Edson, Alberta - Two-time NPP Series Champion Dwight Kennedy is hanging up the helmet for the remainder of the 2015 race season. Kennedy leads all active drivers with 151 race starts in the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series and has not missed a race since the 2010 season. "We are just swamped at work," says the owner of Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd.,

"I have crews working several other jobs right now. We start a new job this week which means we needed some extra bodies." Kennedy currently sits in a tie for third with Dean Deatherage in the NPP Series Championship point standings. "I wanted to be behind the wheel of my race car but this is a specialized [pipeline] job that we've been hired to do. Work comes first this time [instead of racing]." Despite Kennedy's absence, his familiar red and white #81 Dodge will still be heading to the track but with a different driver behind the wheel. "My son Shawn will be racing. I know he'll do a good job."

The younger Kennedy will pilot his father's car for the final four dates of the season at Central Alberta Raceways. Shawn Kennedy was the early season points leader, however two blown engines in THE REBEL.media #7 Dodge dropped the Edson, Alberta driver down to seventh in the standings. A new engine has been installed in Kennedy's car. This car will be at the next race in Rimbey, Alberta but will sporting the #18 and be driven by Beaumont, Alberta's Dean Deatherage. The frame on Dean Deatherage's Scott Safety #18 Dodge was damaged in a late race incident in Edmonton at Gold Cup weekend. Repairs took longer than expected.

It currently sits at Alien Race Cars in Victoria, British Columbia awaiting transportation back to Alberta. Ironically Deatherage sits tied for third in points with Dwight Kennedy. Both Dean Deatherage and Shawn Kennedy will now have to familiarize themselves with different race cars for the remainder of the season. Sidney, British Columbia's Darrell Midgley and Calgary, Alberta's Mark Miller currently sit one and two in the NPP Series Championship point standings and hope to take advantage of the surprise driver and car change scenario.