By Billy Melville
The final stretch of the 2007 WPCA Dodge Pro Tour began at the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship and Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede August 2 to 6 in Strathmore, Alberta.
The top eight drivers in the world standings prior to the start of the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede, qualify for the playoff round for the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship. Kelly Sutherland, Luke Tournier, Rick Fraser, Neal Walgenbach, Leo Tournier, Jerry Bremner, Mark Sutherland and Troy Dorchester made up the elite eight playoff contestants.
After four days of running, Leo Tournier, Mark Sutherland, Kelly Sutherland and Neal Walgenbach, who won a tiebreaker with Rick Fraser, survived the playoff round and would participate in the sudden death championship final heat to declare the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Champion for 2007.
Once again it was an exciting final heat witnessed by a capacity crowd, and when it was over the Super 8 Motel outfit, driven by Neal Walgenbach along with outriders Shawn Calf Robe and Brian Mayan, that took home the season showcase championship and the Dodge Truck.
It was a poetic exit for Walgenbach who announced his retirement from full-time competition after the 2007 season.
Rae Croteau Jr.’s Lincoln County Oilfield Services Outfit, with outriders Chad Fike and Brian Mayan captured the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede title for the second consecutive year for the best four-day aggregate time of 4:59.92. Layne MacGillivray received the DC Energy Services Clean Drive Award.
After the completion of the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore, it was back up north for the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour in Dawson Creek, British Columbia for the Battle of the North.
Once again this year $10,000 would be awarded to the winner of the sudden death championship final heat. The 2007 final was composed of Rae Croteau Jr., Kurt Bensmiller, Kelly Sutherland and Jason Glass. Rain and poor track conditions interrupted the show on two days, and saw the finals run on Tuesday night.
In the end it was Kurt Bensmiller who not only won his first career show championship, but did it in a big money final taking home the $10,000 winner’s cheque. Kurt, driving Basnett Trucking Outfit, along with outriders Chanse Vigen and Wayne Wright captured the Battle Of the North Championship.
Codey McCurrach won the Kenn Borek Memorial Award for the Most Sportsmanlike Driver and Floyd Bradshaw received the DC Energy Services Clean Drive Award.
Finally it was off to Red Deer for the Dodge World Chuckwagon Championships August 16 to 19. Kelly Sutherland brought a 133-point lead into the season ending event and for all intensive purposes wrapped up his record 10th World Chuckwagon Championship and Chanse Vigen had locked up his second consecutive and third career World Outriding Championship.
However, Sutherland decided to make it a clean sweep at Red Deer. Sutherland, driving the Hear Now Inc. Outfit, along with outriders Chanse Vigen and Reo King captured the Red Deer Championship for the best four-day aggregate of 5:15.40.
It was the first show championship win for Sutherland in 2007. Reg Johnstone was second, Rick Fraser placed third, Barry while Luke Tournier and Kirk Sutherland completed the top five. Grant Profit received the DC Energy Services Clean Drive Award.
At the conclusion of the official regular season, the WPCA wagons went back to Medicine Hat from August 24 to 26 to make up the show that was originally scheduled for June 8 to 10, but was cancelled due to the racetrack not being up to proper standards.
The drivers were just running for money and the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Championship no points were awarded. Many replacement drivers were used for drivers who were injured or who had other commitments.
After the three-day show was run, Jerry Bremner successfully defended his Medicine Hat Championship driving the Highpine Oil & Gas Outfit, and along with outriders Reo King and Wayne Wright.
Bremner had the best three-day aggregate of 3:07.32. It was the third show championship win for Bremner in 2007. Rae Croteau Jr. was second, with Leo Tournier, Herman Flad and Kirk Sutherland completing the top five overall. Chad Harden’s outfit which was driven by Shane Cartier received the DC Energy Services Clean Drive Award.
With the retirement of Neal Walgenbach, Brian Mayan moved up one spot in the world standings which gave him exempt status for the 2008 WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. With six spots vacant for the WPCA Qualification Run Off held August 30 to September 2 in Bashaw.
Stan Waddell, Floyd Bradshaw, Chance Bensmiller and Darcy Flad were the drivers who had to go try to regain their spots for 2008. Harold McCarthy decided not to participate in the run off. They were joined by former WPCA drivers Jason Johnstone, Cam Shaurette and Glen Ridsdale, along with Wendell Ridsdale, Cody Ridsdale, Link Douglas, and Pat Powell bringing the total number of entries to 12 wagons going for six spots.
After the four-day show was over, it was Pat Powell, Jason Johnstone, Stan Waddell, Chance Bensmiller, Link Douglas and Cody Ridsdale who made up the top six.
The 26th annual WPCA awards banquet will take place on November 3 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary. For tickets contact the WPCA office at (403) 236-2466.
