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Jamie Laboucane racing at 2026 Battle of the North Day 2. (Image Credit: WPCA/Shellie Scott)
By Erika Rolling
Chuckwagons

Laboucane leads Battle of the North after Day 2

Aug 7, 2026 | 7:47 AM

Dawson Creek’s Battle of the North saw track times drop on Thursday evening compared to the night before.

When the evening came to a close, the fastest chuckwagon of the night was the reigning Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Champion Jamie Laboucane.

Laboucane finished the night with a run time of 1:12.80; 0.83 seconds faster than second on the night, Grande Prairie native Chanse Vigen. Third on the night was World Standings leader Obrey Motowylo, followed by Grande Prairie’s Dayton Sutherland and Jason Glass rounding out the top five wagons.

The aggregate standings are now led by Laboucane with a combined run time of 2:28.99. Vigen is in second, only 0.40 seconds behind the leader. Motowylo sits third and Day 1 money winner Kurt Bensmiller in fourth and final qualifying position.

Two nights of preliminary competition remains in the Battle of the North. The driver leading the aggregate standings after Saturday (August 8) nights heats will receive the Connie Patterson Memorial Award and a one-year lease on a 2026 GMC truck, courtesy of Banister GM Dawson Creek. The top four drivers will then advance to Sunday’s (August 9) $30,000 Championship Final Heat, where the winner will be crowned the 2026 Battle of the North Champion.

When the weekend in B.C. concludes, the top 12 chuckwagon drivers in the WPCA World Standings will advance to the playoff round in Rocky Mountain House, making the stakes higher and every run critical to ensure a World Finals berth.

by Erika Rolling