Memorial Day weekend the O’Reilly NCRA Late Model Series, presented by ICM/Ethanol, kicked off their 2007 season with a pair of shows in Nebraska. They opened May 25 at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan, followed on May 27 with the Alphabet Soup race at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood.
The highlight of the weekend came at I-80 Speedway when Al Purkey won his record-setting 25th career NCRA late model. The Coffeyville, Kan., pilot broke a tie with the late Larry Phillips for first on the all-time list.
Speaking of ties, Delbert Smith and John Anderson took different paths to deadlock at the top of the standings after the first two shows.
Smith won his 11th career NCRA race in the opener. However, the Wichita, Kan., driver went in the opposite direction at I-80 and finished 25th. The 2001 series champion offset that performance somewhat by winning his heat race at each show. By contrast, Anderson was a model of consistency. The Omaha, Neb., driver was third and fourth over the weekend.
Smith and Anderson each have 470 points, and the tie is indicative of the logjam at the top. Kyle Berck, the 2002 series champ who is running the full schedule this year, is third with 440 points. Just five points behind him is two-time defending champion Kelly Boen. In fifth is Corey Zeitner with 420 points, followed by Mike Wiarda in sixth with 405 points.
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