EDMONTON, AB. – The $100,000 Northern Provincial Late Model Series returns to Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway this Saturday night.  After a rather hectic July for drivers and teams (six races at four tracks), the last two months of the NPP season will seem rather tame with just three events this month and four in September.  “The month of July really shook up the standings in a way I wasn’t expecting,” indicates NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “the only thing that didn’t change was the name of point leader (Jason Beaulieu) but from second on down, the standings took on a different appearance after every race.”  The point spread between all the drivers also narrowed.  Only 191 points separates second place from tenth in the standings.  The gap between first and second also got closer.  “With just seven races left in the season I can guarantee that we will see one of the best battles ever for the championship in the seven year history of the NPP Series.”  One driver who will be in that battle is Jason Beaulieu.  The Campbell River, BC driver has been number one in points in the All Weather Windows sponsored #46 since the first race of the year.  “The season is far from over,” says Beaulieu, “some people say we have dominated this year.  We have run very well but dominate may be the wrong choice of words.  It only takes one bad race to mess up a point lead.”  Beaulieu enters race action this weekend with a 181 point lead over last year’s rookie of the year.  “July just about wiped my team out,” laughs Kevin Clark, “wow, you could hardly catch your breath from one race and it was off to another track.  Looking back (now that I have time) July was pretty good to us.”  The Altario, Alberta driver was 13th in the point standings in June.  “Right now we’re focusing on Jason but we also have to keep in mind who is behind us as well.  Darrell (Midgley) and Shawn (Kennedy) are right there.  You can’t count out Dwight (Kennedy) either.  Just last month he (Dwight Kennedy) was second in the standings where we sit right now.”  The chase for the NPP Series Championship can be seen on Channel 10; SHAW TV Edmonton.  NPP Speed presented by All Weather Windows and Boychuk Transport.  The August 11th NPP Series event at Castrol Raceway will be re-broadcast on Sunday August 19th, Wednesday August 22nd and Saturday August 25th.

NEXT NPP SERIES RACE
Saturday – August 9th at Castrol Raceway