2026 Wainwright Stampede Champions
Bar L5 Ranch Ltd. Outfit
(L-R): Outrider Tyler DeSutter, Driver Rae Croteau Jr., Outrider Brendan Nolin
Photo By Kass Patterson
For the second time in three weeks, heavy rainfall has forced the cancellation of Championship Sunday, this time at the Wainwright Stampede. As a result, the championship was awarded based on the best three-day aggregate time rather than being decided in the Championship Final Heat.
When the final standings were calculated, Rae Croteau Jr., driving the Bar L5 Ranch Ltd. outfit, along with outriders Brendan Nolin and Tyler DeSutter, was declared the 2026 Wainwright Stampede Champion. The victory marks Croteau Jr.’s first Wainwright Stampede title and also makes Wainwright Stampede history, as three generations of the Croteau family have now captured the championship. Rae Jr. joins his father, Bert Croteau (1994, 2001), and his grandfather, Ray Croteau (1987, 1991, 1993), as Wainwright Stampede champions.
Croteau secured the title with a three-day aggregate time of 3:09.01, finishing 1.40 seconds ahead of track record holder Chanse Vigen. Jamie Laboucane placed third overall, Jason Glass finished fourth, and Logan Gorst rounded out the top five in the aggregate standings.
The WPCA Pro Tour presented by GMC now heads to Ponoka for the Ponoka Stampede Championship, beginning Friday, June 26, 2026. Day 1 of the Ponoka Stampede can be heard live on WPCA Radio on 96.5 The Ranch beginning at 9:45 p.m. Eastern, 8:45 p.m. Central, and 7:45 p.m. Mountain. Fans can also listen through the WPCA website, iHeartRadio, and Radioplayer Canada, while live video coverage will be available via the WPCA livestream at watch.wpca.com.
Billy Melville
