EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series was the support class to the open wheel Sprint Cars at the 60th anniversary of the Gold Cup this past weekend. On Friday night, in only his 9th start in NPP Series competition, Mark Miller won his first Feature event. Miller not only went to victory lane, the Calgary, Alberta driver also won his first NPP Series Heat race plus the ‘A’ Dash which secured him his very first NPP Series pole position. Miller’s sweep at Castrol Raceway also rocketed him from third to the number one spot in the NPP Series Championship point standings. “This feels awesome. The guys back home have the car working perfectly.” Miller built a commanding three and a half second lead over the rest of the field in the Feature but a mid-race caution changed everything. “After the restart the car was running a little hot. I was losing power [every lap] but we managed to get the victory which was great.” The margin of victory for Miller was just .252 seconds at the finish line. It was quite visible just how hot the A1 Autobody #69 Chevrolet was running. At the end of the race in victory lane, the radiator hose blew. At just 27 years of age, Miller is now the youngest point leader in the 14 year history of the NPP Late Model Series.

Race fans in Edmonton also got a sneak peak at the race car Kenny Wallace will be driving at the Castrol Raceway NASCAR Legends event on July 30th. Fill-in/relief driver Darin Borysko piloted the Jaynart Directional Drilling #36 Dodge to a second place finish. “Kenny is getting a pretty good race car,” exclaims the Edson, Alberta driver, “Dwight [Kennedy] said to go out, don’t wreck it and win. So I was trying!” Borysko started the Feature in the number five position and got by Dwight Kennedy and Kevin Wheeler to challenge Miller for the lead with just four laps to go. “I was trying to race clean and race hard and put on a good show for the fans.”

Defending season Champion Kevin Wheeler finished third in the Friday night Feature in his KW Mechanical/Tundra Oilfield Trucking #3 Dodge. The Whitecourt, Alberta driver had won the previous five NPP Series Feature events and was going for a record sixth win in a row. “We struggled early in the Feature but were are pleased with a podium finish.” Wheeler won his Heat race earlier in the evening. “I’m very happy for Miller right now. For a young guy it’s good to see him out here. He had a fast car and drove a heck of a race.” Wheeler sits just five points behind the new point leader. “I do like to chase. Being out in front you do have a target on your back. The pressure is off me [when I lost the point lead in Sangudo] now we can focus and chase him [Miller] back.”

The NPP Late Model Series is back in action on a rare Wednesday night at Castrol Raceway. Special guest drivers Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace run for NPP Series Championship points at the Race of Champions/Legends of NASCAR event on July 30th.

NPP SERIES – THE INSIDE TRACK:
– Miller is the third driver to lead the NPP Series Championship points chase this season. Kevin Wheeler and Dwight Kennedy have also lead the points chase in 2014.
– Dwight Kennedy tapped Kevin Wheeler on the opening lap pushing the hood off the hood pins. Despite limited visibility Kennedy would hold onto second for a majority of the race but finished fifth.
– Shawn Kennedy snapped the rear end housing and bent the driveshaft on his Equipment Sales and Service #7 Dodge in the heat race and missed the Dash and the Feature.

– After finishing 4th in his heat, Darrell Midgley’s Integra Tire #14 Dodge refused to stay running. The 2009 NPP Series Champion would miss the Dash race and the Feature.
– Alberta Racing veteran Ken Webster from Sylvan Lake, Alberta tried to make his NPP Series debut. While exiting the pits to compete, the engine seized in his #01 Chevrolet. Webster got a brand new engine installed for Saturday only to have the rain wipe out the night.
– Wayne Wheeler spun his Whitecourt Auto Sales #4 Dodge on the white flag lap while in a three car battle for fourth. Last year’s NPP Series Rookie of the Year would be credited with a 9th place finish. Wheeler sits fourth in the point standings.
– Bruce Broughton had a season high fourth place finish in the Feature Friday night. The 2010 NPP Series Champion sits 5th in the point standings.

NOTE: The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series offers condolences to family and friends of Albert Kosolofski. Albert was the flagman at Merritt Speedway in Merritt, British Columbia. Kosolofski passed away at the race track Saturday afternoon.