OKOTOK’S, AB (August 20) – Edson, Alberta’s Crystal Kennedy made her open wheel sprint car debut at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park south of Calgary on Saturday night August 15th.  “It was a last minute decision,” says the driver of the Edson Top Choice Autobody #88 Dodge, “moments after finding out our NPP race was rained out in Lethbridge, a phone call was made to Gee and Gee racing in Leduc to find out if their rental race car was booked.  It wasn’t, so we booked the car to race in Okotoks.”  Kennedy has always had the need for speed.  “I’ve basically grown up at the race track,” exclaims Kennedy, “when I was old enough, I started helping my dad in the pits then got on the track when I was 16.”  Last October, the daughter of two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy, traveled to Northern California to attend the Jimmy Sills Open Wheel Sprint Car Racing School. .

OCTOBER 2008 – CALIFORNIA RACE SCHOOL // AUGUST 2009 – FIRST SPRINT CAR RACE

“I wanted to take this course to improve my overall racing skills.  I learned so much and it really boosted my confidence.”  Seven months after taking the course, Kennedy had her best ever finish in an NPP Late Model.  Night #2 of 2009 NPP Season opening weekend at Lethbridge Alberta’s Bridge County Raceway, Kennedy raced her #88 Dodge to a fifth place finish.  “I think I surprised a lot of people that night.”  Kennedy currently sits 8th in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series point standings.  With the NPP Championship points chase on hold due to bad weather in Lethbridge, Kennedy would make the trek to Rocky Mountain Raceway Park and strap herself into a 600 horsepower sprint car.

KENNEDY GOES SPRINT CAR RACING AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK

“I’ve always wanted to try and race a sprint car,” exclaims Kennedy, “Wade Fleming (8-time Edmonton Sprint Car Champion) knows I’ve wanted to race an open wheel car and has been giving me the ins and outs of racing a sprint car over the years.”  There would be no podium finish this night for Kennedy at the high banked, ¼ mile Okotoks race track. “Yes, I got lapped,” smiles Kennedy, “but I didn’t crash.  I sure can’t wait till I’m behind the wheel of a sprint car again.  I just like racing!”  Kennedy will be back inside a race car a little more familiar to her the end of August.  Next race action for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is Friday and Saturday night August 28th and 29th.  The NPP Late Model Series join forces with the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series for the 2009 Oil City Cup at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway.