Bensmiller opens Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship on top

Jun 5, 2026 | 11:46 AM

UPDATE: The WPCA says heavy rain has forced Friday night’s races to be postponed.

The racing is scheduled to continue Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon, and Monday evening.

After a successful season opener at the Grande Prairie Stompede, the World Professional Chuckwagon Association resumed Thursday for the first evening of races in the 2026 Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship.

Following plentiful rainfall in recent weeks, organizers with the event worked tirelessly to make sure track and grounds conditions were up to par for the event.

When the dust settled, it was former Bonnyville champ Kurt Bensmiller who topped the standings for Day 1, capturing the Kirk’s Trail Tire Wheels on Fire Fast Time of the Night with a clean run of 1:16.80.

Grande Prairie native Chanse Vigen was one-half second shy of the top spot, settling for second place. Rounding out the top five of the night were: Logan Gorst, Darcy Flad, and Dustin Gorst.

The top four drivers in the aggregate standings following Saturday night’s performance will advance to Sunday’s $22,000 Championship Final Heat.

The winner of that final will be crowned the 2026 Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship champion.

by Erika Rolling