Knight crowned as newest Strathmore Stampede champion

By Laurence Heinen Times Contributor

Ross Knight knew what he had to do.

Heading into the final day of racing at the Strathmore Stampede, Knight was leading fellow chuckwagon driver Chad Fike by slightly more than a second (1.01 to be exact) atop the aggregate standings.

“I just had to stay clean and be ahead of Chad,” said Knight, who did just that as he finished third in Monday afternoon’s seventh heat in a speedy time of 1:14.77 aboard his Premium Ag Solutions wagon, while Fike and his Tim’s Glass outfit placed fourth in 1:16.43.

By virtue of his performance, Knight was crowned the 2023 Strathmore Stampede champion after posting the best four-day aggregate time of 5:02.06, which was 2.65 seconds faster than Fike (who held on for a second-place showing). 

“It’s always great to win and Strathmore’s such a good show to win,” said Knight, whose last victory on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit was back in early July of last year when he edged out Jordie Fike by 5/100ths of a second to prevail in the Tommy Dorchester Championship Dash For Cash at the 2022 Ponoka Stampede.

Knight credited the fact that he had two solid outfits, which he alternated throughout the show. 

“The boys really went good the first night and gave us a nice jump on the show,” said Knight in regards to the outfit that won him day money on both Friday and Sunday. “They’re really running three wide, so I’m pretty happy with them.”

The other combination of horses he used also didn’t disappoint as they finished 12th on Saturday before placing fourth overall on Monday.

A trio of former Strathmore Stampede champions in Jason Glass, Kurt Bensmiller and Obrey Motowylo finished in third, fourth and fifth respectively in the aggregate standings. While Glass prevailed at the popular show in 2014 and 2015, Bensmiller has won chuckwagon championships in Strathmore in 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2022. Meanwhile, Motowylo has one show title to his credit, which he won back in 2009.

Off barrel No. 4 in the first heat aboard his JT Equipment Corp. wagon, Brad McMann posted Monday afternoon’s fastest time of 1:14.47 and won day money by 25/100ths of a second over the duo of Wade Salmond (Burnra Welding Ltd.) and Rae Croteau Jr. (Tomco Group of Companies), who finished in a dead heat at the finish line in Heat 7 just ahead of Knight.

After his first Strathmore Stampede victory, Knight praised the efforts of his outriders – 32-year-old veteran Chance Flad and 17-year-old rookie Jory Bronken.

“I’ve got the oldest guy on the grounds,” Knight joked in regards to Flad, who’s also a formidable driver as he proved by finishing 10th overall in the aggregate standings. “He’s unbelievable. He never makes a mistake. He’s probably the best outrider out there. Jory just started riding (this year), so this is only his third show and he’s doing really good. I hope he continues.”

For his part, Bronken said he was grateful just to be a part of Knight’s winning performance in Strathmore.

“It is unreal,” said Bronken of capturing his first-ever outriding buckle. “I don’t know how to compare it to anything. Obviously having Chance Flad riding with me, Casey Knight as my mentor and Ross, it definitely paid off really well.”

From the perspective of an experienced outrider like Flad, Bronken definitely hasn’t looked out of place during his limited time on the WPCA Pro Tour.

“It’s good to see a new kid coming up and getting the job done,” said Flad, who doesn’t mind outriding for Knight even though he’s primarily focusing on his exploits as a driver this season. “He’s got the nerves. It’s just his third show, but he’s doing well. He’s kept it all together for this show and hopefully it keeps going forward for him.”

After a quick one-day break, the WPCA Pro Tour will resume with the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek, B.C., from Wednesday to Sunday.

Following the Battle of the Rockies in Rocky Mountain House, Alta., from Aug. 17-20, the Top 12 drivers in the WPCA standings will have a chance to vie for bragging rights at the Century Downs World Finals from Aug. 23-27 at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino just north of Calgary.

“It’s nice to come back to Rocky and then it’s a short trip into Century,” said Knight, who’s currently sitting ninth in the World Standings behind Jamie Laboucane, Chanse Vigen, Glass, Wade Salmond, Layne MacGillivray, Bensmiller, Motowylo and Chad Fike. “It makes life a little easier. Then we’re done, so it’s kind of depressing.”