EDMONTON, AB – The $100,000 Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series touches down at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway this Saturday night. “It’s been close to 7 months since our last stop there (September 9th),” indicates NPP tour announcer Gord Craig, “after last month’s rain out, drivers have been itching to finally go racing on their home track.” For two competitors, calling Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway the ‘home track’ is a little bit misleading considering home for them is on Vancouver Island. Jason Beaulieu (Campbell River, BC) and Darrel Midgley (Sidney, BC) are sitting first and third in points heading into this weekends event. For only the second time in the 7 year history of the NPP Series, a driver out of British Columbia is leading the point’s chase. “It’s still very early in the season,” says Beaulieu who drives the All Weather Windows sponsored #46 Dodge, “the only way to go now is down and I don’t want to do that. Just keep this car up at the front and race clean. There is really nothing more a guy can do.” Beaulieu, who won the inaugural event in Drumheller, Alberta, two weekends ago, intends to run the full NPP season in 2007. The past three seasons he has only been able to compete in about 4 – 6 race events a year. “It’s a great bunch of guys and a fun class to be a part of.” On weekends away from the NPP Series, Beaulieu also races an open wheel dirt modified in Washington State. BC’s Darrell Midgley is sitting in a familiar position in the point standings. He’s currently third. “It’s been one of my better season starts ever,” says Midgley who had a second (heat race) and a third (Feature) in Drumheller. Midgley has finished third in the NPP point standings twice (2004 & 2006). “It was a battle just getting into the top three those times,” says Midgley, “this year I hope to try and run a near perfect season. Be consistent, win a few and you just never know.” A competitor from British Columbia has never won the NPP Series championship in its 7 years existence. Hoping that streak continues is Whitecourt, Alberta’s Kevin Wheeler who enters this weekend’s race in second. “Looking at the more experienced drivers around me in the standings I’m pretty happy. I know I’m lucky to be where I am but that’s part of racing.” Wheeler ended up in two final lap incidents in Drumheller which included spinning across the finish line with defending Series champion Dwight Kennedy. “That was quite the battle Dwight and I had.” Kennedy ended up being disqualified for an illegal pass moments before the finish line dramatics. The disqualification handed the second place finish to Wheeler plus second in the standings. “Were ready to go this weekend,” says Wheeler in the Trapper Auto Parts #3, “the momentum is there. It’s up to me to keep it going.” The race in Edmonton is the second NPP Series race of the season.

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES (Race #2)
CASTROL RACEWAY – Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, June 2nd
Gates open at 4PM
Racing at 6PM