WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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The World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) is pleased to announce a three-year partnership agreement with FLO SPORTS whereby FLO SPORTS will be the official streaming partner of the WPCA. 6 WPCA Pro Tour events each year will be streamed on FLO's western events channel FLO RODEO.
In 2019 the agreement includes live streaming of the Grande Prairie Stompede, High River Guy Weadick Days, Ponoka Stampede, Strathmore Stampede, Dawson Creek Battle of the North and the Century Downs World Finals.
The WPCA is excited to offer chuckwagon racing fans the opportunity to watch some of the sports premiere events through the convenience of their mobile device or the comfort of their home on their computer or television if it has the internet capabilities.
This agreement will put the WPCA and chuckwagon racing in front of more people and offers WPCA Driver Tarp Sponsors, Corporate Partners and Sponsors of our Host Committees added value for their investment into the sport and the western heritage.
"Along with sponsors, fans who buy tickets and attend the live events are investing into the sport and it's future" says WPCA Director of Marketing Bryan Hebson. "They may not realize it but they are making a difference as do the people who subscibe to watch on FLO RODEO when they can't attend. Their support is appreciated."
In addition to live coverage and replays, FLO RODEO will host archives from past streamed events.
WPCA fans and supporters can access all live streams and premium content on FLO RODEO via a monthly subscription during the race season or annual subscribers receive a universal pass to all premium content across the FloSports network.
The WPCA will determine the 6 events to be streamed in 2020 and 2021 at the conclusion of the 2019 season after consultation with our host committees who have the infrastructure in place required to stream live events.
It was great racetrack and a highly anticipated final day at the Grande Prairie Stompede with $25,000.00 and the 2019 Grande Prairie Stompede Championship on the line. In what was truly an exciting chuckwagon race, Luke Tournier – driving the Barrack Energy Services Outfit, and along with outriders Chance Flad and Quaid Tournier, captured the first show of the 2019 WPCA race season.
In what was a brilliantly driven chuckwagon race, Tournier captured the Grande Prairie crown with a penalty free run of 1:16:66 after coming off of barrel position number 1 in the championship death final. Kurt Bensmiller from barrel position number 2 placed second in the heat, 15 one-hundredths of a second behind the winner Tournier. Codey McCurrach finished in third place from barrel position number 3, followed by Vern Nolin who settled for fourth place in the heat from barrel number 4. All four drivers raced penalty free.
As far as day results go, Mike Vigen had the fast time on the night with a 1:16.28. 2019 Grande Prairie Champion Luke Tournier had the second fastest time on the night, with Evan Salmond, Kurt Bensmiller and Darcy Flad filling out the top five on the final night.
The WPCA Pro Tour presented will move on to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the running of the Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races presented by Dakota Dunes Casino starting on Thursday, June 6 and running through to Sunday, June 9, 2019. Kurt Bensmiller is the defending champion, and live coverage can be heard starting Thursday night, June 6, 2019 at 9:00pm Eastern, 8:00pm Central, and 7:000pm Mountain time on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time.
Billy Melville
Night 4 of the Grande Prairie Stompede was the final night for the drivers to try and qualify for Sunday’s Championship Final Heat where the winner will receive a $25,000.00 winner’s cheque and the 2019 Grande Prairie Stompede Championship. When the aggregate times were calculated Luke Tournier, Kurt Bensmiller, Vern Nolin and Codey McCurrach will be the four drivers bidding for the championship.
Luke Tournier, driving the Barrack Energy Services outfit, qualified for Sunday’s final in first place overall with a four-day combined time of 5:04.91 and will receive the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award for having the best aggregate time, and a year’s use of a brand new GMC Truck compliments of Summit Fleet. Former Grande Prairie Stompede Champion Kurt Bensmiller qualified in second place overall, with Vern Nolin qualifying in third place overall, with Codey McCurrach jumping from 7th place overall into the fourth and final place in Sunday’s championship final. For the second consecutive year Cody Ridsdale missed out of the final four, finishing fifth overall and missing the championship final by just 22 one-hundredths of a second.
On the night, Kurt Bensmiller was the day money winner on a perfect night from barrel one in the ninth heat. Bensmiller’s Trans Peace Construction outfit placed first on the day by 12 one-hundredths of a second over Chanse Vigen, with Codey McCurrach, Logan Gorst and Luke Tournier filling out the top five on the night.
The finals of the Grande Prairie Stompede can be heard live Sunday night, June 2, 2019 on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
Billy Melville
Night three of the Grande Prairie Stompede was another excellent night of chuckwagon races. Once again, racetrack conditions were excellent, and when the nightly times were calculated, it was Ross Knight who was the fast man with a penalty free run of 1:16.71.
Coming off barrel number 3 in heat number 4, Knight, driving the Chrome Diesel Repair and Diehard Fluid Pump outfit placed first overall for the day by a mere 1 one-hundredth of a second over defending Grande Prairie Stompede champion Evan Salmond who placed 2nd overall for the night. Layne MacGillivray placed third, with Logan Gorst and John Walters rounding out the top five on Friday night.
After three runs, Luke Tournier moved into top spot in the overall aggregate standings at the Grande Prairie Stompede with a three-day total of 3:48.00. That puts him 41 one-hundredths of a second ahead of Vern Nolin who sits second, Kurt Bensmiller holds strong in third place overall, with Cody Ridsdale currently holding down fourth place overall. With one run to go to try to make the top four, Evan Salmond sits just outside in fifth place overall 47 one-hundredths of a second out of the fourth and final qualifying spot for Sunday’s Championship Final.
The top wagon in the aggregate after Saturday's run will receive the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award and the use of a new GMC Truck for one year. The top 4 drivers in the aggregate after Saturday night will go into the championship final heat on Sunday where the winner will receive a $25,000.00 winner’s cheque and the Grande Prairie Stompede Championship.
Day four of the Grande Prairie Stompede can be heard live Saturday night, June 1, 2019 on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
Billy Melville
It was a good night of racing on night 2 of the Stompede. Racetrack conditions were great and some outstanding chuckwagon races were witnessed by the crowd on hand. When the night wrapped up, it was former World Champion Luke Tournier who took the day money after a penalty free run of 1:15.26.
Coming off barrel number 4 in heat number 7, Tournier, driving the Barrack Energy Services outfit placed first overall for the day by just 32 one-hundredths of a second over Cody Ridsdale, with day 1 winner Vern Nolin placing third, Codey McCurrach placing fourth, and Mike Vigen rounding out the top five on the night.
After two runs, Vern Nolin leads the Grande Prairie Stompede with a two day total of 2:30.74. That puts him just 16 one-hundredths of a seconds ahead of Luke Tournier who sits second, Kurt Bensmiller is third and Codey McCurrach holding down fourth place overall. Mark Sutherland is fifth overall just 22 one-hundredths of a second out of fourth hole.
The top wagon in the aggregate after Saturday's run will receive the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award and the use of a new GMC Truck for one year. The top 4 drivers in the aggregate after Saturday night will go into the championship final heat on Sunday where the winner will receive a $25,000.00 winner’s cheque and the Grande Prairie Stompede Championship.
Day three of the Grande Prairie Stompede can be heard live Friday night, May 31, 2019 on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
Billy Melville
The start of the 2019 chuckwagon season kicked off on Wednesday night with the 42nd running of the Grande Prairie Stompede. Evan Salmond came into this year’s event as the defending Grande Prairie Stompede Champion, and Kurt Bensmiller came into the 2019 season as the reigning World Champion Chuckwagon Driver.
Weather conditions were hot under mostly skies, racetrack conditions were very good, and some spectacular chuckwagon races were seen by the Grande Prairie fans on opening night of the professional chuckwagon season. When the night wrapped up it was 2018 Ponoka Stampede Champion Vern Nolin who opened up the 2019 season with the fast time of the night with a fast run of 1:14.68.
Coming off barrel number 4 in heat number 9, Nolin, driving the Crowbourne Capital Corp. outfit placed first overall for the day by 47 one-hundredths of a second over Kurt Bensmiller who placed 2nd overall for the night. Doug Irvine was third, Jason Glass placed fourth, while Mark Sutherland, Codey McCurrach and Luke Tournier all split fifth place on the night.
The top wagon in the aggregate after Saturday's run will receive the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award and the use of a new GMC Truck for one year. The top 4 drivers in the aggregate after Saturday night will go into the championship final heat on Sunday where the winner will receive a $25,000.00 winner’s cheque and the Grande Prairie Stompede Championship.
Day two of the Grande Prairie Stompede can be heard live Thursday night, May 30, 2019 on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
Billy Melville
The day every chuckwagon racing fan has been looking forward to since last August is finally here. The 2019 World Professional Chuckwagon Association Pro Tour presented by GMC kicks off Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time in Grande Prairie, Alberta for the 42nd running of the Grande Prairie Stompede.
The thirty-six best chuckwagon drivers will cast their fate to the figure eight and tour the “half-mile of hell” over 40 nights of racing on this year’s WPCA Pro Tour. Evan Salmond comes into this year’s event as the defending Grande Prairie Stompede Champion, Kurt Bensmiller starts the year as the defending World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, and Rory Gervais starts the year as the defending World Champion Outrider. Championship Sunday at the Grande Prairie Stompede will offer over $100,000.00 in prize money.
This season the drivers will all be gunning to be in the top 12 in the WPCA point standings after the last tour stop prior to the Century Downs World Finals. Here the drivers will have a chance at the Century Downs "Winners' Zone" Championship Dash on August 25th to end the 2019 chuckwagon season at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino just outside of Calgary.
Day one of the Grande Prairie Stompede can be heard live Wednesday night, May 29, 2019 on Rural Radio on SiriusXM Channel 147 Satellite Radio, Country 99 in Bonnyville, and Real Country 910 starting at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, 7:30pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
Billy Melville
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association in partnership with the Grande Prairie Stompede, Guy Weadick Days and Ponoka Stampede will be offering chuckwagon racing fans the opportunity to experience the first half of the WPCA Pro Tour through the FLO RODEO streaming platform.
WPCA fans have been asking for a close up view of the races through their computer or mobile device for some time. The feed from the onsite production companies who already provide video services at the live events will help provide that.
In addition to wanting a more close up video stream, fans who are unable to support the WPCA by attending live events or providing sponsorship have asked how they can still support the WPCA.
The FLO RODEO streaming platform offers one solution for fans to be part of promoting and preserving the western heritage.
2019 LIVE STREAMING SERIES (First Half Schedule)
Grande Prarie Stompede May 29 - June 2 (FLO RODEO)
Saskatoon June 6 - June 9 (WPCA Facebook Page)
Medicine Hat June 13 - June 16 (WPCA Facebook Page)
High River June 20 - June 23 (FLO RODEO)
Ponoka Stampede June 26 - July 1 (FLO RODEO)
The WPCA is in the process of confirming the streaming schedule for the back half of the 2019 season starting August 2nd in Strathmore for the Strathmore Stampede.
CLICK HERE for example of Ponoka Stampede 2018
*Based on a 1 month subscription, fans signing up for FLO RODEO on May 29th will have access to 12 live streams on FLO RODEO for only $29.99US or $2.49 per broadcast. The subscription also gives you access to the replays (following day) any interviews and more.
Eg. Grande Prairie (5 Days); High River (4 Days); Ponoka Stampede (June 26, 27 & 28)
At a time when raising sponsorship and generating revenue can be a challenge, there is one group of over 60 individuals and local businesses who have come together to support the sport of chuckwagon racing and do whatever it takes to raise funds and give back to the sport they love and their community.
For more than 10 years members of the GRANDE PRAIRIE CHUCKWAGON HERITAGE FOUNDATION have been making a significant impact on the sport of Chuckwagon Racing with over $1,000,000.00 raised and donated back into prize money for chuckwagon drivers competing in Grande Prairie, AB. Their support assists with the extensive expenses drivers incur in their chuckwagon racing business including horse care, travel, equipment and help.
Earlier today, Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation president "Justin Tidd" confirmed their donation of $90,000.00 to be awarded to WPCA drivers on Championship Sunday in Grande Prairie. $40,000.00 will be awarded over the first 8 heats while the feature race of the weekend will be the $50,000.00 Happy Trails RV Dash For Cash.
The WPCA would like to thank all the individuals and businesses for their support and their commitment in preserving the western heritage.
Below are the Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation Heat Sponsors for Championship Sunday:
Heat 1 - Bermar Rewind
Heat 2 - M&R Plumbing - M&R Safety
Heat 3 - Bailly's Gold Creek - Riverstone South Div.
Heat 4 - Kal Tire
Heat 5 - Windsor Ford
Heat 6 - Jersey Development Limited
Heat 7 - Savage Oilfield Rentals
Heat 8 - Stahl Peterbilt
Heat 9 - Happy Trails RV
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association was saddened by passing of former Active Supporter Wayne Scaddan on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at the age of 75 years.
A longtime fan of the sport of chuckwagon racing, Wayne first became actively involved in 1989 with his company Builders Square as a sponsor on the WPCA Pro Tour with driver Smoky Wilson. Wayne and Builders Square continued with Smoky Wilson in 1990 on the Tour and sponsored at the Calgary Stampede for the first time. In 1991, Builders Square was rebranded Builders First and Wayne started a partnership with driver Dallas Dorchester and watched his wagon post wins at the Calgary Stampede, Strathmore Heritage Days and the Kamloops Rangeland Derby.
Wayne was a lover of statistics, and truly believed in the econoimic value of chuckwagon sponsorship. Wayne measured and attributed Builders First sales, which hit record levels, to their involvement with the chuckwagon races. Wayne felt that no other exposure (television, radio, etc.) could have given their company the returns they got through sponsoring the chuckwagon races. Wayne and Builders First were the title sponsor of a new show in 1991 at the Trout Springs racetrack west of Calgary, and that same year Wayne received the WPCA's highest annual award, the WPCA Chuckwagon Person of the Year.
Wayne will be sadly missed by his wife of fifty-four years RuthAnne, and by his daughters, Stacey (Michael) Welch and Erin (Michael) Beattie; and his beloved grandchildren, Christopher, Liam, Jordan and Brynn. He is also survived by his brothers, Vernon and Lloyd; and his sister Mable. He was predeceased by his brother Lorne.
A Gathering will be held in the Hospitality Centre at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road S.E., Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com.
Wayne will be missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Scaddan family.
Billy Melville
