Boone County Raceway
Kaanta leads all the way for WDRL win at Boone County
From series reports
Kaanta cruises toward victory. (Jerry Jacobs)
ALBION, Neb. (July 20) — Polesitter John Kaanta of Elk Mound, Wis., led all the way at Boone County Speedway for his third career victory on the World Dirt Racing League. Despite heavy lapped traffic that allowed his pursuers to close in, Kaanta was first to the finish line to pick up $5,000. | Slideshow
"We knew the track was going to get slick tonight," Kaanta said. "The track (officials) did some work (to the track) just before the A-Main, so we set up for something in the middle. It work out absolutely the way we thought."
Kaanta built up over a straightaway lead at one point, but lapped traffic slowed his progress, and it allowed runner-up Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., and third-place finisher Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, to make up ground.
"With� 15 (laps) or so, to go, I had pretty much used up my right rear," Berck said. "I was just in a survival mode trying to protect my spot. I couldn't get on the gas when I needed to."
Said Birkhofer: "Once the track went away, there was no place to go. I didn't want to get into Berck and tear us both up. That doesn't do anybody any good. It just buys a headache and night of work.
Andrew McKay of Edina, Minn., was fourth and Dave Eckrich of Cosgrove, Iowa, rounded out the top five at a track set to host the World of Outlaws Late Model Series on Monday.
WDRL @ Boone County: (1) John Kaanta, (2) Kyle Berck, (3) Brian Birkhofer, (4) Andrew McKay, (5) Dave Eckrich, (6) Gary Webb, (7) Chris Simpson, (8) Joe Kosiski, (9) Bryant Goldsmith, (10) Chad Simpson, (11) Eric Pember, (12) Rick Hanestad, (13) Matt Furman, (14) Jeremy Grady, (15) Mike Collins, (16) Robert Osborne, (17) Jim Johnson, (18) Frank Heckenast Jr., (19) Mike Kelley, (20) Mark Lueken, (21) Alonzo Grosse, (22) John Hampel, (23) Doug Tomko, (24) Mike Beierman, (25) Rob Moss. Heat race winners (among 29 cars): Moss, Birkhofer, Eckrich. Dash winner: Kaanta. Consolation winner: Kelley.
