EDMONTON, AB – The defending season champion of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series realized that he can’t be in two places at the same time. Darrell Midgley has announced he will not be in the driver’s seat of his race car at the 2016 NPP Series season opener in Edmonton Saturday night (May 28). Midgley is the promoter of Western Speedway in Victoria, British Columbia. His track is holding a facility first this weekend. “We are running a three-day monster truck show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Disappearing on my staff is not a good idea.”

Midgley says the choice was not easy to make but necessary. “I have to take care of the business first. My plan was to be at the season opener in Edmonton but after looking at everything from a business standpoint, I just can’t be away from the track (in British Columbia). I will be at the Rimbey race next month.” The #14 Integra Tire Dodge, which is stored in Edson, Alberta for Midgley, will not be sitting idle Saturday night. “Dean Deatherage will be filling in for me.” Ironically Deatherage’s race car is sitting idle Saturday night.

Thanks to the state of the Alberta economy his #18 Dodge is parked for the entire 2016 season due to lack of sponsorship. “Dean’s a good racer,” exclaims Midgley, “I’ve left my car in good hands.” The last minute change of drivers is good news for the Beaumont, Alberta driver. Deatherage won his first ever NPP Series Feature event at the final race of the 2015 season. Thanks to Midgley’s absence, Deatherage now has an opportunity of becoming just the 5th driver in NPP Series history to win a season closing, then season opening race. Darrell Midgley was the last driver to accomplish this feat winning the 2014 season closer then the 2015 season opener.

SEASON CLOSER/OPENER WINNERS
2014/15 Darrell Midgley
2013/14 Kevin Wheeler
2010/11 Mike Tom
2004/05 Jason Beaulieu

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES SEASON OPENING WINNERS
2016 ????
2015 Darrell Midgley**
2014 Kevin Wheeler
2013 Kevin Wheeler**
2012 Chris Beaulieu
2011 Mike Tom**
2010 Bruce Broughton**
2009 Darrell Midgley**
2008 Dwight Kennedy
2007 Jason Beaulieu**
2006 Trevor Emond
2005 Jason Beaulieu
2004 Trevor Emond**
2003 Feature cancelled – snow (heats completed)
2002 Larry Simpson
2001 Larry Simpson
**also won season championship

2016 SEASON OPENER
>Saturday, May 28th
NPP Late Model Series and Castrol Raceway
Gates @ 4:00pm // Racing @ 6:00pm

Classes Racing:
-Sportsman Sprint Cars
-Northern Thunder Late Model Series
-NPP Late Model Series /
-Northern Alberta Mini Stock Series

Spectator Admission (set by track)
$20.00 Adults
$10.00 Youth /Seniors