EDMONTON, AB – January 11th is an important date on the calendar for teams of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. It’s not a race date because there is still snow on the ground. It’s not a deadline to have driver and team profiles updated either. So what does January 11th symbolize? This date is the official halfway point of the ‘off-season’. “One hundred and twelve days ago the NPP Late Model Series wrapped up the 2008 season,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “in just one hundred and twelve days we are going racing again.”

Behind the scenes preparation for the 2009 season continues. “We are always on the lookout for major sponsors for the NPP Series,” says Craig, “despite the downturn in the Canadian economy we hope to have a few more new sponsors on board before racing starts in May.” The 2009 Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series schedule is almost ready for official release. “About seventy-five percent complete,” adds Craig, “race dates at our home track (Castrol Raceway) are pretty well finalized. Right now we are in the process of firming up the race dates away from Edmonton.” The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series celebrates its 9th season of racing action in 2009.

2009 NPP LATE MODEL SERIES SCHEDULE
(tentative dates**)
Saturday April 25th Castrol Raceway (test ‘n’ tune)
Saturday, May 2nd Castrol Raceway (2009 NPP Season Opener)
Saturday, May 16th Bridge County Raceway – Lethbridge
Sunday, May 17th Bridge County Raceway – Lethbridge
Friday, June 5th Castrol Raceway – Edmonton
Saturday, June 6th Central Alberta Raceway – Rimbey
Friday, June 19th Castrol Raceway – Edmonton
Saturday, June 20th Rocky Mtn. Raceway Park – Okotoks
Saturday, June 27th Bridge County Raceway – Lethbridge
**Sunday, June 28th (track to be announced/Drumheller??)
Friday, July 10th Castrol Raceway (Gold Cup)
Saturday, July 11th Castrol Raceway (Gold Cup)
Sunday, July 12th Castrol Raceway (Gold Cup raindate)
Saturday, July 25th Rapid Fire Motorsports Park – Drayton Valley
Saturday, August 1st Castrol Raceway (Oilmens Invitational)
Sunday, August 2nd Castrol Raceway (Oilmens Invitational)
Saturday, August 15th Bridge County Raceway – Lethbridge
**Sunday, August 16th -TBA-
Friday, August 28th Castrol Raceway (Oil City Cup)
Saturday, August 29th Castrol Raceway (Oil City Cup)
**Saturday, Sept. 5th Grays Harbor Raceway – Elma, Washington
**Sunday, Sept. 6th Grays Harbor Raceway – Elma, Washington
**Saturday, Sept. 19th Castrol Raceway (Season Championship)

• WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14th
  2009 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE UPDATE – Two confirmed race dates aren’t so confirmed anymore after an unforeseen scheduling ‘issue’ developed with one of the tracks today (Wednesday – Jan 14) . The Friday, June 5th race date (Edmonton) and the June 6th race date (Rimbey) have been switched back to tentative. Trying to keep with the one weekend on, one weekend off scheduling format for most of the 2009 season, there could be a change to this particular race weekend. There is the possibility that these race dates will be switched to Friday and Saturday May 29th and 30th. Meanwhile, conversations with Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington continue. Like last year at this time, the NPP Series has one confirmed race date in the United States. NPP Series officials are hoping to have confirmation of the second race date before the season starts and the NPP Series schedules are printed.