Published: July 06, 2008 11:50 pm         

Long trip worth it for Nebraska driver

National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) Late Model series points leader Kyle Berck, of Marquette, Neb., found the long haul to Enid profitable as he won the Firecracker Nationals at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night.

A yellow flag waved on the start of the race when Todd Doty slammed into the wall. Justin Friesen rushed off the outside pole and showed the way on the restart, only to see Ronnie Walmad spin and block turn two, putting the race back under caution.

Friesen picked up where he left off when the green flag came out. Berck raced up on his bumper and a heated battle ensued. It was a drag race as the duo traded back and forth for the lead.

A third yellow flag waved in lap eight. Friesen and Berck continued their head-to-head battle when the race resumed and were on the verge of entering lapped traffic when the track went back under caution in lap 13.

Berck took command on the restart and sported nearly a straight-away advantage when yet another yellow flag came out as Steve Foster spun in turn two.

Despite an additional caution flag, Berck found the quick way around when the race finally went green and took nearly a half-lap-lead to the checkered flag.

Friesen held onto second, followed by Kelly Boen, Jeff Taylor and Bryant Goldsmith.

Determination paid off for Calvin Bradford Jr. as he picked up his first win of the year in the modified main event.

Bradford accelerated off the outside pole and had a more than a straight-away lead at the race’s mid-point.

Jim Ciampi spun to a stop in the groove in lap 15, which brought out the only caution of the race.

Bradford rushed away on the restart and took a strong lead to the finish line. Randy Timms was second, followed by Mark Smith, Joe Adams and Mike Roach.

Cliff Morrow continued his flawless run as he put his Morrow Automotive and Truck/Lewis Plumbing- sponsored street stock in victory lane for the third straight week.

“I went to school in December at Joe Gibbs Racing and it has paid off,’’ said Morrow. “I’m having fun.’’

Morrow exploded off the pole and took command. The race came to a halt when Jon Herring Sr and Link Shelton collided in turn two and brought out a yellow flag in lap four.

Morrow, despite two other cautions, held a strong lead at the finish.

Travis John-son settled for second, followed by Bobby Jo Scott, Joel Lane and Bill Beebe.

Milt David outlasted the field in the caution- riddled limited modified main and captured his first win of the season aboard his BB Machine/Dunsworth Machine- sponsored ride, ending his string of bad luck.

“It is about time, this is the first race I’ve finished in six weeks,’’ said David.

Three cautions waved before the 22-car field could get underway. Tommy Morgan Jr. took the lead when the race finally went green, only to see a red flag fly the second time around when Kenny Adams hit the wall and rolled violently down the back straight.

Adams crawled from the wrecked ride unharmed.

Morgan continued his run when the race continued, only to see yet another caution in lap five when Brandon Givens spun to a halt in turn four. David took the point on the restart and set up a straight-away lead in a mere two laps.

One lap shy of the race’s mid-point, another yellow came out for a twin spin on the front straight. Vicky Cummings spun on the start and kept the track under caution. David led when the race resumed and was never seriously challenged on his route to victory lane.

Ross McCartney, Logan Macy, Steve Blunk and Morgan rounded out the top five.

John Whitley claimed his third win of the season in factory stock.

Pacesetter Brandon Gibson showed the way and sported a 10-car length lead when a caution waved in lap three for debris.

Whitley charged to the front with a daring low challenge when the race went green and set up a straight-away advantage in a single lap.

A twin spin in lap five put the race back under caution. Whitley picked up where he left off when the green flag waved and never looked back. Brad Costello posted second, followed by David Fisher, Dustin Choate and Ronnie Ramer.

James Goldman Jr. displayed his winning style as he piloted his Koontz Racing-sponsored pure stock to his fourth win of the year.

Lonnie Wilson raced off the pole to take the early lead. His run was cut short as the yellow flag waved in lap three. Goldman took the point when the race resumed.

Goldman raced away with Tim Smart in hot pursuit. It was a drag race for several laps, but Goldman found the quick way around and, despite another caution, held off a late charge at the line to win.

Tommy Bohnstedt was second, trailed by Michael Meek, Smart and Michael Watts.

Heat winners in NCRA late models were Berck, Boen and Friesen. Greg Burt and Smith won their heats in modified.

Limited modified heat winners were Darin Busch, Macy and Randy Miller. Street stock heat wins went to Morrow, Jerry Derr and Johnson.

Whitley and Choate won the heats in factory stock.

Bohnstedt and Meek took honors in pure stock.

Delbert “The Ice Man’’ Smith posted the win in the late model B feature.

Enid Speedway Park’s next card of racing will be 7 p.m. Saturday.