DONIPHAN, Neb (July 19, 2008) - Three-time defending series champion Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colorado out-dueled Kyle Berck to win his second career Pump & Pantry Late Model Nationals feature finale Saturday night as the O'Reilly NCRA Late Models presented by ICM/Ethanol wrapped up two nights at Mid-Nebraska Speedway.

 

   By virtue of the redraw by the top eight drivers in heat race passing points, Andrew McKay and Dave Eckrich started on the front row of the fifty lap feature with Eckrich taking the lead as the green flag fell. Boen, who started fourth, wasted little time getting to the front as he passed McKay early on lap two for the runner up position. One lap later Boen would drive low in turns three and four to pass Eckrich for the lead and would quickly build up to a half stretch lead by lap six.

 

   The battle for the runner up position would take place on lap seven as sixth starting Berck would try several times to get underneath Eckrich before finally taking the position one lap later. Boen, who continued to hold his half stretch lead, would then enter lapped traffic on lap nine allowing Berck to slowly close the distance.

 

   Berck, the 2002 series champion, would close the deficit to ten car lengths by lap fifteen as both drivers worked through heavy lapped traffic. While the two lead cars began pulling away from the rest of the field, the battle for the third position waged as Eckrich, Bryant Goldsmith and Chris Simpson had their own fierce battle for position.

 

   Back up front saw Marquette, Nebraska's Berck close to within three car lengths by lap twenty-two. He would get a strong run around the top in turns one and two and would take the lead down the backstretch one lap later.

 

   On lap twenty-three the first of two cautions fell when Jason Landers came to a stop on the bottom of turn four.

 

   The restart gave Boen his chance for redemption as he passed former two-time Pump & Pantry late model champion Berck around the top side in turn two to retake the lead.

 

   At the races midway point it was Boen with an eight car length over Berck with Eckrich third, Goldsmith fourth and Simpson holding on to the fifth position as the leader continued to stretch his advantage.

 

   Boen would enter lapped traffic again on lap thirty-two but worked through them flawlessly, continuing to stretch his lead over Berck.

 

   The final caution would wave on with nine laps to go when Simpsons strong fifth place run would end as he came to a stop at the top of turn two.

 

   There was no catching Boen on the restart, however, as he would go on to post his third series feature victory of the season aboard the Peterson Fluid Systemes/Road Runner Fabrication sponsored Rocket Chassis.

 

   Current series points leader Berck would settle for second, with Erckich coming home third. Goldsmith finished fourth while McKay rounded out the top five. Joe Kosiski finished sixth, followed by Gary Webb, John Kaanta, Jason Friesen and Rob Moss rounded out the top ten.

 

   The six, eight lap heat races for the fifty car field were won by Boen, Mike Wiarda, Goldsmith, Berck, McKay and Eckrich while Al Humphrey, Friesen and Jeremy Grady took home the three, ten lap "B" features.

 

   Next up for the O'Reilly/NCRA late model division will be Friday and Saturday night, August 1-2 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool, Nebraska with the running of the "King of the Hill" late model shootout in a co-sanctioned event with the Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA). 

 

   The O'Reilly/NCRA presented by ICM/Ethanol would like to thank the following contingency sponsors in the late model division for the 2008 race season: ICM/Ethanol, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Arizona Sport Shirts, Weld Racing Wheels, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Holley Performance Products, INCE Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, Winters Performance Products, Taylor Vertex, Schoenfeld Headers, Auto Meter, Taylor Cable Products, BSB Race Parts, Hatfield Racing Engines, QA1 Motorsports, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Ultra-Shield Race Products, AFCO Racing Shocks, Pro Shocks, Racing Optics and Design 500.