Rocky Rapids, Alberta - After 9 years, 8 months and 17 days of dormancy, Rapid Fire Motorsports Park (Drayton Valley Speedway) came to life on the weekend. The new operators swung open the gates for the very first time for an open test and tune. "Had a lot of rookies trying out the track," exclaims track president Brandon Murray, "we also had veteran racers show up that have never been here before. We learned lots. Got some insight [from the drivers] as to what needs attention." The front and back straights along with turn 3 and 4 were very smooth. Turn 1 and 2 was very dry and pretty tricky for the drivers.

"We will be working on the corners to get them right for our official opening next month (June 4 and 5)." One driver that has never set foot on the Drayton Valley track until the weekend was the 2014 season champion of the Northern Provincial Pipelines Late Model Series. "The track is good, I really like it," exclaims Mark Miller, "I like the design, like the layout. It was a really hot day so the track was quite dry." The Calgary, Alberta driver had several opportunities for car set-up adjustments on his A1 Autobody #69 Chevrolet. "It was a good day to test and change a lot of things on the car that we wouldn't have done in years past. Did some drastic changes and it seemed to work a lot better."

Miller and team made a last minute decision to test at the Drayton Valley track. "Overall it was a good day. It was a fun day, learned a lot. Car should be good when we drive on really hot days." Also seeing the Drayton Valley track for the first time was 2016 NPP Series Rookie of the Year contender Kevin Larocque. The Fox Creek, Alberta driver was only a spectator for the Drayton Valley test.

"Car was not quite ready in time," admits Larocque, "we'll be ready for the Edmonton test. We might even do the Rimbey test the next day." The single-day test and tune at Castrol Raceway and Central Alberta Raceways run Saturday and Sunday, May 14th and 15th. Larocque competed in only a handful of NPP Series races in 2015 which allows him to retain his rookie status for the upcoming season. Also testing in Drayton Valley was Aron Horst. The Evansburg, Alberta driver acquired a former NPP Late Model race car during the offseason.

"The car heads in for paint in a few weeks," adds Horst, "we'll be running the number 50 this season." Last season, in a different race car, Horst finished third in points in his rookie season at Sangudo Speedway. "We can run either in Super Stock or the NPP Series. Maybe we'll do both." Drayton Valley Speedway is not officially on the NPP Late Model Series schedule for 2016 but that could change in the next few weeks. NPP Series officials are looking at adding to the schedule or replacing a current race date with an appearance at the now re-opened facility.

The NPP Late Model Series season opener is Saturday, May 28th at Edmonton's Castrol Raceway.

Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd., based in Edson, Alberta, is the title sponsor of the NPP Late Model Series.

2016 Season starts May 28th.