HEADLINE: NPP SERIES SEASON OPENING WEEKEND (TAKE 3)
Attached is a media release from Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series announcer Gord Craig.
You can contact the NPP Series anytime by phoning (780) 886 - 5232.
WHEELER LEADS WHITECOURT SWEEP
EDMONTON, AB. - After seven hard fought years, Kevin Wheeler can finally say he has won a
Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series Feature race in Edmonton. The defending season
champion held off a late race charge by his brother Wayne Wheeler to claim victory at the 2013 NPP
Series season opener Friday night. "I'd never hear the end of it if my brother won in Edmonton before
I did," laughs Wheeler, "we nailed the setup in every race. Wow, what a great night!" After a third
place finish in his Qualifying Heat, Wheeler won the 'A' Dash race securing the pole position for the
Feature.
Wheeler navigated the dry slick track conditions at Castrol Raceway flawlessly to claim his
fourth career NPP Series Feature win. "We've been trying so hard here [in Edmonton]. We've lead a
lot of laps but always came up a little short." With his victory, the driver of the KW Mechanical/Bill
Weins Trucking #3 Dodge takes over the early season points lead in the NPP Series Championship
standings. Wheeler, who made his debut in Edmonton on July 14, 2006, has managed an impressive
average Feature finish of 3.5 in his last 17 appearances in Edmonton dating back to the 2009 season.
Travis Day finished third in the Feature making it a Whitecourt, Alberta sweep of the podium which
is also a first for the NPP Late Model Series. "My crew worked really hard," says the driver of the
Trappers Auto Parts #10 Chevrolet, "we had lots of luck on our side. We had a really good day." Days
last appearance in Edmonton was 2011 where he finished 5th in the Feature. "Missed it alot!"
Altario, Alberta's Kevin Clark and Sidney, British Columbia's Darrell Midgley won Friday nights
Qualifying Heats. Midgley would bow out of the Feature early with mechanical problems. Clark
finished in eighth after a late race spin.
What was supposed to be a two-night Gold Cup race weekend in Edmonton unfortunately was cut short
by mother nature. NPP Series teams had just taken to the race track for the first Saturday night Qualifying
Heat when a torrential downpour turned the Oval track into a soupy mess. Track officials immediately
cancelled the remainder of the evening. This was the sixth NPP Series race event to be affected by the
weather in 2013.
The next scheduled event for the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is a rare mid-week
race night. Wednesday night July 31st is the Race of Champions in Edmonton featuring Michael Waltrip,
Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney. Gates will open at 5:00pm with pre-race ceremonies at
6:30 and racing starting at 7:00pm.
NPP LATE MODEL SERIES
2013 Season Opener
> FRIDAY, July 19th
CASTROL RACEWAY
Edmonton, Alberta
HEAT 1
1. # 5 Kevin Clark
2. #81 Dwight Kennedy
3. # 3 Kevin Wheeler
4. #10 Travis Day
5. #18 Dean Deatherage
6. #45 Ryan Clark
7. #69 Mark Miller(R)
HEAT 2
1. #14 Darrell Midgley
2. # 4 Wayne Wheeler(R)
3. #88 Crystal Kennedy
4. #48 Pete Head
5. #90 Shawn Kennedy
6. #33 Jay Carr(R)
7. #21 Mark Hobe(R)
'A' DASH
1. # 3 Kevin Wheeler
2. # 4 Wayne Wheeler(R)
3. #10 Travis Day
4. #14 Darrell Midgley
5. # 5 Kevin Clark
6. #81 Dwight Kennedy
7. #88 Crystal Kennedy
8. #48 Pete Head
'B' DASH
1. #90 Shawn Kennedy
2. #69 Mark Miller(R)
3. #18 Dean Deatherage
4. #45 Ryan Clark
5. #21 Mark Hobe(R)
DNS #33 Jay Carr(R)
FEATURE
1.(1) # 3 Kevin Wheeler - Whitecourt, Alberta (MOV 1.375seconds)
2.(2) # 4 Wayne Wheeler(R) - Whitecourt, Alberta
3.(3) #10 Travis Day - Whitecourt, Alberta
4.(7) #88 Crystal Kennedy - Edson, Alberta
5.(9) #90 Shawn Kennedy - Edson, Alberta
6.(11) #18 Dean Deatherage - Whitecourt, Alberta
7.(
#48 Pete Head - Whitecourt, Alberta
8.(5) # 5 Kevin Clark - Altario, Alberta
9.(10)#69 Mark Miller(R) - Calgary, Alberta
10.(14) #21 Mark Hobe(R) - Safford, Arizona
11.(6) #81 Dwight Kennedy - Edson, Alberta
12.(4) #14 Darrell Midgley - Sidney, British Columbia
13.(12) #45 Ryan Clark - Altario, Alberta
14.(13)#33 Jay Carr(R) - Devon, Alberta
> SATURDAY, July 20th
CASTROL RACEWAY
Edmonton, Alberta
-- RAINED OUT
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=18126.msg108519#msg108519
