2023 Grande Prairie Stompede Final Results

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB — Track conditions were the best of the week and the finals of the Grande Prairie Stompede Championship were run under partly cloudy skies, a little bit of wind, and a warm 18°C. It was a popular Championship Final Heat with all four drivers posting show wins in 2022 featuring Chanse Vigen, Kurt Bensmiller, Rae Croteau Jr. and Ross Knight filling out the championship final. When the dust settled, and in one of the most impressive single runs ever in a Championship Final Heat, it was Chanse Vigen, driving the Sundown Oilfield Services Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Rory Armstrong, Ryan MacNeill and Ethan Motowylo, who despite  a two-second penalty for creating a false start, captured the 2023 Grande Prairie Stompede Championship. Coming off barrel number four, Vigen – who was responsible for creating a false start, and had a two-second penalty hanging over him before the race officially began – captured the Grande Prairie Stompede Championship with a total time of 1:16.27, 2.53 seconds faster than Kurt Bensmiller who placed second in the heat from barrel number one. Ross Knight ended up in third place overall from barrel three, while Rae Croteau Jr., who actually crossed the finish line in second place, but a five second knocked barrel penalty pushed him down to fourth place overall from barrel number two. Vigen’s run in Sunday’s final was more than two full seconds faster than his nearest competitor’s running time, making it arguably the most dominating single run in a championship final in chuckwagon racing’s history. It’s the first time Chanse Vigen has won the Grande Prairie Championship.

As far as the day results are concerned, Obrey Motowylo’s Dynamic Energy Group Inc. outfit cashed was best on the night with a 1:16.05.  2023 Grande Prairie Champion Chanse Vigen, even with the two second penalty placed second on the night followed by Layne MacGillivray, Evan Salmond and Troy Dorchester composing the top five runs of the night. All eleven heats on Sunday were dash for cash situations.

The WPCA Pro Tour will embark on Bonnyville, Alberta for the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship that will run from June 8-11, 2023. Live coverage from Bonnyville on Real Country 910 starting on Thursday night at 7:00pm Mountain Time. As well, fans can watch the races live on the watch.wpca.com streaming platform.

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