August 22, 2021 – More Information Available at www.halfmileofhell.com
2021 Battle of the Rockies – Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada
It looked like an afternoon storm might dampen the final day of the Battle of the Rockies, but Mother Nature co-operated and the day turned to a warm and windy afternoon in Rocky Mountain House. The chuckwagon races wrapped up during a Sunday matinee performance and when the times were tabulated, it was Vern Nolin, driving the McCaw’s Drilling & Blasting Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Ethan Motowylo and Brendan Nolin who won the championship after posting the best 3-day aggregate time of 3:48.94. It’s the first win for Vern Nolin since capturing the Ponoka Stampede in 2018.
Nolin, who started the day in third place overall, posted the fast time of the week and made a big jump to the top of overall aggregate standings to capture the championship. Nolin’s three-day aggregate time was 1.05 seconds faster than 2021 Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship champion Kurt Bensmiller who finished in the runner-up position. 2021 Battle of the North Champion Obrey Motowylo, looking for his second consecutive victory in as many weeks placed third, while Kurt Bensmiller’s other wagon and defending champion Wade Salmond made out the top five overall after four runs.
As mentioned previously, Vern Nolin was the best of the afternoon and the week after he drove his rig to a first place run with a 1:15.95. Kurt Bensmiller’s second wagon was second, rookie driver Chance Thomson was third, Chad Fike placed fourth, and Kurt Bensmiller’s number one wagon filled out the top five wagons on the day.
The WPCA Pro Tour now takes a week off before concluding at the Ponoka Stampede starting on Thursday September 2, 2021 and running through to Sunday, September 5, 2021. Racing from the Ponoka Stampede can be heard live on Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM.
Billy Melville
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2021 Battle of the Rockies Champions |
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McCaw’s Drilling & Blasting Ltd. |
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Vern Nolin – Driver |
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Ethan Motowylo & Brendan Nolin – Outriders |
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Day 3 Results |
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Rank |
Driver |
Sponsor |
Total Time |
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1 |
Vern Nolin (Wagon #2) |
McCaw’s Drilling & Blasting Ltd. |
1:15.95 |
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2 |
Kurt Bensmiller |
Versatile Energy Services Ltd. |
1:16.46 |
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3 |
Chance Thomson |
Team Auctions |
1:17.19 |
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4 |
Chad Fike |
Earth Drilling Co Ltd. |
1:17.20 |
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5 |
Kurt Bensmiller (Wagon #2) |
AIC Construction Ltd. |
1:17.34 |
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6 |
Obrey Motowylo |
Nexsource Power |
1:17.35 |
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7 |
Evan Salmond |
Challand Pipeline Ltd. |
1:17.43 |
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8 |
Layne MacGillivray |
GT Hydraulic & Bearing Inc./Rocky Hydraulic & Bearing |
1:17.58 |
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9 |
Chance Bensmiller |
Half A Dime Contracting Ltd. |
1:17.79 |
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10 |
Dustin Gorst |
Sims & Associates Insurance Services |
1:17.85 |
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11 |
Troy Flad (Wagon #2) |
Ironwood Building Corp. |
1:17.93 |
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12 |
Chance Flad |
Aspen Crossing |
1:18.11 |
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13 |
Kris Molle |
Henry’s Western Wear |
1:18.18 |
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14 |
Dean Dreger |
Edwards Garage Ltd. |
1:18.32 |
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15 |
Jordie Fike |
Team JW & The Septic Wagon |
1:18.46 |
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16 |
Wade Salmond |
Pidherney’s |
1:18.53 |
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17 |
Josh Hrynyk |
Midlite Powerline Construction |
1:18.69 |
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18 |
Evan Salmond (Wagon #2) |
Excel Projects Ltd |
1:18.90 |
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19 |
Kelly Morin |
Northern Mat & Bridge |
1:19.33 |
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20 |
Derek Aebly |
Horizon Hauling |
1:19.51 |
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21 |
Vern Nolin |
Optimum Equipment Solutions |
1:20.08 |
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22 |
Cody Ridsdale |
O’Chiese Business and Investment Centre |
1:21.69 |
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23 |
Tuff Dreger |
Red Deer Motors |
1:22.56 |
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24 |
Bob Van Eaton |
Ol’ MacDonald’s Music Festival |
1:22.64 |
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25 |
Roy Romanow |
Dougan’s Farm & Feed Supply |
1:25.68 |
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26 |
Wade Salmond (Wagon #2) |
Clearwater Oilfield Services Ltd. |
1:26.49 |
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27 |
Troy Flad |
Hayshakers Bobcat Service Ltd |
1:28.52 |
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3 Day Aggregate Standings |
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Rank |
Driver |
Sponsor |
3 Day Total |
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1 |
Vern Nolin (Wagon #2) |
McCaw’s Drilling & Blasting Ltd. |
3:48.94 |
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2 |
Kurt Bensmiller (Wagon #2) |
AIC Construction Ltd. |
3:49.99 |
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3 |
Obrey Motowylo |
Nexsource Power/Topline Oilfield Hauling Ltd. |
3:50.12 |
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4 |
Kurt Bensmiller |
Versatile Energy Services Ltd. |
3:50.26 |
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5 |
Wade Salmond |
Pidherney’s |
3:52.38 |
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6 |
Evan Salmond |
Challand Pipeline Ltd. |
3:52.39 |
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7 |
Layne MacGillivray |
GT Hydraulic & Bearing Inc./Rocky Hydraulic & Bearing |
3:53.43 |
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8 |
Kris Molle |
Henry’s Western Wear |
3:53.49 |
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9 |
Chance Bensmiller |
Half A Dime Contracting Ltd. |
3:54.19 |
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10 |
Chad Fike |
Earth Drilling Co Ltd. |
3:54.41 |
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11 |
Jordie Fike |
Team JW & The Septic Wagon |
3:54.70 |
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12 |
Kelly Morin |
Northern Mat & Bridge |
3:55.36 |
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13 |
Vern Nolin |
Optimum Equipment Solutions |
3:56.37 |
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14 |
Chance Flad |
Aspen Crossing |
3:56.56 |
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15 |
Chance Thomson |
Team Auctions |
3:56.91 |
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16 |
Evan Salmond (Wagon #2) |
Excel Projects Ltd |
3:57.68 |
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17 |
Troy Flad (Wagon #2) |
Ironwood Building Corp. |
3:59.48 |
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18 |
Derek Aebly |
Horizon Hauling |
4:00.21 |
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19 |
Dean Dreger |
Edwards Garage Ltd. |
4:03.24 |
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20 |
Cody Ridsdale |
O’Chiese Business and Investment Centre |
4:05.57 |
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21 |
Bob Van Eaton |
Ol’ MacDonald’s Music Festival |
4:05.83 |
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22 |
Tuff Dreger |
Red Deer Motors |
4:06.03 |
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23 |
Wade Salmond (Wagon #2) |
Clearwater Oilfield Services Ltd. |
4:06.24 |
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24 |
Troy Flad |
Hayshakers Bobcat Service Ltd |
4:06.52 |
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25 |
Josh Hrynyk |
Midlite Powerline Construction |
4:11.41 |
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26 |
Roy Romanow |
Dougan’s Farm & Feed Supply |
4:21.55 |
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27 |
Dustin Gorst |
Sims & Associates Insurance Services |
N.T |
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