EDMONTON, AB. – Castrol Raceway held just their fourth oval race of the 2016 season Saturday night.  This was supposed to be a night featuring four classes of race cars. Unfortunately last Thursday, the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series informed Edmonton track officials that it was withdrawing its appearance due to a low car count.  “We’ve struggled with car counts this year,” exclaims NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “we were only going to have four cars show up (Saturday night).  It was a tough call to make but the right one.” With no NPP Series race action, Craig was a spectator in the Castrol Raceway grandstands Saturday night.  “I can tell you right now that we aren’t the only class suffering from a low car count.”  A total of 27 race teams were in the pits.  “The biggest class on the property was the sprint cars with 12 teams. The other two classes were in the single digits (9 and 6 teams).”

SATURDAY NIGHT SPRINT CAR FEATURE IN EDMONTON

Craig talked with several drivers in the pits after the race and the theme was consistent as to the reasons for the lower car counts this season.  “Several drivers and team members blamed the struggling Alberta economy.  Many teams just don’t have the resources or sponsors to race the entire season.”  The 2016 season opener of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series saw only five teams compete.  “It definitely was an eye opener.  For years the NPP Series often had 12 – 16 teams in the pits.”  The next scheduled race for the NPP Late Model Series is Friday and Saturday, August 26th and 27th.  “We have two race weekends (4 race dates) left in our season.  It’s going to be tough but I’m still hoping for 10 cars (or more) to be at our final race events.” Sidney, British Columbia’s Darrell Midgley, the defending NPP Series champion, has a seven point lead over 2014 NPP Series Champion Mark Miller out of Calgary, Alberta.  Miller leads 2010 NPP Series Champion Bruce Broughton from Stony Plain, Alberta by just two points.