EDMONTON, AB. – After several false starts, the 2018 season finally got underway for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series.  What was supposed to be a two-day race weekend at Castrol Raceway was cut in half.  Track officials cancelled Friday night races due to wet facility conditions thanks to thunderstorms.  Saturdays weather looked a little more promising however threatening weather was always on the horizon.  Several new drivers made their official NPP Series debut Saturday night but it was a familiar name in victory lane.  Shawn Kennedy out gunned the newcomers to register his third NPP Series Feature win. “So excited to be out racing again,” exclaims the Edson, Alberta driver, “having my wife and kids out to watch me race was awesome.”  Kennedy started off the night with a Heat race win but then uncovered a problem with his crewman (Zack) getting the race car ready for the Feature.  “The shock mount on my car was not good,” admits Kennedy, “couldn’t tighten the bolt as it was stripped out.  So we used some zip ties, duck tape and hay wire.”  Kennedy’s aggressive driving style was somewhat subdued during the Feature.  “Really wasn’t sure I was going finish the feature because of the redneck stuff holding the car together.”

Kennedy took over the race lead on lap 3 from Stony Plain, Alberta’s Dylan Potter who was making his NPP Series debut.  One lap later Potter and 2016 NPP Series Rookie of the Year Jeff Duperon came together in the middle of turn one/two to bring out the first caution of the race.  The second caution came just a few laps later as white smoke billowed from Duperrons car.  “My fire extinguisher went off inside the car,” sighs the Ashmont, Alberta driver, “couldn’t see anything.  I thought it was the motor at first.”  Earlier contact with Potters car dislodged the fire extinguisher from its mount.  Duperron would leave the track and be credited with a 5th place finish.

Troy Sheridan looked strong in his debut appearance in the NPP Series.  The Fort McMurray, Alberta driver battled for the race lead early in both his Heat and Feature races.  He and fellow newcomer Potter had some of the best side by side on-track battles the entire night.

NPP Series officials had hoped for eight teams to show up for the Edmonton race but several last minute cancellations meant only six teams were on the property Saturday night.  Six teams quickly became five when Stony Plain, Alberta’s Scott McGill race car developed fuel problems during hotlaps.  Despite the low car count NPP Series are confident that the numbers will continue in the upward trend as the 2018 season continues.

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TEAM NPP UPDATE: Wade Fleming and Lane Zerbin were on the track on both sides of the border Saturday night.  Fleming had a very strong night at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway.  The Ardrossan, Alberta driver piloted the Northern Provincial Pipelines # 7 Sprint Car to a second place finish in his Heat race and a 5th place finish in the Feature.  South of the border, Zerbin drove the NPP #81 Modified to a second place finish in his Heat race and a 2nd place finish in the Feature at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington.