RIMBEY, AB. – All Bruce Broughton was looking for was a decent showing at Central Alberta Raceways Saturday night. What he got instead exceeded his own expectations. The Spruce Grove, Alberta driver won Saturday nights Qualifying Heat, the ‘A’ Dash and the Feature for a ‘complete’ sweep. Broughton had won Heat races before at the Rimbey, Alberta facility but never finished better than 14th in a Feature. “We had a fantastic car tonight. Best night of racing. Best points night for us….. ever!” The strong race night moved the 2010 NPP Series Champion from fourth to second place in the NPP Series points standings just 13 points behind Campbell River, British Columbia’s Chris Beaulieu who finished second in the Feature.

Unfortunately for drivers and race fans, the Feature was called at the start of Lap 18, when rain showers moved into the region. Broughton had built up a commanding 6 second lead when the rain began to fall. “We had a great setup on the car tonight. The car felt good in all three races.” All drivers had to contend with a tricky racing surface during the scheduled 25 lap Feature event. Massive ruts developed in turn #1 which would toss the 3,100lb NPP Late Model race cars around like small toys. “I got to pick and choose my spots going into [corner] one,” admits Broughton, “I can only imagine what was going on behind me.” Kevin Wheeler finished on the podium (3rd) for the second consecutive NPP Feature this season.

The Whitecourt, Alberta driver navigated his race car around the massive ruts and held off a barrage of on-track attacks from Sidney, BC’s Darrell Midgley, Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Curtis Moore and Stony Plain, Alberta’s Mike Tom. “It was definitely a tricky race track,” says Wheeler, “thanks to my good pit crew we nailed the set up every time. We hung in there and stayed out of mischief and brought the car home in one piece.” Despite his Qualifying Heat win, a fourth place finish in the ‘A’ Dash and a second place finish in the Feature, Wheeler dropped from second to third in the NPP Series Championship point standings. “This shows you just how competitive this Series is.”

Next race for the NPP Series is at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway on Friday and Saturday night July 20th and 21st. The NPP Series is the support class for the 2012 Gold Cup, Canada’s oldest most prestigious Sprint Car race.

NPP SERIES – THE INSIDE TRACK
– the last driver to score a ‘complete’ sweep of an NPP Series race night was Trevor Emond on August 28th, 2009 at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta.
– current NPP Series point leader Chris Beaulieu was nursing a tender left shoulder Saturday night. Beaulieu, who finished second, dislocated his shoulder racing his Modified in Oregon on Wednesday.
– Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Curtis Moore moved into the Top 5 in the NPP Standings with a Qualifying Heat win and a fourth place finish in the Feature.
– Ryan Clark made his NPP Series Rookie debut Saturday night and finished the Feature in 11th.
– NPP Rookie of the Year contender Adam Dowler registered his second consecutive Top 10 finish in a NPP Feature.
– 17 NPP Series race teams competed at Rimbey.
– Track conditions at Central Alberta Raceways were very good except for turn #1 which deteriorated throughout the night.
– the on-track ruts led to a one bizarre on-track caution incident and caution flag in the Feature. The front of Kelvin Bell Dodge became lodged underneath the rear bumper of Mike Tom in Turn #1. Tom would spin and Bell would actually whip around with Tom which then separated the two cars in Turn #2. A broken spindle sidelined Bell. Tom re-grouped and finish 5th.
– Kevin Clark would have three wheels of his #5 Dodge off the ground hitting the dirt ‘mogul’ going into Turn #1.
– the NPP Late Model Series congratulates Calgary, Alberta’s Roger Bonnyville on his Feature win in the debut of the IMCA Modifieds at Central Alberta Raceways