ELMA, WASHINGTON – On a cloudy cool Saturday evening on the west coast of Washington State, the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series added both heat and fireworks to Night #1 of the annual Big ‘E’ race weekend at Grays Harbor Raceway. Whitecourt, Alberta’s Travis Day and Spruce Grove, Alberta’s Bruce Broughton kicked off the night collecting victories in the caution free qualifying Heats. Current NPP Series point leader Darrell Midgley struggled in his Heat race (6th) and was forced to run the ‘B’ Dash event. The Sidney, BC driver would finish second. Altario, Alberta’s Kevin Clark won the ‘B’ Dash putting him first in line behind the finishing order of the ‘A’ Dash. Stony Plain, Alberta’s Mike Tom dominated the ‘A’ Dash race with a four second victory over second place Chris Beaulieu. Tom would be on the pole for the Saturday night 30 lap Feature event. With just three events to go and a season already shortened by rained-out events, NPP drivers were desperate to grab as many points as possible this night.

The fireworks started early in the Feature with Tom, Broughton and Beaulieu exchanging some paint going three wide down the front straight on lap four. Beaulieu sustained some damage (fender and side bar) and was asked by track officials to stop down the back straight for a safety check. Beaulieu was shown in first place at this stage of the race. “I was instructed not to go to the pits but to stop on the track for repairs,” says Beaulieu, “I can see where this would ruffle a few feathers. I was only doing what the track officials told me to do.” Beaulieu was given his position back and allowed to continue even though the side bar was not firmly attached. “Was it a safety issue? I don’t know. I couldn’t see it.” Just a few laps later Mike Tom was sidelined by a punctured right rear tire caused by debris on the track possibly from Beaulieu’s race car. “We had the winning car tonight,” says the driver of the Hinton Oilfield Services #55 Chevrolet, “unfortunately a bad decision cost us the race.” With Tom on the sidelines, there were no other challengers for the race lead in the Feature. Dwight Kennedy and Kevin Clark battled hard for second about five car lengths back of Beaulieu. Rod Wilde and Crystal Kennedy jostled for fourth. While running third, with just four laps to go, Clark had his motor expire. The driver of the Clark Construction #5 Dodge was pushed off of the track to a 10th place finish. Beaulieu meanwhile drove a near flawless race en-route to his first Feature event win in a NPP Late Model. The celebration for Beaulieu would be short lived. Many NPP teams expressed their displeasure after the race regarding the tracks decision to allow Beaulieu to have his car repaired on the track. NPP Late Model Series announcer Gord Craig, who has acted as Series referee in one other controversial race (Drumheller – May 2007), spent nearly one hour talking individually with drivers after the races concluded. A decision was made to take Beaulieu’s Feature win away. “I am disappointed but understand the decision,” says Beaulieu, “what I do know is that I can win in this Series. I proved it tonight.” Edson, Alberta’s Dwight Kennedy was declared the Feature winner when the dust settled. “I don’t like to win this way,” says the driver of the Lucas Oil #81 Dodge, “I really had a good car tonight, probably the best this season.” Kennedy’s previous best finish this season was a third back on August 2nd. Kennedy’s win moves the racing veteran into third place in the NPP Series Championship points chase. Whitecourt, Alberta’s Rod Wilde, filling in for Dan Stewart, finished second. Edson Alberta’s Crystal Kennedy had her first ever podium finish placing third. It’s the first time in NPP Series history that a father and daughter has finished on the podium.

Night #2 of the Big ‘E’ Weekend goes Sunday night at Grays Harbor Raceway. NPP Series officials are casting a cautious glance at the weather forecast.

NPP RACE NOTES (NIGHT #1 – ELMA)
– with numerous father/son podium finishes over the years, for the first time in NPP Series history, a father and a daughter finished on the podium. Dwight Kennedy won the Feature with daughter Crystal finishing third.
– this is Crystal Kennedy’s second top five finish this season.
– this is the first time in 2009 that the NPP Series has managed to complete three consecutive scheduled race events with out a rain out.
-Travis Day registered his first ever heat race win in an NPP Late Model.
– Canada’s DJ Kennington was to have joined the NPP Late Model Series at the Big ‘E’ race weekend in Elma, Washington. The Nascar Nationwide/Canadian Tire Series driver cracked several ribs in a crash in the road race in Montreal last weekend.
– the top 5 drivers in the NPP Championship point standings have at least one Feature win.
– 68 points separates third from sixth in the NPP Championship point standings.
– Darrell Midgley’s needs just 78 points to clinch the 2009 NPP Late Model Series Championship.