2024 Strathmore Stampede Champions
Blackstone Drilling Fluids Ltd. Outfit
(L-R): Outriders Ethan Motowylo and Rory Armstrong, Driver Chanse Vigen
Photo By Shellie Scott
It was an outstanding long weekend as the Strathmore Stampede wrapped up on a hot and sunny Monday afternoon. Racetrack conditions were exceptional over the four-day show, capacity crowds and great chuckwagon racing was the order for the entire event. When everything finally wrapped up, Chanse Vigen, driving Blackstone Drilling Fluids Ltd. Outfit, and along with outriders Rory Armstrong and Ethan Motowylo, who captured the 2024 Strathmore Stampede Championship. It’s the second win in as many weeks, the third of the season for Chanse Vigen, and the first time he has won the Strathmore Stampede.
In a penalty free championship final heat, Chanse Vigen won the Strathmore Stampede with penalty free run of 1:11.66 from barrel position number 2. Rae Croteau Jr. placed second from barrel number 4, 55 one-hundredths of a second behind the champion Vigen. Jamie Laboucane placed third from barrel position number 3, while Kurt Bensmiller placed fourth from barrel position number 1. It’s the first time since 2011 that the Strathmore chuckwagon fans have seen a Championship Final at their show.
Postmedia sportswriter Laurence Heinen caught up to Chanse Vigen immediately following the win. “It’s always nice to win anywhere, but Strathmore’s a special place. There’s a lot of history here with chuckwagons. I’ve been lucky enough to win it a few times outriding,” said Vigen. “It’s fun to come here and I’m excited to come back. I’m glad they got a dash for cash here now. It ups things for the fans here and the competitors and the sponsors and everybody involved.”
After a slow start to the 2024 season, Vigen, the reigning World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, grabbed top spot in the World Standings after his win last week at the Battle of the Foothills in High River. However, even with his dominating performance in Strathmore – 3 first and 1 second place runs in four days – he gained just 9 points on Rae Croteau Jr. in the race for the World Chuckwagon Championship. “We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas. There’s three important shows left and we’ll try to keep everything going the way it’s been.”
On the day, the Championship Final Heat produced the top four times on the afternoon. Chanse Vigen was first with the fastest time of the race meet with a 1:11.66, followed closely by Rae Croteau Jr., Jamie Laboucane and Kurt Bensmiller. Preston Faithful rounded out the afternoon with the fifth best time.
The WPCA Pro Tour will now have a quick one-day turnaround prior to embarking at the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Racing starts on Wednesday August 7, 2024, and runs through to Sunday, August 11, 2024. Catch all the live action every night on WPCA Radio at 9:30pm Eastern, 8:30pm Central, and 7:30pm Mountain time on New Country 92.5 FM Drumheller, 93.3 FM Stettler, 105.7 FM Brooks, 94.9 FM Blairmore, 92.7 FM Pincher Creek, or streaming options are available through the WPCA Website at wpca.com, iHeart Radio website/app or the Radioplayer Canada website/app. The Battle of the North can also be watched live on the WPCA Livestream at watch.wpca.com.
Billy Melville
