Area race fans had a real treat this week as the World Dirt Racing League and the famed World of Outlaws Late Model Series visited the Boone County Raceway in conjunction with the annual Boone County Fair.
This was the fourth straight year the WDRL has appeared at the BCR in Albion, but was the first World of Outlaws LMS appearance in Nebraska since 2004.
World Dirt Racing League
Combine a sweltering summer night and hot Late Model cars and drivers and it all adds up to exciting dirt track action at the Boone County Raceway in Albion.
The Boone County Fair welcomed the World Dirt Racing League for the fourth consecutive year Sunday and the series’ drivers did not disappoint fans.
John Kaanta of Elk Mound, WI, endured heavy traffic and challenges from Marquette’s Kyle Berck and Brian Birkhofer of Iowa to score an impressive victory in the 50-lap feature event. Berck took runner-up honors.
Kaanta was extremely strong throughout the night and built a straightaway lead by the midpoint of the main event, but lapped traffic slowed his progress, allowing Berck and Birkhofer to close in late in the race.
Although the late heavy traffic allowed his challengers to close the gap, no one had an answer for the Wisconsin speedster.
Andrew McKay of Minnesota and Iowan Dave Eckrich rounded out the top five.
Regular BCR drivers had some bright moments during the program, as well.
During the B-Main Feature, from which the top six advanced to the A-Main, Albion’s Mike Kelley took an early lead and was never headed, scoring an impressive victory. Robert Osborne of Norfolk finished second and Albion’s Mark Lueken third. Jim Johnson of Plainview placed sixth.
In the A-Main, Osborne placed 16th, Johnson 17th, Kelley 19th and Lueken 20th in the 25-car field.
World of Outlaws
Put a $10,000 winner’s prize on the line and race car drivers will throw caution to the wind and put the pedal to the metal to collect.
Area fans were treated to fast, thrilling race action at the Boone County Raceway Monday as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series vied for that hefty check in the 50-lap feature event capping the finale of the inaugural Wild West Tour.
At the end of the night, no one was happier than veteran driver Shane Clanton, who overcame heavy lapped traffic, an overheating engine and a challenge from the series points leader to win Monday’s main event.
After crossing the finish line at the three-eighths-mile BCR oval 1.249 seconds in front of Iowa’s Brian Birkhofer, Clanton, of Locust Grove, GA, celebrated his first WofO LMS win since July, 2007, at Virginia Motor Speedway – a winless stretch of 42 races. It was his seventh career triumph.
Series point leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY, finished third after leading the early laps. Polesitter Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, took fourth.
Although Clanton had a super-fast car, the victory did not come easily. Clanton earlier set the fastest qualifying time and won his heat race. But, after passing Lanigan on lap 14 of the feature, he endured some anxious moments.
Most noticeably, a steaming engine during the late circuits.
Clanton originally used the track’s outside line to race by Francis and Lanigan in a four-lap span a quarter way into the event. When slower traffic held him up late in the race, the #25 standout took to the top side again to sweep by John Blankenship and Sunday WDRL winner John Kaanta and secure the win.
Complete Details in Print Edition of Albion News.
