RIMBEY, AB (August 22) – For only the second time in the 15 year history of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series, two Feature events will be run during a single race night.  This scheduling twist is courtesy Friday nights rainout at Central Alberta Raceways.  Track officials in Rimbey, Alberta have given the go ahead to NPP Series officials that will allow two Features on Saturday night.  Darrell Midgley leads the NPP Series Championship point standings and has won six consecutive NPP Series Feature events dating back to last season.  Ironically his six race winning streak could end where it all began.  Midgley, who had never won at Central Alberta Raceways before, swept the weekend Features at the end of the 2014 season.  “Things are just going our way right now,” says the Sidney, British Columbia driver, “I just want to keep racing for the wins.”  If Midgley wins the first Feature of the night on Saturday, he would be the first driver in NPP Series history to win five consecutive Feature events to start off a season.  Right now the 2009 NPP Series Champion has a 62 point lead over defending season champion Mark Miller.

“You can never have too big of a point lead,” adds the driver of the Integra Tire(Edson) #14 Dodge, “if we keep finishing up near the front, the points take care of themselves.”  Mark Miller meanwhile is looking at the two Features as opportunity to catch Midgley in the standings.  “We definitely don’t need any car problems Saturday night, ” says the Calgary, Alberta driver, “he’s [Darrell] finished in front of us every Feature so far.  Hopefully we can finish in front of him for a change [Saturday night].”  Miller has three consecutive second place finishes in NPP Late Model Series action.  In his two previous starts at Central Alberta Raceways, the driver of the A1 Autobody #69 Chevrolet finished 3rd and 7th.  “The car got banged up a bit at the last race of the year.  I don’t want to repeat that.”  With his severely damaged car Miller managed to clinch his first ever NPP Series Championship in Rimbey, Alberta last September.

Midgley and Miller could have some company atop the 2015 NPP Series Championship point standings after the Saturday night Features are run.  Beaumont, Alberta’s Dean Deatherage currently sits third in the standings, 80 points back of Midgley and only 18 points back of second place Miller.  Edson, Alberta’s Ken Clark is just 25 points behind Deatherage.  While all eyes are on the top four cars, Stony Plain, Alberta’s Bruce Broughton knows anything less than a Feature win Saturday night will put him out of the running for a second NPP Series Championship.  “We are looking for a win just to get some confidence back,” indicates the driver of the Habitat for Humanity #61 Dodge, “I think it’s important for everyone [and not just me] to take a shot at Darrell and knock him off the podium.”

Broughton has been as high as third in the NPP Series Championship point standings in 2015 but currently sits fifth.  “Losing that engine at the last race was tough as far as points go.  Engine failures happen.  We are all fixed up and want to make it from the green flag to the checkered flag.”  The 2010 NPP Series Champion leads all drivers with five Heat race wins and two pole wins at Central Alberta Raceways.  Broughton’s last Feature win in the NPP Late Model Series was in 2012 at Central Alberta Raceways.

> SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd
DOUBLE HEADER RACEDAY AT CENTRAL ALBERTA RACEWAY’S
Spectator Gates Open @ 10:00am
Competitors on Dragstrip @ 11:00am
Oval Racing @ 6:00pm (Note: possible start-time of 5:30pm)
Oval Classes competing:
NPP Late Model Series
Western Canadian Modifieds
Hobby Stock
Mini Stock

Spectator Admission
$20.00 – General
$10.00 – Youth (Ages 9 – 15)
FREE – children under 8