VICTORIA, BC – The 2022 Late Model race season has officially started at Westshore Motorsports Park.  The Victoria, British Columbia track hosted the Spring Spectacular on Saturday and Sunday, May 21st/22nd.  For the first time in Team NPP history, two Late Models were entered into the weekend event on Vancouver Island.  Jason Frost drove the Northern Provincial Pipelines /The Keg #81 Dodge to a 6th place finish Sunday night.  Darrell Midgley debuted a newly acquired Late Model painted in familiar Team NPP livery and finished 4th.  The weekend started off strong Saturday evening for both Frost and Midgley.  In a field of 19 Late Models, Frost qualified #1.  Midgley qualified #3.

Jason Frost was fairly happy with his season opening weekend.  “We had a few issues (in the race). We were OK. We just weren’t as good as we were in qualifying.”  Frost spent the first half of the 125-lap event running in the top-10.  While running 7th, a potential race ending electrical problem developed in his #81 Dodge.  “Our engine just shut off,” exclaims the Victoria, BC driver who coasted the car to a stop on the track.  “The tow truck came out and was going to push us into the pits but the car re-fired.”  Frost went to the back of the pack for the re-start.  The electrical issue did not return which allowed Frost to fight his way back into the top-10 once again.  With just over 30-laps remaining, Frost was involved in a two-car incident which sent him to the tail end of the lead lap cars.  More than half the field was down at least one lap by this stage of the race which allowed Frost to restart in 9th position.  “The race was eventful for sure,” says Frost, “the car wasn’t good enough to catch the faster cars but we had everyone else covered.”  Frost hopes to build off his 6th place finish at his next Late Model event which takes place June 11th at Westshore Motorsports Park.

In a last minute addition, Darrell Midgley entered a second Team NPP Late Model into the Spring Spectacular line-up.  Midgley acquired a damaged Late Model from the Dave Smith race team earlier this month and didn’t know if the car was going to be ready until late Thursday night.  “Fridays practice was the first time in it.”  Midgley ran as high as second in Saturday night’s Feature.  “We had a really good car.”  Unfortunately late race contact with another driver cost Midgley a podium finish.  “Not very happy with the 33 car I can tell you that.  He drove me into the infield.”  Midgley lost 5 positions in the on-track skirmish but battled back for a 4th place finish.

Midgley, who is also promoter at Westshore Motorsports Park, indicates he intends to run as many races as he can in 2022.  The Sidney, British Columbia driver hopes to compete at the next Late Model event on June 11th.  Midgley is already committed to running the big Super Late Model race on July 22nd/23rd.  It’s a bittersweet season for all competitors of Westshore Motorsports Park.  Sadly, after 64-years in operation, the track closes its doors at the end of this season.