EDMONTON, AB. – The year was 1999 and the NPP Late Model was making its official debut at Castrol Raceway and the Gold Cup event. Since its debut, the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series has been the support class to Canada’s oldest most prestigious open wheel sprint car race. Unfortunately the lengthy appearance streak in Edmonton, Alberta is coming to an end after 18 consecutive years. Due to a low competitor count, NPP Series officials have cancelled its scheduled July 21st/22nd appearance at Castrol Raceway and the Jim Albert Memorial Gold Cup. “We needed a firm commitment from at least eight teams,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “unfortunately we were several teams shy of the required number.” Back in May, a lack of entries forced NPP Series officials to cancel its official 2017 season opening weekend at Central Alberta Raceways in Rimbey. “It’s always tough to cancel race appearances,” admits Craig, “but it’s hard to put on a show when you only have four teams on the track.”

After announcing the cancellation of this weekend’s Gold Cup appearance in Edmonton, Craig had more bad news. “A difficult decision has been made to cancel the remainder of the 2017 season. For the first time in almost two decades there will be no champion crowned in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series.” The cancellation of the 2017 season will have many people questioning the future of the NPP Late Model Series. “This is a major setback,” admits Craig, “we may be done for this season but don’t put a fork in us yet.” NPP Series officials know that escalating racing costs and the state of the Alberta economy have played a major role in the decline of NPP Series car counts the past several seasons. “When you are a higher profile racing series, the spotlight does shine a little brighter on you. I do know that we aren’t the only racing class in Alberta that is suffering from low car counts.” The NPP Late Model Series went from an average of sixteen teams per race to less than eight teams in just a few years. “We’ve now experienced both ends of the spectrum as far as car counts are concerned.” The NPP Late Model Series went from nine teams to nineteen back in 2004.

The cancellation of the NPP Series 2017 season will have no impact on the Team NPP Modified or Super Late Model. Lane Zerbin races the #81 Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd./Alien Chassis #81 Modified at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington on July 29th and 30th. Darrell Midgley continue preparations for upcoming Super Late Model races in British Columbia, Washington State, Nevada and Arizona. A brand new Super Late Model is currently under construction and will make its debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.