Chanse Vigen on Day 1 of Ponoka Stampede 2025. Photo courtesy Shellie Scott/WPCA

By Erika Rolling

Chuckwagons

Vigen shatters track record following Day 1 at Ponoka Stampede

Jun 27, 2025 | 10:49 AM

The World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s running of the Ponoka Stampede kicked off Thursday evening with ideal track and weather conditions.

The crowd was at capacity as Grande Prairie’s very own Chanse Vigen broke a 14-year-old track record on the opening night.

Vigen posted a time of 1:11.75, beating Luke Tournier’s 2011 recording setting run of 1:12.19, by 44 one-hundreths of a second.

Rounding out the top five in the aggregate after Day 1 are: Chad Fike, Kurt Bensmiller, D.J. King, and Obrey Motowylo.

The top 8 in the aggregate after Sunday night’s run will go into the semi-final round on Monday in heats 8 and 9.

The top 4 times from the semi-final round on Monday, June 30, will go into the $75,000.00 Tommy Dorchester Championship Final Heat.

The winner of the championship final will be crowned as the 2025 Ponoka Stampede Champion.