EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series will attempt to kick start its 2018 season at Castrol Raceway on July 20th and 21st.  “We are hoping for at least eight teams to commit to this race,” explains NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “we’ve got a couple weeks to confirm the numbers with track officials in Edmonton.”  Like many racing classes in Alberta, the NPP Series has experienced a serious decline in the number of race teams the past several seasons.  “We cancelled our 2017 season due to a lack of race teams,” admits Craig, “heading into this season (2018) there were a lot of positives (increased car count) unfortunately we are still having problems getting out of the pits.”

NPP SERIES LAST COMPETED AT CASTROL RACEWAY IN AUGUST OF 2016

NPP Series officials were forced to cancel the scheduled season opener (May 25/26) at Central Alberta Raceways due to a lack of cars.  An attempt to race in Edmonton on June 5th and 6th was met with the same fate.  Craig says a third race weekend was cancelled by a race track and not by NPP Series officials.  “Through no fault of our own, the Canada Day long weekend race in Drayton Valley (June 30/July 1) was cancelled by track officials.  The facility still does not have operating permits for any of their race dates.”  Its been almost two years since the NPP Late Model Series competed at Castrol Raceway.  “We need to run this race in Edmonton,” says Craig, “we can’t lose another weekend due to a low car count.  If we do, this season is in jeopardy.