EDMONTON, AB – For the first time this season there has been a change at the top of the standings in the $100,000 Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series.  Edson, Alberta’s Dwight Kennedy took over the number one spot after sweeping both 50 Lap Feature events Saturday and Sunday night at the 13th Annual Oilmens Invitational.  “My boys did a super job on setting up the car,” says Kennedy. “it was flawless.”  There were some concerns for Kennedy’s race team going into Sunday nights event at Castrol Raceway.  “We were really worried about the motor, we thought we cooked it on the first night of the Oilmens but it made it through.  Now its time to prepare for the Gold Cup.”  After a top 10 showing on Saturday night, Sedgewick Alberta’s Tim Beausoliel finished second in Sunday nights Feature race.  It’s the second time in 4 races Beausoliel has finished in the top 3 this season.  “When you have guys like Kelvin Bell helping you out, like I did tonight (Sunday), how can you go wrong.”  Bell was hoping to race on Sunday night but a scary incident on night number one of the Oilmens Invitational changed everything.  Bells engine blew going down the back straight away on Lap 24 then caught fire after the car came to rest in turn 3.  The cockpit of Bells race car was briefly filled with flames as he scrambled to safety. ” The car is a mess.  I really wanted to race tonight but it was sure nice to be involved with Tim’s run.  It was great to see him do well.”  Darrel Midgley picked up the pieces from Saturday nights controversy filled Feature event and finished a solid third on Sunday.  “You have to put that stuff behind you,” adds the Sidney British Columbia driver, “one of my crew members was banned from tonight’s race and we overcame that too.”  An incident on the track Saturday night with four laps to go, which then spread into the pits, forced race officials to disqualify both Midgely and three time NPP Series Champion Trevor Emond.  After the race Emond admitted he was running with a ‘hurt’ motor.  “I think its done.” there was a cryptic message added as well after Saturday nights disqualification, “I might be done too.”  Drivers and race teams of the 2006 NPP Late Model Series have two weeks to prepare for the next event.  It is another grueling two night show. The NPP Series teams up with the Fountain Tire Alberta Sprint Tour at Castrol Raceway for the 2006 Gold Cup.