EDMONTON, AB. – Chris Beaulieu, son of 2007 NPP Late Model Series Champion Jason Beaulieu, had a perfect night at the 2012 Season Opener of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. After winning his Qualifying Heat, Beaulieu overcame tricky track conditions at Castrol Raceway Saturday night and drove the Team Beaulieu #90 Dodge to victory. “This was my first real race of the year,” exclaims Beaulieu, “to get the win feels pretty good right now.” This is the second consecutive NPP Series Feature event win for Beaulieu.

The Campbell River, British Columbia driver went to victory lane in Lethbridge at the final NPP Series race event of the 2011 season. “I know my dad [Jason] will be behind the wheel of this car more than me this season but right now I don’t think I want to let him drive it. This was fun tonight.” Saturday nights Feature event had three different race leaders. Pole sitter and two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy finished fifth in the Integra Tire #81 Dodge. “The car just wasn’t there tonight,” says Kennedy, “but at least we finished and brought it home in one piece. We’ll get them next time.”

NPP Series drivers, teams and race fans endured several delays Saturday night as Castrol Raceway track officials were forced to water the 3/8mile clay oval track to keep the dust down. The dry slick conditions did play into the hands of Whitecourt, Alberta’s Kevin Wheeler. “It was a tricky track tonight for sure,” says the driver of the KW Mechanical #3 Dodge, “I like running low on the track when the track goes dry slick but the car just wouldn’t let me tonight.” Wheeler grabbed the race lead from pole sitter Kennedy with 8 laps to go. “I was trying to hold onto the lead and I know I left the low side open just enough for whoever was behind me.” Wheeler lost the lead to Beaulieu with three laps remaining. Ironically Wheeler finished second to Beaulieu at the final race of the 2011 NPP season in Lethbridge. “We are going to get that win sooner or later.” Finishing third in the Saturday night Feature in Edmonton was defending NPP Series champion Mike Tom. “This series is just so competitive,” exclaims the Stony Plain Alberta driver, “six cars could have won tonight.” Tom indicates that track conditions were challenging. “The track was changing lap by lap it seemed. One small error going into the corners would put you in no man’s land real quick and you’d lose a position or two or worse.”

Tom would take advantage of a late race spin by Edson, Alberta’s Darin Borysko to finish third in his Enerbuilt Technologies/Jazzy Oilfield #55 Chevrolet. Borysko, who won Qualifying Heat race #2 in the All Weather Windows/Habitat for Humanity #35 Dodge, spun while challenging Wheeler for second with three laps to go and would end up finishing 8th. Spruce Grove, Alberta’s Bruce Broughton, the 2010 NPP Late Model Series Champion had a very strong night and finished the Feature in 4th.

Next scheduled event for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is Friday and Saturday night June 8th and 9th. It is a rare two-night show at Central Alberta Raceway’s in Rimbey, Alberta. Joining the NPP Late Model Series in Rimbey is the IMCA Modified division.