EDMONTON, AB – Thanks to several days of non-stop rainfall, the 2016 season opener of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series and Castrol Raceway has been cancelled. Although the oval track itself is in superb condition, the facility is super saturated. The oval pits and infield were a huge concern for track officials. The call to cancel the Oval season opener was made on Friday afternoon. NPP Series officials were on-site touring the oval facility shortly after call was made.

For NPP Late Model Series race teams, a season opening rainout is nothing new. This is the tenth time in sixteen seasons that a scheduled season opening race has been cancelled due to rain. At the Edmonton racetrack, the NPP Series has experienced a season opening rainout a total of eight times since 2001.

Central Alberta Raceway track officials in Rimbey also cancelled their two-day season opening weekend (May 27 / 28) due to the recent rainfall. Next scheduled race for the NPP Late Model Series will be at Central Alberta Raceways on Friday and Saturday, June 10th and 11th. Castrol Raceways next oval race date is set for Saturday, June 11th.

UPDATE: (at 11:45am Saturday, May 28) – Central Alberta Raceway track officials in Rimbey have announced that the track will now be open on Sunday, May 29th as an Oval ‘rainout’ date. Gates open at 11am / Racing at 1:00pm.

NPP SERIES SEASON OPENING RAINOUTS
2003 – Edmonton
2006 – Edmonton
2007 – Edmonton
2008 – Edmonton
2009 – Edmonton
2010 – Edmonton
2011 – Lethbridge
2013 – Edmonton
2014 – Rimbey
2016 – Edmonton