EDMONTON, AB – Central Alberta Raceways kicks off its 14th consecutive season of race action Friday and Saturday night (May 25/26).  The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series was looking forward to being a part of the festivities unfortunately a lack of team entries has forced officials to cancel their visit.  “We were only going to have five teams show up (in Rimbey),” admits NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “considering our off-season discussions (with teams) I’m a little surprised the numbers for Friday and Saturday night are this low.”  Craig says a total of 11 race teams indicated their intentions to compete in 2018.  “Having a double digit car count (for the first race weekend) would have been incredible considering our recent struggles.” NPP Series officials cancelled the entire 2017 season due to a lack of committed race teams.  Sixteen consecutive seasons of race action by the NPP Late Model Series came to a halt.

 

“This season we’ve drawn a line in the sand as far as a minimum car count is concerned.  We need a minimum of eight teams to put on a proper show for race fans.”  For years the NPP Late Model Series was the flag ship of touring Series in Alberta with car counts averaging more than 18 teams each event.  “Double digit car counts are not going to return overnight but they are still attainable,” says Craig, “we are rebuilding.  We have enough teams.  The goal now is to just have everyone show up to the track.”  NPP Series officials are talking with the new promotional group that has taken over operations of the Castrol Raceway oval track for the 2018 season.  “They want to put on a good show for the fans so they obviously want racing classes with strong numbers.  We are penciled in on June 8th and 9th (in Edmonton) if we bring eight teams or more.”  The NPP Late Model made its debut in Edmonton at the 1999 Gold Cup race and was the support class at Canada’s oldest Sprint Car race for 18 consecutive seasons until 2017.

2018 SCHEDULE
Friday, May 25       Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey
Saturday, May 26  Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey
Friday, June 9        Castrol Raceway – Edmonton
Saturday, June 10 Castrol Raceway – Edmonton
Saturday, June 30 Drayton Valley Speedway – Drayton Valley
Sunday, July 1        Drayton Valley Speedway – Drayton Valley
Friday, July 20      Castrol Raceway – Edmonton (tentative)
Saturday, July 21  Castrol Raceway – Edmonton (tentative)

TBA                Sangudo Speedway – Sangudo

Saturday, September 15    Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey
Sunday, September 16       Central Alberta Raceways – Rimbey

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UPDATE: Track officials at Central Alberta Raceways have cancelled Night #2 of their 2018 season opener (Saturday, May 26th) due to a low competitor count.  IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Legends were scheduled to run on Saturday night.  The NPP Late Model Series cancelled their weekend appearance in Rimbey on Thursday due to a low car count.

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