EDMONTON, AB. – Race officials with the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series will decide Thursday whether to attempt to run this Saturday’s scheduled race event at Castrol Raceway.  The state of the Alberta economy has wreaked havoc on race teams in 2016.  Only five NPP Late Model Series teams were present for the season opener at Central Alberta Raceways in Rimbey, Alberta.  Due to an even lower anticipated car count, Series officials were forced to cancel a Canada Day long weekend scheduled appearance at Dinosaur Downs Speedway in Drumheller, Alberta.  “It’s not just us (NPP Series) suffering from decreased numbers,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “car counts are down right across the board in all other racing divisions.”  Craig says cancelling a race event is always a last resort.  “We’ve always been known for incredible racing and great car counts.  The close racing is still there but right now a lack of cars on the track is glaring.”

WILL THE GOOD ‘OL DAYS RETURN?

Craig says Series officials will be contacting all current drivers regarding their status for the August 13th race in Edmonton.  “I’m being optimistic when I say that we will see ten teams at our next event.  Whether that next NPP Series event is this Saturday, August 13th or the end of the month (August 26th/27th) remains to be seen.”  The current point standings sees Sidney, British Columbia’s Darrell Midgley, the defending NPP Series champion with a seven point lead over 2014 NPP Series Champion Mark Miller of Calgary, Alberta.  Miller leads 2010 NPP Series Champion Bruce Broughton from Stony Plain, Alberta by just two points.

REMAINING 2016 NPP SERIES RACE DATES
Saturday, August 13th – Castrol Raceway – Edmonton, Alberta
Friday, August 26th – Castrol Raceway – Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, August 27th – Castrol Raceway – Edmonton, Alberta
Saturday, September 24th – Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey, Alberta
Sunday, September 25th – Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey, Alberta