EDMONTON, AB. (May 13) -
Chris Beaulieu, son of 2007 NPP Late Model Series Champion Jason
Beaulieu had a perfect night at the 2012 Season Opener of the Northern
Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. After winning his Qualifying
Heat, Beaulieu overcame tricky track conditions at Castrol Raceway
Saturday night and drove the Team Beaulieu #90 Dodge to victory. "This
was my first real race of the year," exclaims Beaulieu, "to get the
win feels pretty good right now." This is the second consecutive NPP
Series Feature event win for Beaulieu. The Campbell River, British
Columbia driver went to victory lane in Lethbridge at the final NPP
Series race event of the 2011 season. "I know my dad [Jason] will be
behind the wheel of this car more than me this season but right now I
don't think I want to let him drive it. This was fun tonight."
Saturday nights Feature event had three different race leaders. Pole
sitter and two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy finished fifth
in the Integra Tire #81 Dodge. "The car just wasn't there tonight,"
says Kennedy, "but at least we finished and brought it home in one
piece. We'll get them next time." NPP Series drivers, teams and race
fans endured several delays Saturday night as Castrol Raceway track
officials were forced to water the 3/8mile clay oval track to keep the
dust down. The dry slick conditions did play into the hands of
Whitecourt, Alberta's Kevin Wheeler. "It was a tricky track tonight
for sure," says the driver of the KW Mechanical #3 Dodge, "I like
running low on the track when the track goes dry slick but the car just
wouldn't let me tonight." Wheeler grabbed the race lead from pole
sitter Kennedy with 8 laps to go. "I was trying to hold onto the lead
and I know I left the low side open just enough for whoever was behind
me." Wheeler lost the lead to Beaulieu with three laps remaining.
Ironically Wheeler finished second to Beaulieu at the final race of the
2011 NPP season in Lethbridge. "We are going to get that win sooner
or later." Finishing third in the Saturday night Feature in Edmonton
was defending NPP Series champion Mike Tom. "This series is just so
competitive," exclaims the Stony Plain Alberta driver, "six cars could
have won tonight." Tom indicates that track conditions were
challenging. "The track was changing lap by lap it seemed. One small
error going into the corners would put you in no man's land real quick
and you'd lose a position or two or worse." Tom would take advantage
of a late race spin by Edson, Alberta's Darin Borysko to finish third
in his Enerbuilt Technologies/Jazzy Oilfield #55 Chevrolet. Borysko,
who won Qualifying Heat race #2 in the All Weather Windows/Habitat for
Humanity #35 Dodge, spun while challenging Wheeler for second with
three laps to go and would end up finishing 8th. Spruce Grove, Alberta's
Bruce Broughton, the 2010 NPP Late Model Series Champion had a very
strong night and finished the feature in 4th.
Next scheduled event for the
Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series is Friday and Saturday
night June 8th and 9th. It is a rare two night show at Central Alberta
Raceway's in Rimbey, Alberta. Joining the NPP Late Model Series in
Rimbey is the IMCA Mod
1.(5) #90 Chris Beaulieu; Campbell River, British Columbia (MOV 1.118 seconds)
2.(4) # 3 Kevin Wheeler; Whitecourt, Alberta
3.(6) #55 Mike Tom; Stony Plain, Alberta
4.(7) # 7 Bruce Broughton; Spruce Grove, Alberta
5.(1) #81 Dwight Kennedy; Edson, Alberta
6.(2) #80 Curtis Moore; Sherwood Park, Alberta
7.(9)#88 Crystal Kennedy; Edson, Alberta
8.(3) #35 Darin Borysko; Edson, Alberta
9.(12) #53 Adam Dowler(R); Sherwood Park, Alberta
10.(8)#14 Dean Deatheradge; Whitecourt, Alberta
11.(10)#19 Kary Rogers; Millet, Alberta
12.(13) #22 Mike Dunn; Leduc, Alberta
13.(11) #30 Curtis Ellis; Sherwood Park, Alberta