EDMONTON, AB – Leduc Alberta’s Trevor Emond grabbed his first Feature win of the season Sunday night and moved from tenth to sixth in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series Championship point’s chase.  Emond, who got by pole sitter Darrell Midgley with ten laps to go, held off a late race charge by Whitecourt’s Paul Grundberg to claim the podium at the 2009 Oilmen’s Invitational at Castrol Raceway.  “Definitely got the monkey off my back tonight,” says the driver of the Glentel Wireless #17 Chevrolet.  This is Emond’s first win on his home track in an NPP Series Late Model since August 2nd, 2008.  Emond now has a win, a second and a third in his last three starts.  “We’ve got the momentum on our side right now,” adds Emond, “we have to keep it going with just seven races left.”  Current NPP Series point leader Darrell Midgley led the first 25 laps of the 35 lap Feature in his Lucas Oil #14 Dodge.  “When Trevor got by me I knew I could get him back, unfortunately that opportunity never came.”  Midgley broke a rear axle with three laps remaining.  “We kept the car going but just barely,” exclaims Midgley, “I think we were fortunate to finish where we did (sixth).”  Midgley has a 138 point cushion heading into the stretch drive of the 2009 season.  Paul Grundberg overcame losing a tire (broken spindle) in the ‘A’ Dash and finished second in the Feature.  “I’ve got a really good crew this year,’ says the driver of the Carlan Services #12 Pontiac, “there was no panic and we had the car ready in time for the feature.”  Grundberg finished a season high second in the Feature.  “We got the car where we want it now,” adds Grundberg who sits 11th in the NPP Championship points chase, “a few more podium finishes and maybe a win or two and we could be back to fifth.”  Defending Oilmen’s Invitational Champion Dwight Kennedy finished third Sunday night.  It was his best finish of the season.  “Still having some handling problems with the new car,” exclaims the Edson, Alberta driver, “the podium finish was nice (Sunday) but we desperately need a win.  The sooner the better.” Kennedy and his Lucas Oil #14 Dodge sit fifth in the NPP Series points chase just ten points out of fourth and forty points back of third.  Stony Plain, Alberta’s Mike Tom remains third in the points chase after suffering transmission failure on lap two of the Oilmens Feature.

RACE NOTES
– Night #1 (Saturday) of the 2009 Oilmen’s Invitational was cancelled due to a vicious rain, hail and lightning storm. Wind gusts reached over 90kph.
– Whitecourt Alberta’s Paul Grundberg had his best finish (2nd) this season since his August 30th, 2008 victory in Elma, Washington.
– three cars were knocked out of the Oilmen’s Feature on lap three.  Ken Clark slowed after a tire went down then was turned sideways by a faster Chris Skelton.  Clark was then drilled by Shawn Kennedy.
– despite three drivers in the top 5 in points (#46, #55, #5) failing to finish Sunday nights Feature.  They still held their position in the NPP Series point standings.