VALEMOUNT, BC – On a rain shortened race weekend in British Columbia, Team NPP’s Josh Shuflada won his first track championship in his rookie season.  The Edson, Alberta driver drove to victory lane Saturday afternoon at Rocky Mountain Speedway and locked down top spot in the Super Stock point standings.  “It was the hardest I ever drove that car,” admits Shuflada, “everything held together so it was a pretty incredible feeling.”  Shuflada kicked off his race day with a Trophy Dash victory.  He also picked up a Heat race win.  In the 10-car Saturday afternoon Feature, Shuflada started at the back of the pack.  “Made my way up to fourth by the halfway point.”  Things got a little dicey behind the wheel of the RCE/Northern Provincial Pipelines #81 Dodge.  “Another driver got out of control and came down (and hit me) while I was passing him.  I got a flat rear tire.”  The driver of the other car was not as fortunate. He ricocheted off Shufladas race car, left the racing surface and slammed into a grove of trees.  He was uninjured.  Shuflada headed to the pits for a tire change as safety crews retrieved the tree hitting race car.

“For the second time I had to start from the back of the pack.”  At the drop of the green Shuflada began his march to the front once again and grabbed the race lead with around 5-laps remaining.  “It was pretty tight right to the end.  Billy (Kearns) was with me until he pulled off with mechanical problems.”  Powell River, BC’s Billy Kearns, the defending Merritt Speedway champion, was one of the early favorites heading into the race weekend.  “There were some fast cars here for sure,” admits Shuflada, “it was a horsepower track.”  Shuflada and his fellow Super Stock competitors did not get a chance to race on Sunday.  Heavy rain moved into the region forcing track officials to cancel Sunday’s race action.  “This was the only race they cancelled all season.”

SIDENOTE: Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. was proud sponsor of the final race weekend of the season at Rocky Mountain Speedway.  “Dwight (Kennedy) sponsored the race weekend,” indicates Shuflada, “his name was on the registration booth.”  NPP was a major supporter of the Valemount facility 30-years ago.  Kennedy was also a regular competitor and drove to victory lane dozens of times (Heats/Features) in the #81 Dodge from 1994 – 2000.  The track ceased operation in 2003 but celebrated its grand re-opening back in June where Shuflada grabbed a Feature win and a second place finish in the #81 Dodge.