Bensmiller captures Strathmore title

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Duke of Dewberry kept his red-hot season rolling along, all while stopping Gary Gorst from three-peating at the Strathmore Stampede chuckwagon races.
Kurt Bensmiller never finished out of the Top 4 each night at the Strathmore Stampede’s chuckwagon races and knocked off Gorst by a little less than two seconds to capture his second title in Strathmore.
“I’ve always loved coming to Strathmore, it’s a great show here. The crowd responds well to our wagons and it’s a great feeling to ride in front of them,” said Bensmiller.
Bensmiller is steamrolling through the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) this season, having already picked up tour wins at Guy Weadick Days June 21 to 24 in High River, at Prairieland Park June 7 to 10 in Saskatoon and most recently at the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby July 6 to 15.
“It just seems like the horses are really clicking this year. I think I’m in most driver’s heads – they’re busy worrying about having to outrun me and I think it’s paying off to my advantage,” said the 17-year veteran driver.
Gorst won the 2016 and 2017 WPCA runs in Strathmore. This year, he entered day 3 eight-tenths of a second behind Bensmiller, but turned out the 21st fastest run of the evening with a 1:18.01, while Bensmiller kept rolling with the second-best day time a 1:16.22.
“I try not to pay attention to other drivers. I tell that to everyone that it’s either going to work out or it’s not. As long as I run my race, I’ll be tough to beat. I don’t need to focus on the rest of them,” said Bensmiller.
Gary’s son, Dustin, entered the final day third in the aggregate at 3:50.49, but crunched the second barrel on day 4 and dropped down to 17th.
Mitch Sutherland, son of Kirk Sutherland and nephew of Kelly “The King” Sutherland, entered the final day with two opportunities to earn a top three finish. Mitch entered the Strathmore Stampede with only one wagon, but was filling in for Mike Vigen, who is injured. Vigen’s outfit was third after three races, nearly two seconds back of Kirk, and completed the final race in 1:19.96 to place 10th.
Driving his own wagon, Mitch held onto his fifth-place position with a 1:18.42 on day 4.
Chance Flad made his debut behind the reins in the chucks following Rick Fraser’s retirement after the Rangeland Derby. Flad won his first heat on day 2 in 1:17.71 but finished 35th out of 36 drivers with an aggregate time of 5:42.41 seconds.
Flad’s mentor Doug Irvine won the day money Aug. 3 with a time of 1:15.12 and eventually placed 20th.
Day 2 saw Mitch drive Vigen’s wagon to a time of 1:15.69 to earn the day money.
Kirk took the day money Aug. 5 in 1:15.80 and Layne MacGillvray set the day high in the finale with a 1:16.10. He finished 21st with an aggregate time of 5:14.85.
With the successful stop in Strathmore, Bensmiller expanded on his lead in the world standings. He entered last weekend 35.5 points ahead of Vern Nolin in second.
Nolin wasn’t able to close the gap on Bensmiller even with a fourth-place finish in an aggregate time of 5:07.38. The 169 points earned by Bensmiller expanded his lead to 48 points, with two tour stops remaining.
The Half Mile of Hell picks back up Aug. 8 in the Battle of the North Aug. 8 to 12 in Dawson Creek, B.C., before wrapping up Aug. 16 to 19 in Rocky Mountain House at the Battle of the Rockies.