EDMONTON, AB – The $100,000 Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series rounds out the 2007 season with two events at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway. Hoping to make NPP Series history and a bit of personal history this Saturday night is current point leader Jason Beaulieu. “I’ve won several track championships on the pavement over the years,” exclaims the Campbell River, BC driver, “but I’ve never won a race series on dirt before.” Beaulieu, who had an opportunity to clinch the championship in Lethbridge on the Labor Day long weekend, now only needs 57 points to clinch. “It was a tough weekend in Lethbridge for the All Weather Windows team (finished 18th/rear end and 14th/flat tire). I was hoping to give my crew a bit of an early Christmas present maybe I can do it this weekend.” Never in the history of the NPP Late Model Series has a driver from British Columbia won the championship. “To be the first BC driver to ever win this series would feel pretty good.”

Sitting second in the points standings is defending season champion Dwight Kennedy. “We’re not giving up until the last lap is run,” says the Edson, Alberta driver, “second place in the Feature or even the heats is not an option.” Kennedy has won three out of the last 4 Feature events run at Castrol Raceway. “We have had pretty good success in Edmonton this year. Let’s hope it continues for the rest of the month.” The 2007 NPP Rookie of the year honors appears to be coming down to two drivers based out of Whitecourt, Alberta. Paul Grundberg sits 5th in the standings and currently has a 145 point lead over fellow rookie driver Rod Wilde (9th). “We’ve had a very good first year,” says Grundberg, “some pretty good finishes too including a second place in Edmonton last month.” Grundberg has not finished out of the top 10 in a Feature event all season. Rod Wilde hopes for two strong races against Grundberg in Edmonton in September. “I’ve passed him a few times this season and I make sure I tell him after the race,” smiles Wilde, “we haven’t had the luck in the Features that Paul has had (5 top 10 finishes) but we are going to fight hard in the remaining races to try and catch him.” NPP Speed on SHAW TV will be covering the Chase for the Championship at Castrol Raceway in September. The September 8th race featuring the NPP Late Model Series will be broadcast on SHAW TV (Channel 10 – Edmonton) on September 16th, 19th and 23rd.