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(L-R): D.J. DeSutter, Outrider Rory Armstrong, Driver Chanse Vigen, Outrider Ryan "Mad Dog" McNeill KUDO Energy Services Don Foley and Norm Truhn Photo By Billy Melville/WPCA
By Curtis Galbraith
Chuckwagons

WPCA title for Grande Prairie wagon driver

Jun 6, 2022 | 4:33 PM

A Grande Prairie driver is celebrating a victory on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit.

Chanse Vigen won Sunday’s WPCA stop in Bonnyville.

“The horses did really well. They like getting over this racetrack. The competitors were tough. I got a good crew back at the barns.”

“The horses were doing their thing. I had a bit of a messy start. We had to come in for a second time. That’s part of wagon racing. On to the next one!”

Vigen won the final ahead of Cruise Bensmiller, Wade Salmond, and Chance Flad. His outriders were Rory Armstrong and Ryan McNeill.

Vigen thinks every WPCA stop should have a winner-take-all final.

“I don’t care how many days we run as long as we have a dash. We need to have some sudden-death heats in this sport. That’s what’s exciting. That’s what can sell. We can sponsor dashes. It’s what people want to watch. We’ve got to give the fans what they want so we need dashes at all the shows moving forward.”

Vigen adds it is good to have wagon racing “back to normal.”

“I think everybody would agree with that. We’re roughly around 51 race days over the course of three months in the summer, so it’s just back to the status quo.”

“I love the schedule. I’m excited to get to the next shows.”

The next WPCA stop will be Medicine Hat June 16 to 19.

Thank you to Arnie Jackson for supplying the audio clips that became the quotes included in this story.

by Curtis Galbraith