5/31/2025
Kyle Berck
Kyle Berck Triumphs in Lonnie Smith Memorial at 81 Speedway
Nebraska Racers Earns $4,100 in Co-Sanctioned Event
MARQUETTE, Neb. (06/03/25) – Kyle Berck honored the legacy of racing icon Lonnie Smith with a dominant, flag-to-flag victory in Saturday’s memorial event at 81 Speedway.
A 2024 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame nominee, Berck powered his Speedee Mart / Aurora Cooperative No. 14 Longhorn Chassis Late Model to his first win of the season, earning an increased $4,100 payout—boosted by lap sponsor contributions.
The triumph served as redemption after Friday night’s race at Humboldt Speedway, where Berck led 20 laps before being overtaken on the final circuit while trying to navigate lapped traffic.
“The last few weeks around home we have not been good at all, so this is a good weekend for us,” said Berck. “It was the right night to be right. I was trying to cool the tires and know what to work with. I think we could have ran the bottom pretty well, but I had a good rhythm up top and thought I would stay with it.”
While Berck closed the weekend in victory lane, his doubleheader campaign began Friday with the Ross Foundation Sooner Late Model Series at Humboldt Speedway.
A heat race win earned Berck a front-row starting spot for the feature, where he wasted little time moving to the front—slipping past polesitter Joseph Gorby on the fourth lap to take the lead. Berck went on to pace the next 20 circuits but was overtaken in lapped traffic on the final lap, ultimately settling for a runner-up finish at the checkered flag.
The following night at 81 Speedway, Berck returned to action for an event co-sanctioned by the Sooner Late Model Series and the United Rebel Series. The Marquette, Nebraska native came out strong, posting a dominant heat race win before going flag-to-flag in the 25-lap main event. Initially awarded $1,000 for the victory, Berck’s payout ballooned to $4,100 thanks to an additional $3,100 in lap sponsor bonuses.
“The track got a lot slicker than what we expected so I was trying to chase the moisture up the racetrack as best I could,” Berck added in victory lane. “I tried it down in (turns) 3-4 through the middle and it wasn’t bad, just a little loose. I am glad I did not have a lot of pressure on me because I probably would have killed the right rear tire.”
The win marked Berck’s first triumph of the 2025 season.
Complete results from the doubleheader weekend can be found at www.SoonerLateModelSeries.com and www.URSSRacing.com.
Berck is set to return to action with the Ross Foundation Sooner Late Model Series in two weeks, as Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kansas, hosts the Dave Garmann Memorial on June 13–14.
Full event details are available at www.SoonerLateModelSeries.com.
Kyle Berck extends his appreciation to the many marketing partners who support his racing efforts throughout the year. His valued sponsors include Speedee Mart, Aurora Cooperative, Strobel Manufacturing, Snap-On KDG Tools, Preferred Popcorn, Stevens Brothers Bison Farms, Campbell Family Farms, Scott Hourigan Co., Sutton Auto Parts, Andrew Simmons CPA, Bergen Service & Repair, Juzyk Electric, Central Nebraska Fabrication, Five Star Truck Center, Red Line Oil, VP Race Fuels, Longacre Racing Products, Dynamic Drivelines, TBM Brakes, Wehrs Machine, Hooker Harness, Keizer Wheels, Swift Springs, A&A Manufacturing, Joes Racing Products, DRP Performance Products, Peterson Fluid Systems, PetersBuilt Fabrication, Five Knuckle Race Wraps, Aultra Racewear, Longhorn Chassis, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
In addition to the continued support of their loyal marketing partners, Kyle Berck Motorsports extends a special thank-you to all the lap sponsors who contributed to Saturday’s Lonnie Smith Memorial. The following individuals, families, and organizations generously sponsored specific laps in the feature event: Lonnie Smith Racing, G & G Rolloffs – Gary Gorby, Poorman Automotive Warehouse, Todd Plank, Wiegert Family, The Garry Abell Families, Mel Hambelton Racing, Five Knuckle Wraps, In Memory of Deen Woods, CaseyJoAdvo.com, In Memory of Arkie Findley, The Petty Family, Avanel Schneweis & Family, Revival Super Dirt Series, Troy Harrison – In Memory of Bill and Gerry Harrison, HT Cattle Company, David Brock, The Kinderknecht Family, Smith Racing Supply – Samm & Sherri Smith, The Lundry Family, Kyle Berck Motorsports, Roger Denny & Shawn Olin, Donkey Racing, Chase Junghans Racing, Garry Abell, Hoosier Tire Great Plains, Fast Eddie’s Express – Ray Cochran, Steve & Jaque Foster, Bud’s Auto Service, In Memory of Dean Conkwright, Bluemax Cloud, Janousek Racing, The Bauer Family, Brandon Conkwright Racing, Aultra Racewear, and Logan’s Landscape.
Fans can stay up to date with Kyle Berck and his race team by visiting his official website at www.KyleBerck.com or by subscribing to the team’s mailing list at https://pages/KyleBerckRacing.
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