EDMONTON, AB. – Only two race dates remain in the $100,000 Northern Provincial Pipeline Late Model Series.  Both of those races will be held at Castrol Raceway with the first to be held this Saturday night.  Although the 2006 NPP Series championship has already been clinched by Dwight Kennedy, the race to determine who will be the 2006 Edmonton track champion is far from over.  “Half of the season was spent on the road at five different race tracks,” indicates NPP tour announcer Gord Craig, “much of the focus has been on Series points this season but there really are two point’s chases that NPP drivers compete in.  For the first time ever, there is a chance we could have a different Series champion and home track champion.”  Dwight Kennedy takes a slim 47 point lead (Castrol Raceway points) over Trevor Emond into race action this weekend.  Even though the Series championship is out of reach, Emond still has his eyes on both point battles.  “I can’t win the Series title but holding onto second (Series points) and grabbing the track championship is my focus now.”  The Leduc Alberta driver has won the NPP Series /Castrol Raceway track championship three consecutive years.  Only one driver has won four consecutive track championships at Castrol Raceway.  Current NPP Late Model competitor Kelvin Bell (Hardisty, AB) was a dominant force on the oval track from 1992 to 1995 when he claimed top spot in the Wissota Late Model class.  “Kelvin’s a great driver,” adds Emond, “I know he fought hard to win four in a row.  It’s been a battle for me to win three in a row in this class.  I’ll probably never get another opportunity like this again (to win four consecutive championships).”  With two races remaining, Kennedy will try to hold off the driver trying to enter the Castrol Raceway history books.  “Race smart and stay out of trouble (the next two races) and hopefully win them both,” says the Edson, Alberta driver, “it’s nice to have the Series championship clinched.  Winning the track championship will be the icing on the cake.”  Kennedy last won the Castrol Raceway track championship and NPP Series championship in 2001.  Right now there are eight drivers that still have a mathematical chance at winning the 2006 Castrol Raceway track championship.  The closest in points to Kennedy are Trevor Emond, Darrell Midgley (Sidney, BC) and Gerry Emond (Edmonton).  “We’ll have to run the wheels off the car,” says Gerry Emond who finished third in points last season, “we’ve had success in Edmonton and with two races to go anything can happen.”  Darrell Midgley is looking for his first ever Castrol Raceway track championship.  “The plan is simple.  Finish ahead of Trevor, Gerry and Dwight every time I’m on the track.  It’s a tall order,” laughs Midgley, “but I’m up for the challenge.”  With many positions in the NPP Late Model standings (Series and track) still undecided, the last two events are expected to be the most exciting and intense races of the entire 2006 season.

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES
Castrol Raceway – Edmonton, Alberta
>Saturday, September 9th
Racing at 6:00PM