EDMONTON, AB. – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series begins its 12th consecutive season of race action Saturday night. For the second year in a row, motorsport fans in Edmonton will get to witness a NPP Series season opener. Mike Tom, the 2011 Season Champion says he’s ready to defend his title. “There is some pressure to repeat [championship]. I know it won’t be easy.” The last time a driver won back to back NPP Series Championships was 2004, 2005. “Our focus is pretty intense right now. We are looking at what can we do to make our car better.” Tom, who won the 2011 season opener, set an NPP Series record winning five consecutive NPP Feature events in his Enerbuilt Technologies #55 Chevrolet. The Stony Plain, Alberta driver finished 2nd in the NPP Series Championship Points Chase in 2010 and 2005. He finished 3rd in points in 2008.

Coming off his best ever season in a NPP Late Model [2nd place], Kevin Wheeler has admitted that he’s flashed back several times to the 2011 Season Championship weekend at Bridge County Raceway last September. “It’s been a long off-season,” says the driver of the KW Mechanical #3 Dodge, “I often think of the points that we left on the table in Lethbridge.” Wheeler had built up a commanding lead in the Saturday night Feature but his motor expired with five laps remaining. “We didn’t give up,” exclaims the Whitecourt, Alberta driver, “using a borrowed motor we finished second Sunday night. I still think we could have caught Mike [in the standings] if we won the Saturday Feature instead of blowing up.” Wheeler finished 51 points behind Tom in the NPP Championship point standings in 2011. “We need to start the season off with a win.”

Darin Borysko debuts the new All Weather Windows / Habitat for Humanity Canada #35 Dodge Saturday night. “Most of my crew is returning this year so that is one less thing to worry about this season.” Borysko finished third in the NPP Series Championship points chase last season. “With the new sponsors on board I think there will be a little bit of added pressure with more eyes on the car this year.” The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series race four times in Edmonton this season.

NOTE: Two drivers make their NPP Series debut Saturday night. Sherwood Park’s Adam Dowler (Whitemud Mechanical #53 Dodge) and Leduc Alberta’s Mike Dunn (Enerbuilt Technologies #22 Chevrolet). Both Dowler and Dunn are vying for 2012 Rookie of the Year honors. Campbell River, British Columbia’s Chris Beaulieu will be filling in for his father (Jason) Saturday night in the #90 Dodge. Beaulieu won the final race of the 2011 season.

NPP SEASON OPENING WINNERS (track)
2011 Mike Tom (Edmonton)
2010 Bruce Broughton (Edmonton)
2009 Darrell Midgley (Lethbridge)
2008 Dwight Kennedy (Okotoks)
2007 Jason Beaulieu (Drumheller)
2006 Trevor Emond (Rimbey)
2005 Jason Beaulieu** (Edmonton)
2004 Trevor Emond (Edmonton)
2003 Feature cancelled – snow
2002 Larry Simpson (Edmonton)
2001 Dwight Kennedy (Edmonton)
**race completed in June after May Feature in Edmonton was rained out

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES
2012 SEASON OPENER AT CASTROL RACEWAY
> Saturday, May 12th
Gates at 4:00pm
Racing starts at 6:00PM

Also racing Saturday night:
‘360’ Sprint Cars and Sportsman Sprint Cars
Northern Thunder Late Models and Hornets

Spectator Admission (set by track):
General: $20.00
Youth (6 – 15): $10.00
Children 5 and under: Free