81 Speedway
Boen outruns Anderson, Purkey for victory at 81
By David Smith Jr.
O'Reilly NCRAWICHITA, Kan. (Aug. 29) — All-time winningest series driver Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., outdueled John Anderson of Omaha, Neb., then fought off a last-ditch challenge from Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan., for an O'Reilly National Championship Racing Association victory at 81 Speedway. Boen earned $2,500 for his 32nd career NCRA victory while Purkey finished second. Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., was third followed by modified ace Dustin Huehl of Salina, Kan., and Anderson, who slipped back to fifth at the finish.
Boen led eight laps before Anderson took command for eight circuits. Boen regained the lead on lap 17 and had things in hand before a last-lap caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Purkey took advantage of the final restart to take second from Anderson, but he feel a car length short of Boen at the finish in a race that replaced an event canceled four days earlier by Hutchinson (Kan.) Raceway Park. The Wichita-area track hosts back-to-back NCRA events with a regularly scheduled Saturday race.
O'Reilly NCRA @ 81: 1. Kelly Boen, 2. Al Purkey, 3. Kyle Berck, 4. Dustin Huehl, 5. John Anderson, 6. Jimmy Seagraves, 7. Delbert Smith, 8. Mike Wiarda, 9. Mike Collins, 10. Bill Koons, 11. Mike Conkwright, 12. Ted Martin, 13. Shawn Harker, 14. Dave Conkwright, 15. John Kuchar, 16. Jim Beaman, 17. David Brack, 18. Bryant Goldsmith, 19. Steve Foster, 20. Wylan Petrie, 21. Greg Larsen, 22. Ronnie Warman. Heat race winners (among 34 cars): Koons, D. Smith, Wiarda, Boen. Consolation winners: Kuchar, Beaman.
