World Professional Standings
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Major Awards And Victories
- 2001: Ponoka Stampede Champion Outrider, WPCA Most Improved Driver
- 2002: Orville Strandquist Award (Calgary Stampede Top Rookie Driver)
- 2007: Battle of the North, WPCA Clean Drive Award
- 2011: Capital EX Chuckwagon Derby
- 2012: Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede
- 2013: WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence - "ACE" - Champion Left Leader
- 2014: Ponoka Stampede, Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champion Driver, Calgary Stampede Equine Outfit of Excellence - "ACE" - Champion Left Leader
- 2015: World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champion Driver, Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award (Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion), WPCA Clean Drive Award, WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence - "BOONE" - Champion Outriding Horse
- 2016: Grande Prairie Stompede
- 2017: World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, Guy Weadick Days, Ponoka Stampede, Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champion Driver, Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award (Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion), Calgary Stampede Safety Award, Calgary Stampede Equine Outfit of Excellence - "TENTH POWER" - Champion Right Wheeler, WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence - "TENTH POWER" - Champion Right Wheeler
- 2018: World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races Presented By Dakota Dunes Casino, Guy Weadick Days, Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champion Driver, Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award (Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion), Strathmore Stampede, Calgary Stampede Equine Outfit of Excellence - "LEHMAN" - Champion Outriding Horse, WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence - "GRATITAT" - Champion Left Leader
- 2019: World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, Century Downs "WINNER'S ZONE" Champion, Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, Strathmore Stampede, WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence - "LUTESIFER" - Champion Left Wheeler, Calgary Stampede Equine Outfit of Excellence- "LUTESIFER" - Champion Left Wheeler
- 2021: Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship
- 2022: Calgary Stampede Equine Athlete of Excellence - "DEPUTY" - Champion Left Leader
Personal Information
The most successful active driver in the world today, Kurt has won four World Championships, four Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championships, three Calgary Stampede Aggregate Titles, two Ponoka Stampede Championships to go with his multiple victories and awards. His first appearance in the GMC Rangeland Derby final in 2011 marked the first time that three generations of the same family had qualified for the GMC Rangeland Derby’s winner–take–all final joining his father Buddy Bensmiller and grandfather's Allen Smith and Alan Bensmiller who were all multi–time finalists.
The 2022 season saw Kurt post a remarkable 37 top ten runs, including 2 first place runs, and 19 additional runs that also cracked the top five. He qualified for two championship final heats at the Calgary Stampede and the Battle of the North, and placed inside the top ten overall at eight show championship in 2022. His horse "Deputy" was named Champion Left Leader at the 2022 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby.
In 2017 Kurt became chuckwagon racing’s first modern day “Grand Slam Winner” when he captured the Ponoka Stampede, the Calgary Stampede Aggregate Title, the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby and the World Chuckwagon Championship.
Kurt has twice won the WPCA Clean Drive Award, was the recipient of the WPCA's Most Improved Driver in 2001, and won the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 2002. He is the youngest man in WPCA history to qualify two wagons into a single championship final heat at the 2002 Battle of the North. Kurt is a third generation chuckwagon driver whose brothers Dave and Chance are chuckwagon drivers as well.
A two-sport athlete, Kurt was part of the Bentley Generals that won the 2009 Allan Cup – symbolic of Canada’s senior hockey champions. Kurt and his wife Ashly have three daughters - Harlee, Hayze and Vahn, and make their home in Dewberry, Alberta.
