EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series kicks off its 9th incredible season of race action in Lethbridge, Alberta this May long weekend (Saturday, Sunday May 16 & 17). The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 2009 Season Opener at Bridge County Raceway marks the third year in a row that the first event of a NPP Championship season takes place in southern Alberta. With the current economic decline in Canada, several NPP Series race teams have had to scale back their racing operations for the upcoming season. Others will be racing even harder for the coveted NPP Series Championship. Leading up to the season opener, the official website of the NPP Late Model Series will be previewing the starting ‘lineup’ for the 2009 race season.

#99 WAYNE GIDEON – Edson, Alberta
Edson, Alberta’s Wayne Gideon hung up his helmet at the end of the 2008 season after running the NPP Late Model Series the past six seasons. Gideon’s only NPP Feature win was a memorable one. He won the 50 lap Feature which awarded him 2006 Oilmen’s Invitational Championship.

Gideon registered 8 top 10 Finishes in 2008 Feature events in his Gideon Contracting sponsored #99 Dodge.

#88 CRYSTAL KENNEDY – Edson, Alberta
The youngest driver of the NPP Late Model Series has a brand new paint scheme on her Edson Top Choice Autobody sponsored #88 Dodge. “Kinda reminds me of a watermelon,” smiles 19 year old Crystal Kennedy, “it’s a fun paint scheme for me this year.” The Edson, Alberta driver and daughter of 2-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy, hopes to be able to pilot her race car around the track with a little more ease in 2009.

Kennedy took the Jimmy Sills driving school in California during the off season and is looking forward to applying what she learned. “The course was amazing. Learning about car set up and weight transfer, to reading a track. It’s been driving me crazy waiting to get on the race track again.” Kennedy had 6 top 10 finishes in Feature appearances last season.

#81 DWIGHT KENNEDY – Edson, Alberta
The two-time NPP Series Champion (2001 / 2006) and founder of the NPP Late Model Series will have his game face this season. The Edson Alberta driver had the NPP Series points lead three-times during the 2008 season only to loose it to Brian McCaughan at the final race of the season. Kennedy has now finished second in NPP points for two consecutive seasons in his Lucas Oil #81 Dodge.

“We were strong in the Features all season (3 wins / 4 seconds/ 1 third) but we lost out on a lot of points in the Heats and the Dash races.” Kennedy, who had been averaging at least 6 heat race wins a season, registered just 1 heat race victory in 2008. “We had a good season last year but we really gave it away (points lead) on the final night.”