2024 Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series Champions
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Outfit
(L-R): Century Downs Racetrack and Casino General Manager Jackie Morrison, Marketing Manager Karen Franco,
and Carla Palmquist Presenting, Outriders Dayton Sutherland and Tyson Whitehead,
Driver Jason Glass, Steele Glass, Brienne Glass, Bodie Glass
Photo By Shellie Scott
The curtain closed on the 2024 WPCA Pro Tour presented by GMC after a big day at the Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals on a beautiful Monday afternoon in Ponoka, Alberta. There was a lot on the line as Jason Glass, Jamie Laboucane, Chanse Vigen and Chad Fike would compete in the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series Championship Final Heat where they will be racing for $50,000.00 cash. When the wagons crossed the finish line for the last time in 2024, it was 2024 Calgary Stampede Cowboys Rangeland Derby Champion Jason Glass, driving the Birchcliff Energy Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Dayton Sutherland and Tyson Whitehead, who capped off a fine season by capturing the season ending Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series.
Glass won the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series with a track record run on the Ponoka racetrack of 1:12.14 from barrel position number 1. Jamie Laboucane placed second from barrel number 2, just 3 tenths of a second behind the champion Jason Glass. Chad Fike third from barrel position number 3, while the newest World Champion Chuckwagon Driver Chanse Vigen, placed fourth from barrel position number 4 in an exciting penalty free race to end the 2024 season.
There was $40,000.00 in cash up for the 32 drivers in the first eight heats of the afternoon who did not qualify for the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series Championship Final. Heat winners included Doug Irvine in heat #1, Mitch Sutherland in heat #2, Dustin Gorst in heat #3, Darcy Flad in heat #4, Dayton Sutherland in heat #5, Ross Knight in Heat #6, Preston Faithful in heat #7 and Luke Tournier in heat #8.
As far as the best times on the day, Jason Glass’ track record run on the Ponoka racetrack was 5 one-hundredths of a second faster than Luke Tournier’s 1:12.19 that was set during the Ponoka Stampede in late June of 2014. He was followed closely by Jamie Laboucane who also ran in the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series Championship Final, with Darcy Flad, Mitch Sutherland and Chad Fike posting the five fastest times on the last day of racing. The afternoon also marked the final run of the illustrious career of legendary driver Kirk Sutherland, who announced his retirement from racing earlier this year after 48 years.
Jason Glass made it a clean sweep of the Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals, as in addition to winning the Century Downs “Winners’ Zone” Series Championship this afternoon, last night his Birchcliff Energy Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Dayton Sutherland and Tyson Whitehead won the Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals Aggregate Championship after posting the best aggregate time of 4:57.56 over the first 4 days of the racing.
2024 Wild West WPCA World Chuckwagon Finals Aggregate Champions
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. Outfit
(L-R): Steele Glass, Brienne Glass, Outrider Tyson Whitehead,
Driver Jason Glass, Outrider Dayton Sutherland, Bodie Glass
Photo By Shellie Scott
Two World Champions were declared Saturday night as Chanse Vigen, for the second consecutive year, won the World Chuckwagon Championship by 72 points over Jason Glass. Rae Croteau Jr. placed third overall, with Jamie Laboucane in fourth and Chad Fike placing fifth overall.
2024 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver
(L-R): Gordon Smith, Account Executive From Summit Fleet, Presents a GMC Truck to
2024 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver Chanse Vigen and his wife Brie Vigen
Photo By Shellie Scott
In one of the closest races in history, Ethan Motowylo won a hotly contested battle for the World Outriding Championship over three-time World Champion Outrider Rory Gervais. Like Chanse Vigen, it is the second consecutive World Championship for outrider Ethan Motowylo. Hayden Motowylo, Trey MacGillivray and Brendan Nolin made out the top five outriders for the 2024 season
2024 World Champion Outrider
(L-R): 2024 World Champion Outrider with WPCA General Manager Paul Ryneveld
Photo By Shellie Scott
Equine outfit of Excellence winners included Champion Right Leader “CHASKA” of Jason Glass’ outfit, Champion Left Leader “GRAYSON” of Chanse Vigen’s outfit, Champion Right Wheeler “LAW” Rae Croteau Jr.’s outfit, Champion Left Wheeler for the second consecutive year is “MARSHMALLOW” of Jamie Laboucane‘s outfit and “J.J.” of Chad Fike’s outfit and “HUME” of Kurt Bensmiller’s outfit were the champion Outriding Horses.
And that will conclude a very memorable 2024 WPCA Pro Tour presented by GMC. Congratulations to the 2024 World Champions, driver Chanse Vigen and outrider Ethan Motowylo, and to all of the Champion Drivers and Outriders at all the stops along the WPCA Pro Tour and the Calgary Stampede. Many thanks to all the corporate partners, broadcast partners, support staff and chuckwagon fans all along the 2024 WPCA Pro Tour.
The WPCA Awards Banquet and Gala will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the Carriage House Inn on Macleod Trail in Calgary, Alberta. Everyone is welcome to attend, and tickets can be purchased by contacting the WPCA Office at office@wpca.com.
Enjoy a safe and prosperous off-season, and we will see you all in 2025.
Billy Melville
