Edmonton, Alberta - Last year's season championship was decided by just 28 points making it the fifth closest points battle in the history of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. Early indications are pointing towards yet another close battle for the 2015 season championship.

Shawn Kennedy leads Darrell Midgley by just one point in the standings after the opener in Edmonton. That single point lead for Kennedy makes it the closest season opening points battle in the 15 year history of the NPP Series.

"We have to go back almost a decade to see a closer points battle after one race in the books," exclaims NPP Series announcer Gord Craig, "there was a seven point gap between first and second after the 2007 season opener. I'm really excited to see how the rest of this season will play out." Last season saw three different point leaders in the NPP Series Championship points chase. "Kevin Wheeler, Dwight Kennedy [Shawn's father] and Mark Miller led the points chase last year with Miller of course winning the championship last September."

This is the first time that Shawn Kennedy has ever had the points lead in NPP Series competition. "Shawn is no stranger to being at the top of the standings. We have to remember that he did finish second in the points chase just two seasons ago."

Kennedy won his heat race and finished second at the season opening Feature. Midgley finished ninth in his heat and won the Feature event. "You can't leave any points on the table in this Series," adds Craig, "every time a driver is on the track they are earning valuable points. Also, winning the Feature does not guarantee you the points lead as we found out at the season opener. Shawn Kennedy will try to build on his single point lead in the NPP Series standings at the next event on June 27th in Edmonton.  

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS
(as of Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015)
1. # 7 Shawn Kennedy - Edson, Alberta Dodge 135
2. #14 Darrell Midgley - Sidney, British Columbia Dodge 134
3. #61 Bruce Broughton - Stony Plain, Alberta Dodge 130
4. #81 Dwight Kennedy - Edson, Alberta Dodge 124
5. #78 Ken Clark - Edson, Alberta Chevrolet 123
6. #18 Dean Deatherage - Beaumont, Alberta Dodge 120
6. #88 Crystal Kennedy - Edson, Alberta Dodge 120
7. #69 Mark Miller - Calgary, Alberta Chevrolet 118
8. #90 Ed Beatty(R) - Edmonton, Alberta Chevrolet 116
9. # 2 Marc Hobe' - Sylvan Lake, Alberta Ford 100

MIA Drivers
#01 Ken Webster(R) - Sylvan Lake, Alberta #10 Travis Day - Whitecourt, Alberta
# 3 Kevin Wheeler - Whitecourt, Alberta #45 Layne Clark - Altario, Alberta
# 5 Kevin Clark - Altario, Alberta #54 Steve McNall(R) - Manola, Alberta

Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd., based in Edson, Alberta, is the title sponsor of the NPP Late Model Series which brings big league racing to motorsports fans in Western Canada.