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PODIUM FOR TEAM NPP
ROCHESTER, WA (August 1) - The Northwest Super Late Model Series touched down at South Sound Speedway Saturday night. Team NPP's Brandon Carlson finished 2nd in the Weatherguard Roofing/Kennedy Classic 200. Earlier in the day Carlson qualified 6th out of 19 registered entrants. “We were the second car out for qualifying,” explains Carlson, “the track wasn’t quite there yet. The first car out for qualifying even spun. I thought we honestly had a shot at the pole.” The pole position however would still be available to Carlson as the top 8-drivers from qualifying do a redraw to set the first four rows of the starting lineup. Carlson drew the #1 pill to give him pole. “Couldn’t believe it. There were five drivers in front of me and the pole was still available.” At the drop of the green, Carlson led more than 60-laps but relinquished the lead to Alan Cress just before lap-75. “We set the pace early but when I lost the lead to Alan we just followed and managed our stuff till the break (halfway point).”
Around 10-laps after the halfway break the caution flag flew for the front runners. “Alan got a little high. I went low and slid into him. Alan spun so we both went to the back of the pack.” Both Carlson and Cress would begin their march to the front. Just 14-laps later, Cress was sent to the back of the pack for a second time after on-track contact caused another caution. With 50-laps remaining Carlson avoided a multi-car incident but stopped on the racetrack. “I had to start at the tail end again (for the second time).” It was the Carlson and Cress show as both drivers methodically weaved their way through the field to the front of the pack. Cress was battling for the lead with less than 25-laps remaining. Carlson had just cracked the top-10. “I feel like our cars were the two best on the night. It wasn’t easy by any means but we both had the cars to drive back through the field twice." A late race restart benefited Carlson. "We went from 6th to 2nd with less than 10-laps remaining. I was gaining on Alan but we needed a caution to catch him.” Cress held off Carlson for the win. Spokane Washington’s Dave Garber finished 3rd. Carlson was extremely pleased with his evening and his podium finish (2nd).
Darrell Midgley qualified 12th** Saturday for the Weatherguard Roofing/Kennedy Classic 200. The Sidney, British Columbia driver had a strong car and quickly found himself running in the top-10, then top-5. Midgley ran as high as 4th Saturday night at South Sound Speedway. Unfortunately contact with the wall late in the race forced Midgley to head to the pits. Midgley was credited with a 16th place finish.
**Midgley posted the 6th fastest time in qualifying but was penalized for being late for technical inspection. The rules infraction meant the slowest of the qualifying laps would be the official time in.
-more to come
Sidenote: Victoria's Kyle Cottam, the only other Canadian in the field finished 5th.
In his last two Super Late Model appearances at South Speedway (August 3, 2024/May 10, 2025) Midgley had back-to-back 7th place finishes. Carlson previous best ever finish at South Sound Speedway took place on July 25, 2025 with a 5th place finish. He was racing his own SLM this particular race night. Ironically his Super Late Model is now the designated Team NPP back-up car. The Weatherguard Roofing/Kennedy Classic 200 paid $5,000 to win. Northern Provincial Pipelines and Team NPP owner Dwight Kennedy co-sponsored the race weekend. Kennedy added $8,000 in bonus money to leaders of lap 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 199.
