EDMONTON, AB – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series kicked off its 2009 race season with a weekend test ‘n’ tune session at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway. “Nice to hear the sounds of race cars again,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “we didn’t have a test ‘n’ tune last year. They have been a bit of a rare occurrence at our home track the past few seasons due to inclement weather.” Weather was not a problem Saturday afternoon. Under a clear blue Alberta sky, temperatures were in the high teens when the green flag dropped. “We needed to be here today (test ‘n’ tune),” says Sherwood Park Alberta’s Curtis Moore, “I don’t want a repeat of what happened last year.” Moore had motor problems with his Air Power Systems #80 Dodge at the 2008 Season opener and then broke a drive shaft the second night. “I’m very happy with how my car performed. Unfortunately we were only on the track twice today. I was hoping maybe we could have gotten on the track at least one more time.

Another driver hoping to get on the track one more time was three-time NPP Series Champion Trevor Emond. “The track was in a lot better shape than I though it would be,” says the driver of the #17 Hitchworks Chevrolet, “we had to pull off early our second time out because of some timing problems. We were hoping to get back on the track to see if we fixed it.” Emond was fastest in the first NPP test session. NPP Series veteran Mike Tom was fastest in the second round.

“It was good get back on the track again,” says the Stony Plain, Alberta driver, “this is going to be an interesting season that’s for sure.” Tom drove his Hinton Oilfield Services #55 Chevrolet to a third-place finish in NPP Series points in 2008. Pat Fines brought his Haze Tattoos sponsored #8 Dodge down from Whitecourt, Alberta for Saturday afternoon’s test ‘n’ tune in Edmonton. “I had to knock a little rust off,” smiles Fines, “extra seat time is always good in this class.”

This is Fines third season in a NPP Late Model. “Consistency will be the key for me this season,” says Fines, “last season we were all over the place as far as where we finished. One week we finished 8th then the next race 16th.. If we can get it (consistency) then a top-10 in points is possible this season.” Fines had four top 10 finishes in NPP Feature races last season. Noticeably absent from Saturdays test ‘n’ tune session was the defending season champion Brian McCaughan and two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy. “McCaughan was test ‘n’ tuning today (Saturday) at his home track down in Okotoks,” says Craig, “Kennedy had work commitments with Northern Provincial Pipelines in Edson.” For the third year in a row the NPP Late Model Series kicks off its race season in southern Alberta. The 9th exciting season of NPP race action begins with back to back nights at Bridge County Raceway in Lethbridge on the May long weekend.

LUCAS OIL SLICK MIST SEASON OPENER
Bridge County Raceway – Lethbridge, Alberta
> Saturday, May 16th / Sunday, May 17th
Racing both nights at 7:00PM