EDMONTON, AB – Since the very first season (2001), Castrol Raceway has been the home track of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. Many of the twenty NPP Series race teams reside within a 2 ½ hour drive to the Edmonton facility. However, calling Castrol Raceway the home track is a bit of a stretch for two British Columbia drivers that currently sit on top of the NPP championship point standings. British Columbia drivers Jason Beaulieu and Darrell Midgley sit first and second after grabbing Feature wins at the Lucas Slick Mist Season Opener at Bridge County Raceway in Lethbridge last month. The Vancouver Island competitors are separated by just two points heading into this weekends NPP double header at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway (Friday night) and Rimbey’s Central Alberta Raceway (Saturday afternoon). Beaulieu hopes the winning ways continue. “I’ve had success in Edmonton over the years that’s for sure,” says the Campbell River BC driver, “I wrapped up the season last year with a victory in Edmonton and I sure wouldn’t mind a win at the Edmonton home opener Friday night.”

Including last months win in Lethbridge, the 2007 NPP Series Champion has gone to victory lane a total of sixteen times. Eleven of those wins have taken place in Edmonton. Darrell Midgley meanwhile is off to his best start ever in the NPP Late Model Series after a Feature win and a third in Lethbridge. “It was sure a long time between wins wasn’t it,” indicates the Sidney, BC driver, whose first NPP victory came on July 14th, 2006, “we’ve been close so many times. It was nice that the planets finally aligned for us to have two strong nights back to back.” Midgley scored 17 top 10 finishes which included five runner-ups and four third place finishes in between his two feature wins.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend. I sure don’t want to wait another three years for a win. Edmonton is definitely the track I like running at the best so if we get a few breaks maybe we can win another one. If not Edmonton, than maybe we can pick one up in Rimbey (Saturday).”

> Friday, June 5th
EDMONTON – Castrol Raceway
Gates @ 5:00PM
Racing @ 7:00PM

>Saturday, June 6th
RIMBEY – Central Alberta Raceways
Gates @ 3:00PM
Racing @ 4:00PM

WEEKEND RACE NOTES
– after missing the 2009 season opening weekend in Lethbridge, Spruce Grove’s Bruce Broughton and Whitecourt’s Travis Day will be on the hunt for maximum points in Edmonton and Rimbey.
– Broughton won the first NPP Feature in Edmonton last season.
– 99 points separates 1st from 11th in the NPP Series standings.
– the pole sitter has won just 6 of the last 20 NPP Features dating back to 2007.
– Friday’s race is the 88th visit of the NPP Late Model Series to Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway.
– Saturday’s race is the 5th visit of the NPP Late Model Series to Rimbey’s Central Alberta Raceways.
– June is the busiest month for NPP Late Model Series race teams this season. The NPP Series has six scheduled race dates at five different Alberta race tracks over the next four weekends.

2009 NPP LATE MODEL SERIES JUNE SCHEDULE
Friday, June 5th Edmonton – Castrol Raceway
Saturday, June 6th Rimbey – Central Alberta Raceways
Friday June 19th Edmonton – Castrol Raceways
Saturday, June 20th Okotoks – Rocky Mtn Raceway Park
Saturday, June 27th Lethbridge – Bridge County Raceway
Sunday, June 28th Drumheller – Dinosaur Downs Speedway