EDMONTON, AB – The chase for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series championship and its incredible $200,000+ prize purse begins this long holiday weekend. Rocky Mountain Raceway Park south of Calgary, hosts the Rocky Mountain Shootout season opener. “It has been seven long months since we last raced,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “with the new race format plus the new spec carburetor and the new car/weight rules that were announced during the winter months, this is one of the most anticipated season openers in NPP Series history.” The format change drops three heat races but adds two dash events. The new spec carburetor adds about 100 extra horsepower. Highly restrictive car set up rules were eliminated which allows an open market for set up combinations. “Canada’s richest racing Series on the dirt just got a whole lot faster for 2008.” The defending NPP Series Champion is looking forward to the first race weekend of 2008. “We won the season opener last year in Drumheller,” says Jason Beaulieu, “the Okotoks season opener this year will be very challenging. I love racing there. It’s a tight cornered track. A driver’s track.”

The Campbell River, BC racer drove the All Weather Windows #46 to a fourth place finish at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park last season. “Its one track I have never won at. Came close in 2006 when I finished second. So maybe this will be the year.” Beaulieu will have two chances to grab a feature event win in Okotoks. The season opening weekend is a two-day show at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park. “The races this Saturday and Sunday are going to be interesting that’s for sure,” says Spruce Grove, Alberta’s Bruce Broughton, “the cars will be so much different with the new rules. Its anything goes as far as setting it up for the track. Toss in the extra horsepower and it certainly could be a wild weekend.”

The driver of the LJB Auto/MDM Foundations sponsored #61 Chevrolet had hoped for some track time before the first race. “Losing the test and tune day in Edmonton (snow & rain) sure didn’t help. I’d give anything for 10 bonus laps by myself on a race track somewhere. Right now its throw a big dart at the board and hope it sticks.”

Weekend FYI: Okotoks, Alberta’s Brian McCaughan makes his NPP Series debut on his home track in the Lucas Oil #42 Dodge.

2008 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOOTOUT
Rocky Mountain Raceway Park – Okotoks/High River, Alberta

> SATURDAY, May 17th
Pit Gates: 4:00pm
Spectator Gates: 5:00pm
Racing: 6:00pm

>SUNDAY, May 18th
Pit Gates: 2:00pm
Spectator Gates: 5:00pm
Racing: 4:00pm