LETHBRIDGE, AB (May 31) – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series once again has a familiar name atop the point standings. Jason Beaulieu, in the All Weather Windows #46 Dodge, jumped from third to first in the 20018 point’s chase with his dominating performance at Bridge County Raceway Saturday night (May 31st). After a third place finish in his Heat race and a second in the ‘A’ Dash, the Campbell River BC driver out-dueled pole sitter Curtis Moore for the lead on the first lap and drove on to an impressive victory. At one point in the Feature, Beaulieu had more than a half track lead over the rest of the field. A late race yellow did tighten up the field and made the run to the checkered flag a lot closer. “The car was on rails tonight,” says the defending NPP season champion, “we did pretty well in the heat and the dash. Starting on the front row (tonight) helped out too. The track was getting a little bit dry slick at the end but we kept the car straight.”

For the second Feature in a row, Curtis Moore was runner up. After missing the first race of the season due to mechanical problems, the Sherwood Park Alberta driver has managed to storm his way back from last place in the standings to fourth in his Air Power Systems #80 Dodge. “It was a solid main event tonight. Our season started off on a sour note (in Okotoks) but were getting things going now and really looking forward to getting back to our home track.” Moore held his ground at the end of the Feature with several late charges from Campbell River BC’s Chris Beaulieu who ended up fourth and Spruce Grove, Alberta’s Bruce Broughton who finished third. “Made all the work we put into this car worthwhile,” says Broughton, “after that crash in Okotoks we really needed this strong finish.” Broughton and his crew worked a total of 90 hours on the car to repair the damage from the Okotoks mishap, “it’s definitely a lot more fun when you finish up front.” It’s Broughton’s second podium finish in the last four NPP race events dating back to last season. Broughton was runner-up at the season championship race in Edmonton last September. Adding to his third place in the Feature Saturday night, Broughton kicked off the night with a Heat race win. “I’m surprised the car even finished (the heat),” disclosed Broughton, “I could smell fuel. It turned out we had a hole in the fuel pump. I’m surprised it didn’t catch fire.” Coming off his first ever Feature event win in Okotoks May 17th, Paul Grundberg was not happy with his performance in Lethbridge Saturday night. “We were chasing the set up the first half of the night but we had a strong race car for the Feature.” Grundberg who finished last in his Heat and second in the ‘B’ Dash avoided a two car spin five laps early into the Feature. The Whitecourt, Alberta driver took evasive action and drove his #12 Pontiac onto the infield. “We bent something up front,” sigh’s Grundberg, “the car wouldn’t steer after that. I couldn’t counter steer. I just stayed on the track and tried to keep out of everyone’s way.” Grundberg’s 16th place finish in the Feature knocked him from first to third in the NPP Series point standings. “We’ll just have to head to Edmonton and work a little bit harder at getting past Dwight and Jason again.”

NPP PIT BITS:
– Edson, Alberta’s Dwight Kennedy started the Saturday night Feature in the 12th position and battled to a 5th place finish.
– Like father, like son: Jason Beaulieu’s son Chris finished the Lethbridge Feature in fourth. It was only the second time that Chris Beaulieu was behind the wheel of a NPP Late Model.