EDMONTON, AB – Castrol Raceway’s biggest oval show of the season is this Friday and Saturday night.  For the second year in a row, the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series will be part of it.  The NPP Series and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series are once again joining forces in Edmonton for the second annual Boston Pizza Oil City Cup.  “It’s a huge honor and privilege to be apart of the big show this weekend,” says NPP tour announcer Gord Craig, “race fans are in for two incredible nights of racing.”  Both racing series (NPP & Outlaws) are just past the mid-point of their respective seasons.  “I can’t think of a better way to kick off the NPP Series stretch drive than to race in Edmonton.”  Only six race dates remain for NPP Late Model Series teams in what has been the closest point chase in the Series’ eight year history.  Only 134 points separates the top 5 in the NPP point’s chase (309 points separated first from fifth last season).  Sitting number one is Brian McCaughan in his #42 avenuebuilt.com sponsored Chevrolet.

“It’s been a crazy run,” says the Okotok’s Alberta driver, “we’ve been going hard, trying to place well and also to keep it clean and not make any enemies on the track.”  McCaughan is one of seven different drivers to register a Feature event win in 2008.  He’s also the fourth different driver to sit number one in points this season.  “It’s a close battle with Dwight (Kennedy) right now,” adds McCaughan, “he’s had some trouble with his car but I expect him to be charging hard in Edmonton this weekend.”  McCaughan has a slim 18 point lead over two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy from Edson, Alberta.  “We’ve been struggling with the car set up the past few race events and it hurt us in the standings,” says the driver of the #81 Lucas Oil Dodge, “getting the point lead back is huge for us right now.  A couple of wins in Edmonton would sure help us out.”

Kennedy has five podium finishes (three Feature wins) in the last seven appearances at Castrol Raceway dating back to last August.  Two of those wins came when Kennedy swept the Oil City Cup weekend.  One driver who will be noticeably absent from this weekends race will be defending NPP Series Champion Jason Beaulieu.  “It’s my mothers 65th birthday this weekend,” says the Campbell River, BC driver, “it really was a tough call what to do.  In this case family has to take priority.”

Beaulieu sits just 27 points behind Kennedy and 45 points out of first in his All Weather Windows #46 Dodge.  Beaulieu has contacted fellow British Columbia driver Graham Cooke to run his car in Edmonton this weekend.  The Port Hardy BC driver, has three heat race wins, one feature win and numerous top 10 finishes in nine race events dating back to 2004.  Rounding out the top 5 in the points chase heading into weekend action, Stony Plain, Alberta Mike Tom, who started out the year blowing two motors has quietly moved into fourth place in the standings in his Hinton Oilfield Services #55 Chevrolet.  Kevin Clark, from Altario Alberta sits fifth in his Clark Construction #5 Dodge.

NPP RACE NOTES
– 7 different drivers have won Features this season
– 13 different drivers have won heat races this season.
– only 3 drivers that won the ‘A’ Dash this season (pole position) have gone on to win the Feature: Brian McCaughan, Jason Beaulieu, Trevor Emond.
– 3 drivers that won the ‘B’ Dash this season (13th starting spot) have finished fifth or better in the Feature; Dan Stewart (4th), Dwight Kennedy (3rd) and Kevin Wheeler (3rd)
– after running 7 consecutive ‘A’ Dash events, Whitecourt, Alberta’s Kevin Wheeler has now run four consecutive ‘B’ Dash events.
– Stony Plain Alberta’s Mike Tom has finished 5th or better (win / two seconds) in six out of the last seven NPP Features.
– Edson, Alberta’s Crystal Kennedy is looking for her third consecutive top ten finish in an NPP Feature this weekend.
– Brian McCaughan’s lowest finishes in 11 Feature events this season have occurred at the same track: Rocky Mountain Raceway Park in Okotoks. (7th – Aug. 3rd / 9th – May 17th)

FRIDAY– August 22nd
Gates at 4:00pm
Cars on track at 6:00pm*

SATURDAY – August 23rd
Gates at 4:00pm
Cars on track at 6:00pm*

*Racing to follow after hotlaps and time ins. Be at the track early if you don’t have reserved seats.