EDMONTON, AB (February 2) – Six more weeks of winter says Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, Winnipeg Willow in Manitoba and Balzac Billy here in Alberta. On this Groundhog Day 2012, even the official pace car of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series cast a long shadow at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway. NPP Series announcer Gord Craig was at the race track Thursday morning. “If the groundhogs [and the pace car] are correct, all the snow will be gone in less than three months and the track should be ready for the first scheduled event of the 2012 season.” Test ‘n’ tune is scheduled at the Edmonton track for Saturday, April 28th. “Weather and track conditions permitting we will be on the track in just twelve weeks time.” This is one of the earliest scheduled test ‘n’ tune days in the history of the NPP Series.

“Work continues on the race schedule,” adds Craig, “hoping to confirm some of our out of town dates in the next week or so.” Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway and Central Alberta Raceways in Rimbey, are two tracks that will see the NPP Late Model Series in 2012. Craig says a return to the United States still remain in the plans. “We’ve talked with officials at Grays Harbor Raceway in Washington and they are open to having us come down and race this season.” The tentative 2012 season opening race for Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series teams is Saturday, May 5th in Edmonton.

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES
-2012 Oval schedule (tentative)
April 28 – Oval Test ‘n’ Tune
May 5th – Edmonton (tentative)
May 12th – Edmonton (tentative)
June 9th – Edmonton (tentative)
June date – Rimbey (tentative)
July 20 & 21 – Edmonton [2012 Gold Cup]
August 18 – Edmonton (tentative)
September 15 – Edmonton (tentative)

June/July – Saskatchewan (x2 tracks)
June/July or August – Elma, Washington
June/July – Taylor, British Columbia