EDMONTON, AB. – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series wraps up its 10th anniversary season this long holiday weekend.  For the first time in NPP Series history, the final race of the season will be held in Lethbridge Alberta.  “It’s a big honor for us to hold this event,” says James Hadnagy, president of Bridge County Raceway, “this is our 20th anniversary season here, so to have the NPP Series hold its championship race at our track means a lot.”

Eight drivers are still mathematically able to win the 2011 NPP Series championship heading into this weekends event.  Southern Alberta race fans are in for two incredible nights of racing on the ‘big oval’.  Not only is it championship weekend for NPP Series competitors, the 18th annual Oilmen’s Classic will also be contested. Current NPP Series point leader Mike Tom is trying to remain focused heading into the final weekend of the season.  “We’re keeping our head in the game,” says the driver of the #55 Enerbuilt Technologies Chevrolet, “you can’t get too wound up because that’s when stuff happens.”

Tom, who is on a record five-race winning streak, has yet to register a win in seven appearances at Bridge County Raceway.  Tom does have three second place finishes.  Two of those finishes took place on long weekends (September 2007 and May 2009).  “We have done well in Lethbridge when we haven’t had parts failures.”  Tom, who is the defending Oilmen’s Classic champion, has finished second in the NPP Series Championship points chase twice (2005 and 2010).

Whitecourt, Alberta’s Kevin Wheeler sits second in the standings just 70 points behind Tom.  Wheeler, who hasn’t been this far up in the standings since May of 2007, can’t wait for the long weekend to arrive.  “Definitely pumped for this weekend,” indicates the driver of #3 KW Mechanical Services Dodge, “it’s a big, wide open track and fun place to run.”  Wheeler scored his first ever Feature event win at Bridge County Raceways’ Sunday night show on the 2007 September long weekend.

Wheeler has several goals for this long weekend.  “I have to get to the ‘A’ Dash both nights for sure,” says Wheeler, “the extra points from the dash and track position for the (Saturday & Sunday) Features will be huge.  Whenever I am on the track the same time as Mike I just have to finish ahead of him.  It’s pretty simple.”

Not only is Wheeler chasing Tom in the standings, he will also try to stay ahead of two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy.  “It’s been a struggle this season,” admits Kennedy who trails Wheeler by just 13 points, “if it’s not the car set up then it’s been motor problems.  We really haven’t run good all season and are lucky to be in the position we’re in right now.”

Kennedy finished fourth in his Lucas Oil #81 Dodge at the last NPP Series Feature race in Edmonton.  “Two more laps and I would have been last.  The motor was shot.”  Kennedy does have two Feature wins in Lethbridge, the most recent was the Saturday night show of the 2007 September long weekend.

Darin Borysko and Crystal Kennedy round out the top five in the NPP Series Championship points chase.  The pair are separated by a single point.  Borysko sits just 27 points back of third place Dwight Kennedy.

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NPP SIDE NOTE: Jason Beaulieu leads all NPP Series drivers with 5 Feature wins at Bridge County Raceway.  The Campbell River, BC driver is racing his Modified at Grays Harbor Raceway in Washington this September long weekend.  Jason’s son Chris, who went to victory lane in his IMCA Modified at BCR in May of 2009, will be filling in for his dad.  Chris Beaulieu’s best finish in Lethbridge in a NPP Late Model is second (June 27th, 2009).  His dad won the Feature this night.

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2011 SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP/OILMEN’S CLASSIC

LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA

>Saturday, September 3rd
>Sunday, September 4th

Spectator Gates @ 5:00pm
Racing Starts @ 7:00pm (both nights)
Also Racing: Sportsman Sprint Cars / Stock Trucks