By David Smith, Jr.
  

 Midwest City, Oklahoma - November 5, 2007 - While the O'Reilly National Championship Racing Association presented by ICM/Ethanol late model division recently completed its 24th season of racing, it was a familiar face who not only repeated as champion but entered his name atop the series record books.

 

   On the strength of seven feature victories, Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colorado captured the recently completed 2007 NCRA season championship for the third consecutive year. Boen competed in fifteen of the sixteen races scheduled and of those races he finished thirteen times in the top five. Not only did he capture the season championship and lead the series in feature wins for 2007, he also became the all-time leading feature winner (28) for NCRA, surpassing Al Purkey who briefly held the record with 25 wins set earlier this year to top the late Larry Phillips who previously held the record at 24. Among the tracks he reached victory lane were Nebraska tracks Junction Motor Speedway (2) and Mid-Nebraska Raceway. Kansas tracks 81 Speedway, Dodge City Raceway, Hutchinson Raceway Park and the Belleville Highbanks Speedway.

 

   Finishing second in series points, 185 points behind Boen, was John Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska. Anderson claimed four feature wins at tracks in the following states: Nebraska - Junction Motor Speedway, Kansas - Belleville Highbanks Speedway and Oklahoma - Enid Speedway Park (2). John and the Quik Shop team also finished fourteen times in the top five to secure the runner-up position in final points.

 

   2002 NCRA late model champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Nebraska finished third in points, reaching victory lane once, this coming at Mid-Nebraska Raceway. Berck competed in fifteen of the sixteen races scheduled and finished seven times in the top five of those races.      

 

   Fourth in final points was Mike Wiarda. While the Auora, Nebraska driver didn't experience victory lane in 2007, consistency and dedication too the series paid dividends as he was one of four drivers to compete in each scheduled event this year.

 

   Rounding out the top five in season points is a driver who is no stranger to the series. Delbert Smith of Wichita, Kansas. "The Ice Man" as he is known, competed in all sixteen races on the schedule, reaching victory lane twice. The first victory came in the season opener at Mid-Nebraska Speedway with his second and final feature win coming at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska. He finished in the top five, four times while eight times he cracked the top ten. The 2001 NCRA late model champion currently sits seventh in career series victories with twelve, tied with Doug Ingall.

 

   Other drivers reaching victory lane in 2007 were 2003-2004 series champion Al Purkey and John Hampel, both coming at Nebraska Raceway Park. 

 

   In total, 140 different drivers competed in at least one event during the 2007 race season with an average car count of 36 per event. Four drivers competed in all sixteen races while eight drivers competed in fifteen of those sixteen events.

 

   Jimmy Segraves of Valley Center, Kansas competed in fifteen of sixteen races and won the 2007 NCRA late model rookie of the year. Segraves, who also competed weekly at 81 Speedway in Wichita in that tracks late model division, finished twice in the top five, six times in the top ten to secure rookie honors.

 

   The officials and staff with the National Championship Racing Association would like to thank all the drivers and fans for supporting the series during the 2007 and all tracks who graciously hosted at least one NCRA late model race this season. Information on the 2007 season awards banquet will be forthcoming.