EDMONTON, AB. – This August long weekend the Northern Provincial Pipeline Late Model Series visits the Land of Living Skies for the first time in its history.  Saturday and Sunday, the chase for the $100,000 season championship touches down at Speedy Creek Raceway in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  “This is quite the amazing road trip for all race teams,” says tour announcer Gord Craig, “this is southern Saskatchewan’s biggest motorsports show of the summer and the N.P.P. Late Model Series is proud to be a part of it.”  The Swift Current event is also the official halfway point of the season for the N.P.P. Late Model Series.  Current series point leader Dwight Kennedy has history on his side heading into this weekend’s first ever trek into Saskatchewan.  The Edson Alberta driver has visited victory lane at the last two inaugural race events.  “We won the Series first ever race event in Rimbey last year and then Lethbridge (June 3rd) this year, so I hope to continue the trend in Swift Current.”  Kennedy adds that he is feeling a bit of pressure from the drivers behind him in the standings.  “We need to keep the #81 Dodge at the front of the pack both nights.  Doing poorly is not an option but anything can happen at a two day race event.”  This is the third back to back race event in six weekends for N.P.P. Late Model race teams.  “Two day race events are extremely tough,” says Bruce Broughton, last years N.P.P. Rookie of the year, “you hope you can make it through the first night with no troubles because it’s no fun working at four in the morning trying to fix things.”  The Spruce Grove Alberta driver currently sits tenth in points chase and adds there are benefits to two days shows, “you can really move up in the standings if you do well, but the opposite is true too!”  Hoping to turn his season around this weekend in Swift Current is Mike Tom.  “It’s been a brutal year,” admits the Salmon Arm BC driver, “destroying our race car back in May really set us back.  I was more upset for my dad (Allen) who spends a lot of time on this race car in between events.”  Tom, who finished second in the points chase in 2005, was involved in a 3 car wreck in Edmonton back on May 27th.  Tom missed 4 scheduled race events because of that one crash.  “We’ve got eight races left in the season,” adds Tom, who still has an outside chance of finishing in the top 5 in the standings.  “There is no pressure on me right now but maybe I can add a little bit (of pressure) to the front runners and steal a few wins,” smiles Tom, “I don’t like where we are in the standings right now so it’s up to me to change that.”

Swift Current, Saskatchewan

SAT/SUN – August 5 & 6
GATES @ 5:00PM
RACING @ 7:00PM