EDMONTON, AB – The $100,000 Northern Provincial Pipeline Late Model Series opened its 2006 season in Rimbey, Alberta back in May.  This Saturday afternoon the series return’s to Central Alberta Raceway’s to begin the final half of the season.  “This weekend’s race in Rimbey kicks off the most grueling part of the 2006 schedule,” says tour announcer Gord Craig, “seven race events are scheduled over the next five weekends.  There is tremendous pressure on all race teams heading into Saturday race.  The drivers at the top of the standings want to stay at the top.  Drivers who have struggled the first half of the season know that Rimbey is their big chance to turn things around.”  Bruce Broughton knows the importance of getting a good jump in the second half.  “The first month and a half was tough,” admits last years NPP Rookie of the Year, “we’re looking forward to Rimbey and hopefully our first win.”  Broughton was near the bottom of the standings the end of May but now sits ninth.  A strong performance this weekend could put the Spruce Grove driver into the top five.  Three-time NPP Series champion Trevor Emond, who won the season opener in Rimbey and two weeks ago in Edmonton, is looking forward to Saturday.  “We’re racing our own race now,” says the Leduc Alberta driver, “there really is no pressure on us.  The pressure is on the other guys to beat us.  Our goal this weekend is to prepare our car and win our second race in Rimbey this season.”  Current point leader Dwight Kennedy has had success in Rimbey.  The Edson, Alberta driver won last year and finished third in the feature back in May.  “Rimbey’s been good to us,” says Kennedy, “lets hope the trend continues this Saturday.”  Another driver looking forward to Rimbey is British Columbia’s Darrel Midgley.  “We’ve been having problems running on dry slick race tracks this year but we learned a lot (car set-up) at the Gold Cup race in Edmonton two weeks ago.  We’re sitting third in the points right now.  Rimbey will be a huge test for us.”

CENTRAL ALBERTA RACEWAYS
– SATURDAY, July 29th
GATES AT NOON
RACING AT 2:00PM