Junction Motor Speedway
Boen grabs sixth NCRA victory in seven starts
By David Smith Jr.
O'Reilly NCRA
Kelly Boen races to victory Friday in McCool Junction. (fasttrackphotos.net)
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (Aug. 7) — Red-hot Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., took the lead from Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan., on the sixth lap and led the remainder of the 25-lap King of the Hill Late Model Nationals opener at Junction Motor Speedway. The five-time series champion earned $2,000 for his sixth victory in his last seven starts on the O'Reilly National Championship Racing Association. The event was co-sanctioned by the O'Reilly Midwest LateModel Racing Association. | Slideshow
NCRA points leader Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., led the first three laps, but Purkey swept around Berck and Boen with a high-side move to take command on the fourth lap. Boen dropped Berck to third on the fifth circuit and took the point a lap later for a lead he'd never give up.
Berck and Purkey swapped the second position a few times the rest of the way with Purkey finally getting the spot. Berck was third while a pair or provisional starters advanced 20 positions apiece to round out of the top five. Denny Woodworth of Mendon, Ill., started 24th and Joe Kosiski of Omaha, Neb., started 25th.
Notes: Boen's Rocket Chassis has a Jay Dickens engine and sponsorship from Road Runner Fabrication and Peterson Fluid Systems. ... A flat left-rear tire hampered Bryant Goldsmith in the early laps. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Jeremey Kelley, Delbert Smith, Ronnie Warman, Ted Martin, Steve Kempt and Dave Conkwright. ... Competitors remain at Junction Motor Speedway for the weekend's $3,000-to-win finale on Saturday.
King of the Hill Late Model Nationals: (1) Kelly Boen, (2) Al Purkey, (3) Kyle Berck, (4) Denny Woodworth, (5) Joe Kosiski, (6) John Anderson, (7) Mike Wiarda, (8) Jake Neighbors, (9) Dean Moore, (10) Mike Johnson, (11) Jason O'Brien, (12) Craig Preble, (13) Bryant Goldsmith, (14) Corey Zeitner, (15) Jason Friesen, (16) Travis Dickes, (17) Mike Collins, (18) John Kuchar, (19) Bo Egge, (20) Jason Bodenhamer, (21) Matt Johnson, (22) Chris Smyser, (23) Al Humphrey, (24) Greg Larson, (25) David Turner, (26) Ronnie Wallace. Heat race winners (among 47 cars): Berck, Goldsmith, Boen, Friesen, Johnson. Consolation winners: Wallace, Turner.
