EDMONTON, AB. – Canada’s longest running open wheel sprint car event runs this weekend at Castrol Raceway.  First run in 1954, the Gold Cup will be held Friday and Saturday, August 26th and 27th.  “The NPP Late Model made its official Edmonton debut at the 1999 Gold Cup race,” says Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series announcer Gord Craig, “we have been the support class to this race ever since.”  Craig says a Feature win on either Night #1 or #2 of the Gold Cup bodes well for NPP Series drivers wanting to secure a season championship.  “Our champion, the last three seasons, also went to victory lane at the Gold Cup race weekend.  In fact, ten of the fifteen championships we’ve awarded since our very first season (2001) has gone to the driver that was a Feature winner at the Gold Cup.”  One driver that knows this stat well is two-time and defending season champion Darrell Midgley.  The Sidney, British Columbia driver swept both Features at last year’s Gold Cup event.  “Winning both nights was a bonus,” admits the current NPP Series point leader, “its not easy but we got the job done.”  Midgley became the first driver to win both nights of the Gold Cup since 2010 when Bruce Broughton accomplished the feat.  The driver of the Integra Tire (Edson) #14 Dodge also won a Gold Cup Feature back in 2009 and would later claim the 2009 NPP Series Championship.  “You take the wins when you can get them.  It’s not easy in this class.  You really have to be on your game because anyone can win.”  On Friday night Midgley will be competing in his 90th NPP Late Model Series race event.

Mark Miller, the 2014 NPP Late Model Series Champion, registered his first ever NPP Series Feature event victory at the 2014 Gold Cup.  “The Gold Cup is always a good race to win,” exclaims the driver of the A1 Autobody #69 Chevrolet, “but we haven’t raced in Edmonton yet this year.  So it’s going to be interesting.”  The Calgary, Alberta driver was runner-up to Midgley in both Gold Cup NPP Series Features last year.  “Hope to get a good finish (both nights).  Maybe we can win one (or both) and be first in points after this weekend.”  Miller trails Midgley by just 9 points in the NPP Late Model Series Championship standings.  Miller however will be looking over his shoulder as 2010 NPP Series Champion Bruce Broughton sits third in the standings just two points back.

 

 

——– 2016 GOLD CUP ———
Castrol Raceway – Edmonton, Alberta
> Friday/Saturday, August 26th & 27th

Featuring:
‘360’ Sprint Cars
NPP Late Models

4:00pm – Gates Open (both days)
Friday Racing @ 7:00pm /// Saturday Racing at 6:00pm

Gee looking to become first back-to-back Canadian
Gold Cup Champion since Billy Foster in 1963 & 1964*.

*from available records
(missing Gold Cup winners from 1978 – 1982 at Edmonton’s Cobra Raceway)