The first Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Race weekend is in the books and it was driver Kris Molle who dominated it in North Battleford from start to finish.
Molle, based out of Chauvin, Alta., emerged as the undisputed champion of the three-day event at the Battlefords Ag Society racetrack with a running aggregate time of 3:09.18 riding for PWM Steel.
Jamie Laboucane, running for Davco/Sidekicks, was second at 3:12.82, Ray Mitsuing of Sunridge RV third at 3.13.77 and Vern Nolin of Bob Jacks Sheet Metal was fourth at 3:14.46.
The top 10 was rounded out by Wayne Knight of Tom Truck, Dallas Dyck of Pro Lift Crane Service, Mitsuing again with Heart Lake Construction - Monias Horses, Curtis Morin of Earl Beebe Trucking, Layne Bremner of Maidstone Hotel and Shane Nolin of Ranchwest Supply.
Molle’s performance over the three days was so dominating that his PWM Steel team swept the points for all three day. Molle emerged with 90 points in the CPCA standings. Ray Mitsuing has 83 and Jamie Laboucane, 80.
Molle dominated right from the opening night. He took the top time riding for Benoit Oilfield Construction Ltd., clocking in at 1:02.70 in the first heat. (The Benoit Oilfield Construction team was a non-points entry.)
He later edged out Ray Mitsuing to win Heat 13 riding for PWM Steel at 1:03.70, which was the second-best time of the night.
Molle had less luck in Heat One Saturday night, running second for Benoit Oilfield to BJ Carey’s Penny Holdings.
But he edged Jamie Laboucane and Ray Mitsuing in Heat 13 and topped the aggregate on the second night with a time of 1:02.70, penalty free, for PWM Steel. Laboucane was second at 1:03.40 for Davco/Sidekicks.
The heats for day three took place Sunday afternoon, and once again it was a Molle-Laboucane showdown for supremacy in Heat 13.
Molle finished ahead of Laboucane with a time of 1:02.40 penalty-free, to Laboucane’s 1:03.30. Both times ended up finishing 1-2 on the day.
The CPCA season now moves on to Alberta for the next scheduled racing weekends, the first being in Dewberry June 12-14 and then in Wainwright June 18-21.
Their next event in Saskatchewan is June 24-28 at Onion Lake, followed by the biggest and most prestigious event of the chuckwagon season, the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby, from July 3 to 12.
