Leader Kelly Boen gets a high side challenge from Terry Phillips before racing to his 50th career NCRA win. .(Andrew Towne)

David Smith, Jr.

MAYETTA, Kan. – July 24. Four-time champion and current series points leader Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colorado reached a milestone with the O’Reilly/NCRA late model division has he notched his 50^th career series victory as the series made its third ever appearance at Thunder Hill Speedway on Saturday in a rain shortened affair.

Boen, aboard his Road Runner Fabrication/Peterson Fluid Systems sponsored Rocket chassis, started on the pole for the 25-lap feature with J.D. Hubert

Veteran Alan Vaughn (#22) made an appearance at Mayetta to post a third place finish after racing the high side of #26 Cory Zeitner. (Lloyd Collins)

alongside at the start but it was third starting Terry Phillips, aboard the Don Baab Motorsports owned, Andy’s Frozen Custard sponsored, Hatfield Racing Engines powered GRT, quickly got by Hubert and challenged Boen in turns three and four with Boen edging out Phillips to lead lap one.

Boen was a rocket out front and quickly set sail away from the rest of the field during the early stages of the race.

Ninth starting John Anderson worked his way past Phillips near the race's mid-point for the third position and was setting his sights on Vaughn before the first caution of the feature fell on lap 14 when Jeremy Payne came to a stop.

On the restart, Boen again motored away from the rest of the field as the series career leading feature winner once again stretched out to a half stretch lead by lap 18.

Lap 19 saw the pace slow once again, this time for third running Anderson has he shredded a tire on his Shop Quik Convenience sponsored, Roush-Yates powered MasterSbilt chassis and came to a stop in turns one and two.

Along with #75 Terry Phillips, John Anderson was an early front runner until he rolled a tire late in the race for a disappointing finish. Phillips drifted back to sixth, while Kansas ace Al Purkey (#33) advanced to second behind Boen. (Lloyd Collins)

The restart once again saw Boen motor away but behind him the battle for the runner up waged as Vaughn had his hands full with Purkey. Both drivers battled each other for several laps before Purkey drove past Vaughn in turns three and four with five laps to go.

The night’s final caution would wave with three laps to go when Jason O’Brien came to a stop in turn two. Before the race could be restarted, the skies opened up as the rain that had threatened the event throughout the evening finally came, causing officials to call it a complete show.

Not only was it his 50^th career series victory but Thunder Hill Speedway was also the tenth different track where he has won at least one series event. 

Purkey would settle for second with Vaughn coming home third. J.D. Hubert came home fourth while Eric Turner rounded out the top five.

Veteran Delbert Smith and #16 Jason O'Brien race for position at Thunder Hill before O'Brien brought out the race's final caution. (Lloyd Collins)

July 25 - NCRA - Thunder Hill Speedway 1) Kelly Boen 2) Al Purkey 3) Alan Vaughn 4) J.D. Hubert 5) Eric Turner 6) Terry Phillips 7) Bo Egge 8) Corey Zeitner 9) Jase Kaser 10) Delbert Smith 11) Tom Charles 12) Dave Conkwright 13) Ron Tex, Jr. 14) Jason O’Brien 15) John Anderson 16) Jeremy Payne 17) Mark Ronnebaum 18) Wylan Petrie 19) David Brach 20) Ray Kampsen 21) Evan Hubert Heat winners: Delbert Smith, Phillips, Eric Turner.
Ron Mitchell photo