RIMBEY, AB. – Both scheduled race events at Central Alberta Raceway in 2007 have had less than desirable outcomes. Two months ago (May 26th) race teams of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series had a scheduled race in Rimbey, Alberta. The event was unfortunately cancelled due to a freak spring snow storm that left about a foot of heavy, wet snow on the ground. Two months later (Saturday, July 28th), excessive moisture would not be a problem. There was a hint of concern etched on the faces of drivers and crew members as they pulled into the pit area for another scheduled race event in central Alberta. How would track conditions fare with the extreme heat that’s been baking the prairies the past month? Temperatures were hovering in the mid 30’s as teams prepped their race cars for what was supposed to be the kick off to the last half of the race season. “Track crews put about 50,000 gallons of water on the track leading up to the race and another 30,000 on race day,” indicates NPP tour announcer Gord Craig, “it was amazing to see just how fast it went dry. I’ve never seen anything like it in my 15 years of announcing.” Heat race action was halted momentarily after just one completed NPP Series race which was won by Shawn Kennedy. “There we’re only 7 cars on the track and I could hardly see anything,” indicates Darin Borysko who finished third, “we all had to endure the same conditions though. It sure was a challenge.” Central Alberta Raceway track crews immediately called for the water truck. After one lap from the water truck, pack trucks and race cars worked the moisture into the racing surface. When racing resumed, Kevin Wheeler, Bruce Broughton, Pat Fines and Wayne Gideon won the remaining heats. “The track was getting a bit dry again but wasn’t too bad on the last heat,” says Bruce Broughton who won both his heat races Saturday afternoon in Rimbey, “it was tolerable at least.” If the heat races were tolerable at the end, the Feature event would be a white knuckle experience drivers wouldn’t soon forget. Eighteen cars took the green flag. Entering the first corner, the entire field disappeared into a cloud of dust. “I couldn’t see anything,” says Tim Beausoliel, who was running near the front of the pack, “I decided to run the high side but if anyone spun if front of me it would have been game over.” Near the back of the pack the situation was desperate. “It was crazy,” says Jeff Grundberg, “couldn’t see a thing. I’m surprised they let us run as long as we did considering the conditions.” Despite visibility at or near zero, drivers manage to complete eight laps. On lap nine, three cars spun at three different areas of the track. The yellow flag flew. Drivers still inside their race cars gathered on the back straight to meet with officials. Then in orderly fashion, drove off of the race track back to the pits. It was announced the remaining laps of the Feature event would be cancelled due to safety concerns for the drivers. “Someone was going to get hurt out there if we continued,’ says Wayne Gideon, “I’m surprised we didn’t see a train wreck during the feature.” It was decided after the race that valuable NPP Series heat race points would be awarded to drivers but no points would be awarded for the Feature since the halfway point was not reached. Race teams now dust themselves off (literally) and plan ahead for the final seven races of the 2007 season. Five of the races will be held at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton. Two events will be held at Bridge County Raceway in Lethbridge, Alberta.

NEXT NPP SERIES EVENT
CASTROL RACEWAY – Edmonton

Saturday, August 11
Gates @ 4:00pm
Racing @ 6:00pm