Kurt Bensmiller had plenty of success on the ice surface when he played with the Battlefords North Stars from 2002 to '04, but in 2012 it was younger brother Chance's turn at success in the Battlefords.
This time it wasn't a strong showing on the hockey ice for the Bensmiller family, but the chuckwagon track.
The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association started off the pro tour in North Battleford on the weekend with 27 wagons roaring around the track for three days, as the large crowds witnessed some amazing racing and some of the country's best drivers.
Bensmiller's three-day time was 3:10.80, which was just hundredths of a second fast enough to edge out Devin Mitsuing, whose aggregate time was 3:10.86.
Wayne Knight came in third place with an aggregate time of 3:10.94.
Mitsuing had the top time after day one and day two of racing at the North Battleford Agriculture Society grounds, but finished in seventh during Sunday's events and Bensmiller's consistent driving all weekend earned him top honours.
BJ Carey had the top time of the weekend with a 1:02.45 race Sunday.
Bensmiller, who has chuckwagon racing in his blood, was at one time an outrider for his dad. Since he has grabbed the reigns himself he has looked back only at the drivers behind him. Bensmiller was racing with a walking a cast on his right foot after suffering a hockey injury this winter, but that didn't slow him or his horses down.
The next CPCA event is this weekend in Yorkton and the drivers, outriders and horses will be back in the Northwest June 29 to July 1 to race at Little Pine First Nation.
