Boen Gets Help to Ease by Berck for NCRA Late Model Win
By Randy Fisher

DONIPHAN, Neb. (July 20, 2007) – With help from lapped traffic, Kelly Boen used a dramatic all-or-nothing pass on the last lap to take away the feature win from Kyle Berck in the O’Reilly NCRA Late Model Series, presented by ICM/Ethanol.

Berck had powered around Boen, the two-time defending series champion, on the high side for the lead on lap 18 of the 30-lap feature. The two of them, along with season point leader John Anderson, ran nose-to-tail before Berck moved out to a four-car length advantage.

When they encountered slower cars on lap 23, Boen and Anderson both closed on the leader. With two laps remaining, Boen narrowed the gap between himself and Berck even more. The tussle for the win between two of the NCRA’s winningest drivers went down to the final circuit.

They crossed start/finish to begin the final lap with Berck still slightly in front. Then Boen dropped low again – he had been running the bottom most of the race – and pulled alongside Berck entering the first turn They raced side-by-side through the turn and on to the back straight.

Berck ran up on a slower car and had to lift slightly. That was all Boen needed as the bottom was clear in front. He pulled ahead and held the lead to the checker.

Anderson crossed in third, followed by Mike Wiarda and Eddie Kirchoff to round out the top five.

Co-sanctioned by the CLMA, 48 drivers signed in for the first night of the Pump 'N' Pantry's Late Model Ntionals at Mid-Nebraska Speedway.

1. Kelly Boen, 2. Kyle Berck, 3. John Anderson, 4. Mike Wiarda, 5. Eddie Kirchoff, 6. Joe Kosiski, 7. Chad Humston, 8. Mike Conkwright, 9. Jimmy Segraves, 10. Les Siebert, 11. Gary Gorby, 12. John Kuchar, 13. Jerry Warner, 14. Ben Schaller, 15. Davey Nall, 16. Tony Gregg, 17. Dave Conkwright, 18. Bo Egge, 19. Rick Lieser, 20. Jacob Murray, 21. Ryan Rairden, 22. Craig Preble, 23. Greg Larsen, 24. Delbert Smith.