By DAVID SMITH JR.

NCRA

The O'Reilly/NCRA late model division is set to kick off their 26th season of racing with a pair of annual Memorial Day weekend events that is sure to satisfy the hunger of all late model fans. It all starts on Friday night (May 22) at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan, Nebraska before heading to I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood, Nebraska on Sunday night (May 24) for the annual running of the Alphabet Soup. The Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) and the World Dirt Racing League (WDRL) are the other two sanctioning bodies to make up the alphabet soup.

For the sixth year in a row, Mid-Nebraska Speedway is scheduled to be the season opening venue for the late model series, which has seen five different Cherokee Casino-Resort feature winners in five opening night events. Mother nature won the 2008 season opener while Delbert Smith, Steve Kosiski, Kelly Boen and Kyle Berck previous events.

After taking their traditional Saturday night off, drivers, fans and officials will head to I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park with the eighth annual running of the Alphabet Soup. This years rendition will also include the MLRA and WDRL sanctioning bodies where an average of 66 drivers from no less than seven states have competed. $5000 will be up for grabs to the Cherokee Casino-Resort 50 lap "A" feature.

There has been six different feature winners in the past seven events that have been held, with only one repeat winner (Berck) in 2002 and 2003. With 72 cars on hand, Terry Phillips won the 2008 version of Soup, which was delayed a month and a half by rain. Al Purkey best a field of 66 entries to take the 2007 event while hometown hero Steve Kosiski topped 79 drivers in 2006. Darren Miller won the 2005 race with John Hampel (2004) also taking victories.

Boen of Henderson, Colorado, who leads the series in career victories (33) is looking to become the first five-time consecutive series champion since Larry McDaniels accomplished the feat from 1995-1999. However, Kyle Berck hopes to change that outlook this season. Last year saw the Nebraska veteran come to within thirty points of his second career series championship, losing out in the final race of 2008.

Series regulars expected to compete both days during holiday weekend include Delbert Smith, John Anderson, Bryant Goldsmith, Mike Wiarda, Shawn Harker, Jason Friesen, Kelly Dunn, Mike Collins, Wylan Petrie, Joe Kosiski, Greg Larsen, Marty Doner and Ted Martin.

Nebraska drivers Jay Stewart and Jace Kaser are just two drivers who have indicated their intentions to compete for series rookie of the year honors with the strong possibility of a couple more drivers also announcing their intentions.

Other drivers expected to compete at one or both venues include Al Purkey, Bill Koons, Terry Phillips, Jeremy Payne, Eric Turner, David Turner, Alan Vaughn, Denny Woodworth, Jason Bodenhamer, Chad Simpson, Denny and Dave Eckrich, John Kaanta and Chris Simpson. Close to seventy drivers are expected.

Mid-Nebraska Speedway is located 1.3 miles south of I-80 (exit 312) on US 281, then 2 miles east, then 0.5 mile south on Old US 281. For race information contact the track (402) 845-2988.

I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park is located off of I-80 to exit 420 (Ashland/Greenwood Exit), then 0.4 mile north on SR 63. Information on the Alphabet Soup can be found on their website http://www.neracewaypark.com/ or by calling the track office (402) 944-2233.

For information on the NCRA late model division, contact NCRA late model steward Chris Smith (918) 625-6200. To schedule an event, climb aboard as contingency sponsor or presenting sponsor, call the series office (316) 755-1781. To find out more on the history stats of NCRA, current point standings, schedules, driver profiles and the like, log on to them on the world wide web at http://www.ncraracing.org/.

Past NCRA feature winners at Mid-Nebraska Speedway:

06/24/06 Johnny Bone, Jr.

03/22/03 Leslie Essary

03/23/03 Leslie Essary

05/10/03 Al Purkey

06/14/03 Al Purkey

07/12/03 Al Purkey

Past NCRA feature winners at I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park

I-80 Speedway

07/02/08 Terry Phillips (Alphabet)

09/20/08 Kyle Berck

03/27/07 Al Purkey (Alphabet)

09/27/07 John Hampell

05/28/06 Steve Kosiski (Alphabet)

07/01/05 Kyle Berck

07/21/05 Darren Miller (Alphabet)

09/23/05 Kelly Boen

09/24/05 Kelly Boen

05/30/04 John Hampell (Alphabet)

05/25/03 Kyle Berck (Alphabet)

05/26/02 Kyle Berck (Alphabet)

Official 2009 NCRA Sprint Car Series Sponsors: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, Cherokee Casino-Resort

2009 NCRA late model contingencies: Brodix Cylinder Heads, Schoenfeld Headers, Maxim Chassis, Lazer Chassis, KSE Racing Products, QA1 Motorsports, The Brake Man, Rod End Supply, Outerwears Racing Accessories, Ultra-Shield Race Products, Racing Optics, Design 500, Taylor Cable Products, Vertex Magnetos, Design 500, Keizer Wheels, Arizona Sports Shirts, Winters Racing Products and Just Plugs