LAS VEGAS, NV – Darrell Midgley ‘doubled down’ on the 3/8 mile Bullring track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 2015 Champion of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series raced in two-pavement Late Model classes at the annual Fall Classic Friday and Saturday, October 23/24.

During Friday afternoon qualifying, the Sidney, British Columbia driver was 15th (out of 21 cars) in the Late Model Class and 16th (out of 39) in the Super Late Model Class. In the Friday night Late Model Heat race, Midgley finished a strong second positioning himself well for the Saturday night Feature. With more cars registered in the Super Late Model class, Midgley needed a third place finish or better in his Heat race to lock himself into the Saturday night Feature. While running third, seven laps to go, another competitor ran into the back of the NPP #81 Dodge. “We were in a transfer spot,” exclaims the Sidney, British Columbia driver, “we qualified well and were running well.” Midgley’s machine was removed from the track on the back of a tow truck. “The car was tore up pretty good.” His crew immediately went to work repairing the damage to the NPP #81 Super Late Model. They finished repairs just after 2AM Saturday morning.

The 100 lap Late Model Feature did not go very well for Midgley Saturday night. “I thought we had a decent car. We just totally missed the setup. Then a spark plug wire fell off. It just went from bad to worse in this car.” Midgley was forced to pit but returned to the track and was credited with a 15th place finish (down 22 laps). “I think we can put this race off as a loss. Most of our efforts here [in Las Vegas] went to the Super Late Model.” Eric Richardson of Bakersfield, California was the initial winner of the caution free Late Model Feature. Richardson’s car however failed post race inspection and was immediately disqualified. Trevor Huddleston of Agoura Hills, California was declared the winner. Fourth place finisher Jeff Peterson (San Bernadino, California) also failed post race inspection and was DQ’d. Before the disqualifications Midgley was listed as finishing 15th but ended up in 13th.

Midgley needed to finish fourth or better in the Last Chance Super Late Model race to have any hope of advancing to the 150 Lap Fall Classic Feature. With repairs completed and new body panels in place, Midgley won his Last Chance race advancing him to the $10,000 to win Feature. “The car was actually better today [after repairs] than Friday night. The guys did one heck of a job putting it back together.” The momentum from the Last Chance victory carried over to the Super Late Model Feature. “At this level there is no time to relax. You are on it the entire race.” Starting in the 22nd position, Midgley advanced several positions at the drop of the Green and continued his move to the front.

Unlike last years carnage filled Feature, this years Fall Classic was relatively tame as only 6 caution flags flew for various spins. Midgley got as high as ninth in the Saturday night Super Late Model finish but ended up 12th when the checkered flag flew. “Says a lot about my guys. They never give up. What they did here to get this car back on the track was amazing.” Linny White of Fontana, California won the 150 Lap Super Late Model Feature and the $10,000 payday.