NPP RACE TEAMS LOOKING FORWARD TO HOME COMING
EDMONTON, AB (June 4th) – Race teams of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series touch down at Castrol Raceway this Saturday June 7th (weather permitting).  “This is the second attempt at racing at our home track this season,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “we got rained out back on May 3rd.  The rest of the month was spent racing in southern Alberta.”  Fans at Rocky Mountain Raceway Park (Okotoks) and Bridge County Raceway (Lethbridge) had the first opportunity this season to see Canada’s richest touring series on the dirt.  “I know a lot of the teams are anxious to race in front of the home crowd again.  It’s been 259 days since we’ve raced in Edmonton…..but who’s counting.”  Defending NPP season champion Jason Beaulieu has the current point lead heading into race action this weekend.  “We had a pretty good outing in Lethbridge (Feature win),” says the Campbell River BC driver, “the All Weather Windows Dodge ran very strong.  Edmonton is a whole different track which requires a completely different set up.  We already know what it takes to win there and we intend to be at the front again when the night is over.”  Beaulieu won 4 Feature events at Castrol Raceway in 2007. 

Jason Beaulieu goes for second consecutive win Saturday night

Chasing Beaulieu in the points is two time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy.  “We started off the season with a feature win that gave us the point lead” indicates the Edson, Alberta driver, “we’ve finished in the top ten (5th and 7th) the other two Features so the season is going pretty good so far.  We will try to get this Lucas Oil Dodge back to front in Edmonton on Saturday night.”  

Both Kennedy and Grundberg hope to regain NPP point lead Saturday night in Edmonton.

So far in 2008, three different drivers have sat atop the NPP point standings.  Last years NPP Rookie of the year grabbed the point lead away from Kennedy on the second night of a two day show in Okotoks (May 18th) with his first ever NPP Feature win.  “Although it was brief, its feels good to say we were number one,” says Whitecourt, Alberta’s Paul Grundberg, “regaining that point lead is what we have to do now.  You really can’t have an off night in this Series.  Unfortunately we were chasing the car set up in Lethbridge which set us back a bit.”  Grundberg enters race action in Edmonton third in the NPP point standings.  Saturday night’s race at Castrol Raceway marks the beginning of five consecutive NPP Series race dates in Edmonton.

CASTROL RACEWAY – Edmonton, Alberta
Spectator Gates @ 4:00PM
Racing @ 6:00PM

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WEATHER THREATENS TONIGHTS RACE
EDMONTON, AB (June 7th) – With threatening clouds overhead, Castrol Raceway track officials say tonight’s scheduled race event is still a go.  “It’s a tough position to be in for the track,” says NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, “the forecast looks doubtful but you also have one of the biggest oval shows in June scheduled for this evening.  I would probably be hesitant to cancel the race too.”  The Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series and the Xtreme Sprint Car Series are the premier classes racing in Edmonton tonight.  “There will be 40+ cars with just these two classes.”  Considering all the rain that fell last night the race track looks to be in good condition.  “I drove out the track this morning to see it first hand. There is a little standing water in the pits and on the front straight.  If any rain does fall this afternoon I think we’re done.  But so far no rain has fallen on the track at all today.” Tonight’s event is the official ‘home track’ opener for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series.  The May 3rd event at Castrol Raceway featuring the NPP Series was rained out.