Chance Bensmiller kicks off his heat at the World Professional Chuckwagon Association event in Medicine Hat on June 12, 2025. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Olivia Thorington

SPORTS

Chuckwagon racing gets underway at Medicine Hat Exhibition grounds

Jun 12, 2025 | 10:12 PM

Four days of chuckwagon racing got off to a spirited start Thursday evening as over two dozen drivers took to the Half Mile of Hell at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds.

World Professional Chuckwagons Association racers pass the @wild945country finish line at the #MedicineHat Exhibition and Stampede@CHATNewsToday pic.twitter.com/4CA8nGTd8f

— Eli J. Ridder (@EliRidder) June 13, 2025

A bit of rain and a lot of mud were no match for the 30 drivers that vied to kick off their first day of timed loops as a few hundred people cheered from the grandstands.

Defending Medicine Hat champion Chanse Vigen was able to record a 1:05.07 on the event timesheets, the fastest overall on Day 1 — a feat he’s now accomplished for three consecutive years.

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He was followed by Kurt Bensmiller at 1:05.70 and 2023 Medicine Hat champion Jamie Laboucane who got a 1:06.13.

The drivers will continue racing in heats Friday and Saturday, giving each of them a chance to start from a different barrel.

Then the top three drivers after the times from three heats are added up will move onto Sunday’s final “Dash for Cash” heat to determine the champion and prize money winner.

Drivers also collect points that contribute to a season total.

Racing will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s chuckwagon action runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.