By Scott Fisher
Obrey Motowylo has made himself right at home at the Grande Prairie Stompede.
The 52-year-old capped off a career hat trick, having also won it all in the northern Alberta city in 2015 and 2017, by capturing the season-opening tour stop last weekend. And he accomplished the feat in somewhat unusual fashion, relying more on a hunch than a structured plan.
Aggregate winner Jason Glass (Birchcliff Energy Ltd.) and Logan Gorst (Northstar Hydrovac Inc.) selected barrels two and three respectively. Motowylo could have selected the usually preferred No. 1 barrel, but took the No. 4 instead.
“I just had a hunch that I should try the four-barrel,” said Motowylo, who guided his Dynamic Energy Group Inc. rig around the oval in 1:17.68, just .17 of a second ahead of Glass.
And the unorthodox decision making didn’t stop there.
“I actually ran my long barrel outfit (off the shortest barrel),” Motowylo said. “They had a day off and I had a hunch that I really wanted to try them. “They looked ready in the morning, so I said ‘these are the four that are going to go tonight, regardless.”
Preston Faithful (Sundown Oilfield Services Ltd.), making his debut in a WPCA championship final heat, finished third from barrel one.
Motowylo, who claimed his ninth career show championship, had outriding sons Ethan and Hayden along for the ride. It is the fourth time the father-and-son trio have won a show title on the WPCA circuit. “It’s probably every dad’s dream come true, to compete with your kids,” the Hoadley driver says. “It’s a family sport, so there’s a lot of pride.”
Just like their dad, the two youngsters have made winning a habit over the past few seasons with both Hayden (2021) and Ethan (2023, 2024) claiming world outriding crowns. “It means a lot to me,” Hayden says of chasing his dad’s wagon across the finish for a tour victory. “Winning with my family is always super special and something I take a lot of pride in. “I hope I can continue riding for my dad for a long time and hope there are many more wins in the future.”
Many young outriders end up crawling into the wagon box to follow in their father’s footsteps, but dad says his boys are content with what they’re doing right now. “They’re both still young, both been world champions, but they’re only 21 and 24,” Motowylo says. “They seem like they’ve been around (the track) forever, but they’re just kids yet. “It takes a lot of money to (to be a driver). Whereas, being an outrider, you own your truck, your RV, your helmet and a vest, and you’re set to go.”
Motowylo won the 2021 world title and is off to another fantastic start this season, but he’s got his eyes on one prize in particular. “Winning the world was nice, and to win it again would be nice,” he says. “But it would be fantastic to win Calgary, and that’s my goal. “I’ve won the other major ones, and that’s one I haven’t (won). I’ve been close.”
Motowylo will continue his pursuit of both a world crown and a Rangeland Derby title later this week at the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship (June 5-8), a show that he won in 2023.
Day 1 of the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship can be heard live on WPCA Radio on Thursday night starting at 6 p.m. on The Ranch at 96.5 FM, or streaming options are available through the WPCA website at spca.com, iHeart Radio website/app, or the Radioplayer Canada website/app.
