Chuckwagon fans will have an extra weekend of racing in High River in 2012 and they won’t need a calculator to figure out who is the North American Chuckwagon champion.
The High River races will run over five days and two weekends, June 17-18 and June 22-24. Increasing the number of days of racing from four to five days means the North American champion will now be determined in a dash final on the last day of racing.
“To have a dash you have to have at least five days of racing so each driver gets a kick at barrels one through four,” said Bill Long, the co-chairman of the North American Chuckwagon Races. “The dash makes it more exciting. Then there is a race for money at the end.”
In previous years, the North American champion was determined by the fastest accumulative time among the 36 drivers on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association tour over the four days of racing in High River. In 2012, the top four drivers after four days of racing will compete against each other on the final race to determine the champion on June 22.
The final dash isn’t the only change for the North American championships. It will now run over two weekends, June 17-18 (Saturday and Sunday) and July 22-24 Friday to Sunday. The High River Agricultural Society was able the secure the June 17-18 weekend due to the cancellation of the Drumheller races. The High River championship ran from Thursday to Sunday in past years. The opening Thursday night often had half-full stands at the High River Rodeo Grounds.
“We had toyed with the idea of having the extra day of racing by adding the Wednesday, but it’s way better for the crowd to have it on the weekend,” Long said. “It’s easier to get fans out on the weekend than on a Wednesday or Thursday… Sponsor-wise it is great. They can bring their clients and customers out over two weekends now… Also more people will see their (the sponsors) tarp. The sponsors are getting a bigger bang for their buck.”
Traditionally, the Saturday of the North American chuckwagon races have had several party tents put up for sponsors to entertain their guests.
Okotoks area chuckwagon driver Mark Sutherland is glad to see a final dash being added to the races approximately 30km south of his home.
“I like the idea of a dash at High River,” Sutherland said. “It always makes a show a little more exciting for the fans and a little more important to win as a driver because of the added money. Its no secret that most drivers strategize their horse power around the big money shows.
“I hope that the added days and added dash bring out many more fans and many sponsors.”
He will miss racing in Drumheller though.
“I've had some great races in Drumheller, and met some wonderful people there but a move to two weekends at a top notch racetrack in High River will help make the WPCA a stronger organization,” Sutherland said.
Doug McLaughlin has had his High River Autoplex and RV tarp covering Colt Cosgrave’s polka-dotted wagon at the North American Chuckwagon Championships for several years.
He agrees that having five days of racing over two weekends will give the sponsors more for their money.
“I think it will be good to have two weekends for sure,” McLaughlin said. “I don’t think it will drive up the price of tarps (at the auction) too much. There will definitely be more fans seeing the wagons.”
With a break of four days between Day 2 and Day 3 of racing, it will provide chuckwagon drivers and sponsors time to put on special events.
“I have never asked Colt to do that, but he would do it in a second,” McLaughlin said. “Just having the chuckwagon drivers around town for a whole week will help create interest.”
Long said the ag society is considering asking the drivers to do appearances, such as visiting schools, during the four-day break.
The ag society is also considering adding another dance the first weekend of racing along with its usually sold-out dance on the final weekend of the championships.
