L-R: Outrider Ethan Motowylo, Driver Vern Nolin, Outrider Brendan Nolin, Ponoka Stampede Association President Bruce Harbin Presenting. (Photo By Billy Melville)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

WPCA Pro Tour

Nolin sweeps Ponoka Stampede Wild West Chuckwagon Championship

Sep 6, 2021 | 12:04 PM

On one of the most exciting race nights of the year, Vern Nolin – driving the McCaw’s Drilling & Blasting Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Ethan Motowylo and Brendan Nolin, collected the first-place winner’s cheque and the 2021 Ponoka Stampede Wild West Chuckwagon Championship Sunday night.

In a highly anticipated $25,000 Championship final heat at the Ponoka Stampede Wild West Chuckwagon Championship, Nolin, Dustin Gorst, Evan Salmond and Kirk Sutherland would run for the championship at one of chuckwagon racing’s most prestigious events on the WPCA Pro.

It was the second Ponoka Championship for Vern Nolin in the past three seasons who was also the Ponoka Aggregate Winner for the third consecutive season.

Nolin captured the Ponoka crown with a penalty free run of 1:14.44 from barrel position number one. Kirk Sutherland placed second in the heat from barrel position number three, 40 one-hundredths of a second behind champion Vern Nolin, followed by Evan Salmond from barrel position two, and Dustin Gorst in fourth place from barrel position four. It’s the second consecutive win for Nolin who also captured the 2021 Battle of the Rockes two weeks ago.

As far as day results go, Kurt Bensmiller’s Irvine’s Tack & Western Wear outfit grabbed his second consecutive day money after posting the fast time of the week with a 1:12.47 from barrel number four in the first heat. Chanse Vigen placed second, Chance Bensmiller placing third, with Kris Molle and Vern Nolin filling out the top five on the final night of the season.

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Earlier in the evening, Obrey Motowylo was paraded in front of a huge crowd as he won his first career World Chuckwagon Championship by 23 points over Kurt Bensmiller. Layne MacGillivray was third, Kris Molle was fourth and Jordie Fike placed fifth. Hayden Motowylo captured his first career World Outriding title as well, marking the first time a father and son captured respective World Titles in the same year.

Click here for full race results.

(With files from Billy Melville)