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Tournier captures first Medicine Hat WPCA title in close finish

Jun 18, 2017 | 6:43 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – ‘Lightning’ Luke Tournier is the fastest man in the ‘Gas City,’ as he was crowned the champion of the 2017 WPCA Medicine Hat races on Sunday afternoon.

Tournier was matched up in the Dash for Cash finals on Sunday against Kurt Bensmiller and defending Medicine Hat champion Doug Irvine.

Coming off the third barrel, Tournier finished with a time of 1:01.35 and finished in second place to Bensmiller, who seemingly won the heat with a time of 1:00.62.

It was later determined that Bensmiller had a late outrider causing a one-second penalty, handing the Medicine Hat title to Tournier.

Tournier said midway through the race, he knew he had an opening to gain ground on Bensmiller.

“I could see Kurt kind of looking over his shoulder, so I figured he probably had problems in the back,” said Tournier. “I never took a look so I was really chasing, I wanted to get ahead of Doug Irvine because I thought if I could beat Doug I probably got the race won. Because, I could see Kurt was kind of pulling and waiting for his outriders, unfortunate for Kurt but penalties are a big part of this game.”

He added his outriders have been a big part of his recent success, especially due to the fact that they haven’t taken any penalties to start the season.

“They rode for me most of all last year,” he said. “My son Quaid [Tournier] and Chance Flad, they’ve done and great job and they’re dependable. I didn’t even bother looking for them, I figured they’d be there so we just had to try to run hard enough to win the race.”

Last year’s world champion, the Duck Lake, Saskatchewan native captured his first championship in Medicine Hat and his fifth win of his career.

Tournier said the championship buckle and jacket were great ways to end an excellent four days of racing.

“It’s always fun winning, it’s fun to get a title [and] I’m happy,” he said. “I was happy the way the horses ran, I thought they really ran down the lane pretty good. We had the three barrel which was not real advantageous here, but with some luck things worked out.”

Jordie Fike had the fastest time of Day 4, coming across the finish line with a time of 1:01.21.

The 2017 WPCA season now shifts to High River for Guy Weadick Days, which get underway on Thursday.