Dewberry World Chuckwagon Races Successful on all Fronts

Dewberry World Chuckwagon Races Successful on all Fronts

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Dewberry is the Chuckwagon Driver Capital of Alberta.

Staying true to its title, the best of the best competed in the World Professional Chuckwagon Association, (WPCA) races in the Hamlet of Dewberry from July 1-4.

Driver Kurt Bensmiller.

(Shellie Scott Photography)

The sanctioned four event was organized by the Dewberry Chuckwagon Racing Heritage Society, (DCRHS) in cooperation with the WPCA. Society President David Bensmiller said the event went very well considering volunteers only had a few weeks to get everything organized.

“Up until two weeks before the event we were only allowed to be a drive in event with the spectators watching from their vehicles around the race track. When the government announced we would have no restrictions on July 1st we were under the gun to get prepared for our event. Normally we spend all winter preparing, but managed to get it done in two weeks’ time.

We raised $64,000 in prize money for the drivers and with only a population of 186 people this was a large feat. The crowds were around 600 to 800 people per night and with more time to advertise and without the high temperatures I feel we would have gotten twice this amount.”

There was a total on 24 entries from the WPCA including David’s brothers Kurt and Chance, and his brother-in-law Vern Nolin. “The aggregate winner after three days was Kris Molle, and the dash for cash winner was Layne Macgillivray. For the final heat $25,000 dash for cash it consisted of three fathers driving the chuckwagons and their three sons riding for them.”

The races were successful on all fronts, and Bensmiller said, “This event is huge for the local economy and community as it’s the only large-scale event put on in the town of Dewberry.”

Bensmiller said DCRHS will be meeting to decide the best way to invest the proceeds of the event that will go back into the grounds, future races, and anything that’s

agriculturally related in the community. It took a lot of work from many volunteers, and that’s why Chuckwagon Races will be able to continue in the future, added Bensmiller.

“We are hoping to sign a multiple year deal with the WPCA so we can continue to host this event on a go forward basis.”

Driver Chance Bensmiller.

(Shellie Scott Photography)