KINDERSLEY, SK – The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series has its first back-to-back season champion in almost a decade. Kevin Wheeler won the 2013 NPP Late Model Series Championship Sunday afternoon at Flatlanders Speedway. The Whitecourt, Alberta driver swept the weekend Features in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, winning Saturday night from the pole and then Sunday afternoon from the #5 starting spot. “It’s an awesome, awesome feeling to win the championship,” says the driver of the KW Mechanical/Bill Weins trucking #3 Dodge, “as everybody knows there are a lot of fast guys out here. To come out on top is a pretty good feeling.”

Wheeler and his team had a 69 point lead heading into the final weekend of the 2013 season. Even though there was a big target on their backs, Team Wheeler still earned top points for the weekend and emerged with a 125 lead and the overall title. “I have to thank my crew Mike and Lee. Without them we wouldn’t be here. They are the ones that set the car up and I tell you that they know how I drive. They know the car [inside and out].” Only one caution flag would fly during the Saturday night Feature. Two would fly during the Feature on Sunday afternoon. “Track conditions kept everyone on their toes this weekend,” admits Wheeler, “I couldn’t believe how sticky the racing surface was Saturday night. On Sunday it was the complete opposite [dry slick]. All the cars were starting to put rubber down on the track.”

Sunday afternoon’s Feature was also the 19th annual Oilmen’s Classic event. This race has roots which dates back to the early 1990’s. Wheeler becomes the first driver from Whitecourt, Alberta to win this race. Edson, Alberta’s Shawn Kennedy finished second in the NPP Series Championship points chase just a single point ahead of Whitecourt, Alberta’s Wayne Wheeler. Wheeler, would claim NPP Series Rookie of the Year honors with his third place finish in the points.

NPP LATE MODEL SERIES CHAMPIONS
2013 Kevin Wheeler – Whitecourt, Alberta
2012 Kevin Wheeler – Whitecourt, Alberta
2011 Mike Tom – Stony Plain, Alberta
2010 Bruce Broughton – Spruce Grove, Alberta
2009 Darrell Midgley – Sidney, British Columbia
2008 Brian McCaughan – Okotoks, Alberta
2007 Jason Beaulieu – Campbell River, British Columbia
2006 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
2005 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2004 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2003 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2002 Dennis MacEachern – Edson, Alberta
2001 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta

OILMEN’S CLASSIC CHAMPIONS
2013 Kevin Wheeler – Whitecourt, Alberta
2012 Kevin Clark – Altario, Alberta
2010 Mike Tom – Stony Plain, Alberta
2009 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2008 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
2007 Dennis MacEachern – Edson, Alberta
2006 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
2005 Wayne Gideon – Edson, Alberta
2004 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
2003 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2002 Trevor Emond – Leduc, Alberta
2001 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
2000 Larry Simpson – Valemount, British Columbia
1999 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta
1998 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta**
1997 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta**
1996 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta**
1995 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta**
1994 Dwight Kennedy – Edson, Alberta**
**won in a Hobby Stock race car and not a NPP Late Model race car