TUCSON, AZ – The three-time champion of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series kicks off his 2017 season this weekend in the Copper State. Darrell Midgley competes at the 4th annual Chilly Willy 150 Super Late Model race at Tucson Speedway on Friday and Saturday February 3rd and 4th. “We’ve run pretty well here,” says the Sidney, British Columbia driver, “we’ve led laps, we’ve always been fast but now we just need to bring home a good finish.” In his last appearance at the Arizona track on November 26th, Midgley qualified 7th at the Turkey Shoot 125. The only Canadian in the field briefly took over the race lead on Lap 50. He kept the Northern Provincial Pipelines/Alien Chassis #81 Dodge in the top 10 for most of the race but settled for an 11th place finish. “That was the longest we’ve gone without burning the tires off.” At the 2015 Turkey Shoot race Midgley led nearly 50 laps. A flat tire, while leading, ended his chances at victory. Midgley finished 24th in this race.

In his 6th visit to the Arizona desert since 2015, Midgley likes his chances this time. “The Chilly Willy race is a lot different [than the fall Turkey Shoot race], there are more laps to run which means a bit of a change to our on-track strategy. There are a couple things we’re going to try this weekend so hopefully we can make it happen.” Midgley has run well in his two previous Chilly Willy appearances. “Two years ago we were running eighth near the end of the race and got spun (finished 22nd). At last year’s race I know I could have finished in the top 10 but I ran over something on the track and got a flat.” Midgley finished 24th at the 2016 Chilly Willy 150. “If I can keep the tires on the car and stay out of trouble this weekend things should go pretty good.” The Chilly Willy 150 at Tucson Speedway is the first race on Midgley’s ‘off-season’ schedule for 2017 in the United States. Midgley plans on competing in several Spears Southwest Super Late Model race events in California next month. “We plan to run a few more races this year in the Team NPP car than we have the past few years.” Midgley also plans on running the full NPP Late Model Series schedule which begins in May and running several pavement Late Model events at Western Speedway in Victoria, British Columbia.

MIDGLEY FINISHES AT TUCSON SPEEDWAY
February 2015 – finished 22nd (Chilly Willy)
November 2015 – finished 8th (Turkey Shoot)
February 2016 – finished 24th (Chilly Willy)
October 2016 – finished 13th (regular track night)
November 2016 – finished 11th (Turkey Shoot)
February 2017 – ????? (Chilly Willy)

>FRIDAY, February 3rd
1:00pm – Practice 1: 3rd fastest / 16.112 seconds (-0.199) +24 Celcius
2:30pm – Practice 2: 15th fastest / 16.275 (-0.539) +25C
5:00pm – Qualified 7th with a 15.685 lap (-0.272) +18C

>SATURDAY, February 4th
Midgley finished 10th at the 2017 Chilly Willy 150