By: Bryan Hebson
You can’t beat what you can’t catch and they couldn’t catch Ray Mitsuing at the Little Pine Race Track during the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Associations first show of the 2007 season.
The 2007 CPCA Pro Tour kicked off May 31st – June 3rd and it became evident early that Mitsuing made the most of his spring training. The five-time Canadian Champion driving for SIGA set a new track record Saturday speeding around the 5/8ths oval in 113.27.
Mitsuing also qualified for Sundays Dash for Cash lining up against Rod Salmond driving for Boundary Ford and Jim Knight with the Border City Oilmen. Mitsuing and Salmond were stride for stride from the start but Mitsuing pulled away down the stretch to capture the cash.
Salmond, who will be competing in his last Calgary Stampede later in July due to age rules, recorded the Lloyd Bus Greyhound Fast Time of the Night on Friday and is looking good to start the season.
Wayne Knight driving for Guarantee RV out turned the Nolins (Shane and Vern) then went on to win Saturday’s Sask Energy Heat of the Night.
Ross Fisher in his third year as a pro driver picked up six new horses in the off season and is building on his performance from last year. In the spring of 2006 Fisher trained with Ray Mitsuing and Harvey Leer then went on to win the CPCA’s Most Improved Driver Award.
“I am feeling pretty confident after my first two runs,” Fisher commented during and afternoon interview. “My goal this year is to qualify for the 2008 Calgary Stampede.”
After the first four days of racing Fisher sits among the top 12 on the CPCA Pro Tour so if he stays consistent and penalty free he has a good shot.
Rookie driver Sean Debolt also has his sights set on qualifying for the 2008 Calgary Stampede. Debolt lined up against Ray Mitsuing the first three days and looked nothing like a rookie. Outrider penalties prevented Debolt from hitting the top 12. If he can fix his outriding problem he has a few outfits in the barn that have the potential to bring him up.
Behind The Barns
The first edition of CPCA Saturday Night aired June 2nd with over two hours of live racing, interviews and features from behind the barns.
The live broadcast includes nine nights of racing with the potential for added nights later in the season. The broadcast can be heard through a link on the CPCA website (www.cpcaracing.com)
The top 12 drivers on the CPCA Pro Tour in 2007 will qualify for the 2008 Calgary Stampede where this year over one million dollars in prize money is up for grabs.
Penalty calls and non-penalty calls can cost drivers points that may keep them out of the top 12 qualifying positions and as such more pressure is put on the judges to make the “right call.”
In 2007 the CPCA has added extra cameras to assist with late outrider calls and other close calls to ensure all penalties are accurate.
Vern Nolin is sporting a new Ford F350 truck this year. The Rapid View driver wheeled into camp with sponsors Bob Jacks Sheet Metal and BKDI Architects advertised on the side. Bob Jacks Sheet Metal is Nolins major tour sponsor through out Alberta and Saskatchewan and BKDI Architects sponsor Nolin at the Calgary Stampede.
“My wife drives it most of the time,” smiles Nolin. “Its works a lot better for us pulling the RV trailer than the old black one and I really appreciate their support.”
New trucks, new sponsors, painted wagons and creative marketing and advertising initiatives are taking the sport of chuckwagon racing to new levels and both the drivers and sponsors are seeing the benefits.
For more on the CPCA and the sport of chuckwagon racing, visit www.cpcaracing.com.
