  or at any
adjournment or postponement  thereof,  upon the matters set forth on the reverse
side of this card,  all in accordance  with and as molre fully  described in the
accompanying  Notice of Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  and Proxy  Statement,
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

     THIS PROXY,  WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED "FOR" THE ACTION OR PROPOSAL.

              THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

O'REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following actions or proposals
(as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement).

Election of Directors     For   Withhold   For All     To withhold authority to
                          All      All     Except      vote, mark "For All
                                                       Except" and write the
                                                       nominee's number on the
                                                       line below
                          __       __       __         _____________________

1.  Proposal to elect Class III Directors (three-year term).
    01)  David E. O'Reilly
    02)  Jay D. Burchfield
    03)  Paul R. Lederer

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Please  sign  exactly as name(s)  appear  heron.  When  shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as an attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian,  please give full title as such. If a  corporation,  please
sign in full  corporate  name by president  or other  authorized  officer.  If a
parnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

---------------------------------         ------------
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]        Date


---------------------------------         -----------
Signature (Joint Owners)                  Date