EDMONTON, AB – The 15th annual Oilmen’s Invitational was run at Castrol Raceway on the Canada Day long weekend. Scorching temperatures (low 30’s /90+F) greeted drivers of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series both Saturday and Sunday nights. With over $55,000 in prize money on the line, race fans were guaranteed an incredible show. Saturday night, Dwight Kennedy, Darrell Midgley and Mike Tom would score heat race victories automatically transferring them to the ‘A’ Dash. This race, which set the line-up for the $5,000 to win Feature event, saw two major incidents. Graham Cooke, Kevin Clark and Wayne Gideon would come together on the very first lap. The back straight incident would send both Clark and Gideon into the wall. The Clark Construction #5 Dodge had to be towed from the track. The Gideon Contractors #99 Dodge headed to the pits for repairs but did not return. Cooke, from Port Hardy, BC was able to continue in his All Weather Windows #46 Dodge. On the restart, a four car crash would bring out the weekends only red flag. Bruce Broughton’s #61 LJB Auto Chevrolet slipped out of gear underneath the flag stand. Several drivers avoided the slowing race car but three did not. Curtis Moore, Mike Tom, and Shawn Kennedy hit the brakes hard but still slid into one another. The trio then carried on into Broughton.

The four car incident would completely block much of the track. After the cleanup Dwight Kennedy would go on and win the ‘A’ Dash in his #81 Lucas Oil Dodge. The win would give him pole position for the Feature event. After the ‘A’ Dash race there were some brief fireworks in the pits. Track security broke up an altercation between Kevin Clark and Graham Cooke. Castrol Raceway officials had no other option but to suspend both drivers for the rest of the evening. The Saturday night Feature saw pole sitter Dwight Kennedy give up his lead to Sidney, BC’s Darrel Midgley on lap 3. Midgley would hold the lead for 29 laps.

On lap 35 of the 40 lap Feature, Stony Plain Alberta’s Mike Tom, would get by Midgley and would drive his Hinton Oilfield Services #55 Chevrolet to his first Feature event win since August of 2005. “It’s been awhile since we’ve won one of these things,” says Tom, “losing all those engines last year and the two motors to start this season. It sure wasn’t fun. To finally finishing on top tonight (Saturday) it just feels great.” Darrell Midgley would finish second and rookie driver Brian McCaughan finished third.

Both Mike Tom and Darrell Midgley continued their dominance in Heat race action on night number 2 of the 15th annual Oilmen’s Invitational. The Alberta and BC drivers would take the checkered flag again Sunday night. Rookie driver Brian McCaughan also grabbed his first ever Heat race victory in an NPP Late Model. Current Series point leader Dwight Kennedy and Paul Grundberg, who sits 4th in the standings, would be forced to run the ‘B’ Dash Sunday night. Grundberg won the ‘B’ Dash, Kennedy finished third giving them a 13th and 15th starting position for the Feature. Ironically, the finish of Sundays nights ‘A’ Dash was identical to the finish of Saturday nights Feature event. Mike Tom won the ‘A’ Dash guaranteeing him the pole position. Darrel Midgley placed second while Brian McCaughan placed third. The $5,000 to win Feature and Championship night of the 15th annual Oilmen’s Invitational had 19 cars take the green Flag. Pole sitter Mike Tom would take the race lead and hold on to the number one spot for what was originally planned as a 50 lap Feature. Unlike Saturday nights Feature, which only saw 3 yellow Flags, Sunday nights big race saw a barrage of Yellow Flags. Castrol Raceway officials cut back the race to 40 laps then to 35. Many of the cautions were for single and two car spins, others were for accidents including a three car incident on Lap 20 that took out Midgley, Grundberg and Ashley Broughton. By lap 26 Dwight Kennedy had completed his charge from the 15th starting spot to second behind leader Mike Tom. On lap 30 Kennedy passed Tom for the race lead. Trying hard to get his spot back Tom got out of shape with just three laps to go. That allowed Kevin Wheeler and Brian McCaughan to slip by to finish second and third. Saturday night’s Feature winner would have to settle for fourth. “We were looking for some momentum heading into this weekends race and I think we got it,” says Tom after his fourth place finish, “with our win Saturday night and fourth pace finish (tonight) going into Gold Cup in a couple of weeks, we’re ready to rip!” For Dwight Kennedy, who won the original Oilmen’s Invitational race back in 1994, it’s his second Oilmen’s Championship in an NPP Late Model in 3 seasons.

“Feels pretty good coming from the back all the way to the front,” smiles the Edson, Alberta, driver, “we were expecting the track to dry out on the second night and we had the car setup perfect for it. The win makes up for my big mistake from Saturday night.” Kennedy neglected to replenish his supply of tear offs on his helmet and had visibility problems on night number one of the Oilmen’s and finished fourth. “The car set up was there on the first night too. Might have been able to win this race as well but couldn’t see where I was going.” Next race action for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is at Castrol Raceway on Friday and Saturday July 11th/12th. It’s another back to back race weekend for NPP Race teams as they compete in the 2008 NPP/Edson Chrysler Gold Cup Sprint Car race.

NPP PIT BITS
– Okotok’s Alberta’s Brian McCaughan finished third in the Feature both nights and moved into second spot in the NPP point standings.
– Sidney, BC’s Darrell Midgley and Stony Plain Alberta’s Mike Tom were perfect in Heat race action winning both nights of the Oilmens.
– Edson, Alberta’s Ken Clark loses motors in heat race action Saturday and Sunday night.
– After placing 9th in his first ever NPP Feature last season, Whitecourt, Alberta’s Pat Fines finishes a personal best of 6th in the Feature Sunday night.
– Dwight Kennedy has won 4 of the last 6 Oilmens Feature events dating back to 2006.
– Sunday’s Feature was the 100th NPP Late Model Series Feature race dating back to the very first season in 2001.

NEXT NPP LATE MODEL SERIES EVENT
– 2008 GOLD CUP –
CASTROL RACEWAY – Edmonton
> Friday, July 11th & Saturday, July 12th