As one of two rookie drivers at the Calgary Stampede’s centennial celebration of chuckwagon racing in 2023, Preston was involved in one of the most memorable battles for the Orville Strandquist Top Rookie Driver Award of all time, and although he came up a bit short, he won the hearts of the Calgary chuckwagon fans. As one of the exciting up and comers in the world of Professional Chuckwagon Racing, 2024 will see Preston compete as a Permit Driver on the WPCA Pro Tour. After a successful 15 year career driving chariots and pony wagons, Preston realized his dream and made the move to the big wagons in 2018 as a member of the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA).
The 2023 season saw Preston win the dash for cash at his hometown show at the Frog Lake First Nation on the CPCA Circuit, and have a horse named to the CPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence. He also made the finals at the CPCA’s North Battleford show, and had 25 top ten runs including seven first place runs and eight other runs that also cracked the top five.
Preston ran his first race in North Battleford in 2018, won his first show at the Meadow Lake Stampede in 2021, and another at the Wainwright Stampede in 2022. In 2022 he was a finalist in the championship dash for the overall CPCA Championship, was named the CPCA’s Most Improved Driver, and set a new track record at the North American Chuckwagon Championship in Lloydminster which still stands.
Preston works as a Journeyman Red Seal Plummer and Pipefitter for PKP Mechanical in the off season. He enjoys hunting and travelling and makes his home on the Frog Lake First Nation in Alberta.
