EDSON, AB – It was a standout season for all race teams flying the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. logo in 2018.  From paved oval appearances in British Columbia, Washington and Arizona to the dirt tracks in Alberta, Washington and Montana, Team NPP had two victory lane appearances along with nine top-5 and twenty-three top-10 finishes.

After sitting idle in 2017, the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series returned to action in 2018.  “We are still rebuilding,” admits NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “personally I was hoping for more completed races in 2018 but at least we got some cars on the track.”  NPP Series officials optimistically announced a 10 race schedule for the 2018 season.  Unfortunately the first six scheduled races of the season were cancelled.  “We didn’t have enough committed teams for our season opening weekend (May 25th, 26th) in Rimbey.”  Ironically, track officials at Central Alberta Raceways in Rimbey were forced to cancel the second night of racing due to a lack of competitors in the remaining classes.  “The NPP Series was not the only class suffering from low car counts in 2018,” says Craig, “the Alberta economy is still hurting and that really is affecting everyone who races.”  The second scheduled race weekend for the NPP Late Series (June 5th and 6th) was next to be cancelled.  “At the beginning of the season Castrol Raceway officials announced that a minimum eight car field would be required to compete on race nights.  We advised track officials (in Edmonton) that we would be unable to meet their requirements (8 cars) and cancelled our appearance.”

Cancellation of the third race weekend at Drayton Valley Speedway on the Canada Day long weekend was next for NPP Series teams.  “This cancellation was out of our control,” adds Craig, “track officials had been battling with operating permits and red tape.  No permits meant no racing for all the classes in Drayton Valley.”  In the end Drayton Valley Speedway would not hold a single race event in 2018.  The NPP Late Model Series finally hit the race track in July.  A two-day race weekend (July 20th and 21st) at Castrol Raceway was unfortunately shortened by rain.  “Night number one (Friday) was a complete rainout,” says Craig, “but we finally got to see some cars on the track Saturday night.”  Edson, Alberta’s Shawn Kennedy swept the race night winning the Heat race and the Feature event in the Northern Provincial Pipelines/Alien Race Cars #81 Dodge.  “I’m just excited to get the car on the track again,” says the Edson, Alberta driver, “didn’t know I was going to be able to finish the Feature.”

Kennedy broke a shock mount which drastically affected the handing of his race car.  Newcomers to the NPP Series, Dylan Potter and Shane Lucas finished second and third.  Sadly this was the only competitive race the NPP Series would hold in 2018.  A rare summer snowstorm in late September cancelled the final scheduled race weekend at Central Alberta Raceways on September 15th and 16th.  Despite the limited race season, several NPP Series teams did their best to remain active.  Dylan Potter travelled to Merritt Speedway in October and finished second at an invitational race.  Both Jeff Duperron and Troy Sheridan competed several times in the Hobby Stock class.  Duperron and Sheridan would each drive their cars to victory lane at Central Alberta Raceways and Castrol Raceway.

Still on the dirt tracks, Lane Zerbin and Wade Fleming flew the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd. colors in two different classes in 2018.  After being away from the sport for close to a decade, eight-time Edmonton track champion Fleming returned to the open-wheel ‘360’ Sprint Car scene.  Zerbin meanwhile was competing in his fourth consecutive season in an open-wheel Modified. Fleming kicked off his race season in May.  The Ardrossan, Alberta driver scored a heat race win and finished 9th in the Feature at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway.  “There are some things you miss and you really didn’t know you missed it till you try it again,” said Fleming, “this is one of those things.”  Fleming’s best Sprint Car Feature finish of the year came on July 21st where he finished 5th.  However the biggest test of the season was one month later at the 2018 Gold Cup.  Fleming last competed in Castrol Raceways biggest Sprint Car race back in 2009 where he finished 6th. Fleming, the 1997 Gold Cup Champion, finished 8th in this years big race.  The 49-year old wrapped up his season with three consecutive nights of racing at Electric City Speedway in Great Falls, Montana.  Fleming had Feature finishes of 14th, 17th and an unfortunate crash-out on the final race night where he was credited with a 18th place finish.

Lane Zerbin started his 2018 season one month later than usual.  A brand new Modified was still under construction at the Alien Race Cars shop in Victoria, British Columbia.  His three-year-old race car was sold in April.  At his first race of the year on June 2nd, Zerbin finished third in the Feature at Grays Harbor Raceway.  One month later (July 7th) Zerbin would record his worst finish of the season.  The BC driver was involved in a multi-car crash early in the Feature.  Zerbin would finish 16th.  It was a huge bounce back just two weeks later for Zerbin as he finished second in the Feature just 8/1000 of a second behind the winner.  A 6th place finish at the Modified Nationals race on July 28th was followed-up by another 6th place finish on August 25th.  Zerbin would wrap up his season on September 3rd driving the NPP/C-Force Marine #81 Modified to a Feature win.  “We wanted to go out with a bang.  It seems that we just start getting our momentum going and then the season comes to an end.”