The CPCA is hosting a brand new event in Lloydminster in 2021. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Josh Ryan

New Show

CPCA, Lloyd Exh announce new chuckwagon event

Dec 3, 2020 | 5:15 PM

After losing out on an entire season, the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) has big plans for 2021.

The CPCA and the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association (Lloyd Exh) made a joint statement Thursday, announcing a brand new chuckwagon show. Dubbed the North American Chuckwagon Championship, the event will run nine days and coincide with the Colonial Days Fair for the last four days. Prizes will include an aggregate truck winner and $100,000 Dash on the final day at Halstead Downs.

The decision comes just over two months after the Calgary Stampede announced the number of drivers invited for the biggest chuckwagon event of the season would drop from 36 drivers to 27. CPCA Representative Kim Carey said the association decided to give that opportunity back to drivers that won’t make the cut in Calgary this year to participate in another major event.

“Everybody’s excited to get back to wagon racing, so hopefully everything is good for next summer,” Carey said.

After last season was cancelled, there’s hope that this addition to the year will help kick start the CPCA back into form. Carey said the extra revenue they could accrue will be critical for the drivers.

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“With the pandemic and being shut down last year, all our drivers have had are expenses, with no form of income coming in at all,” Carey said.

The show is not sanctioned by either the CPCA or the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) which means both CPCA and WPCA drivers will be able to participate. Carey said they will be inviting the top 18 of both associations.

“As people decide to come or not, we’ll keep going down the list,” she said. “Hopefully, it’s something for everyone to look forward to.”

Jackie Tomayer, Lloyd Exh assistant general manager, said they were thrilled that they were approached to host the show. Halsted Downs is the venue for the CPCA Finals every year in August, but this will become an even larger undertaking, with four additional days of racing.

“We get tremendous support from volunteers and we’ll have to extend that,” Tomayer said.

It will be the first time in years that Colonial Days will feature chuckwagon racing as part of the festivities. Tomayer said the decision was made easier by the feedback they’ve heard from people wanting to bring it back.

“People really, really missed it, so this is going to bring back an element to the fair that people have told us the miss and would appreciate having [there],” she said.

The contract between the CPCA and Lloyd Exh will run for two more years following the North American Chuckwagon Championship’s inaugural running. Tomayer said after so much bad news throughout the year, this is a real bright spot heading into 2021 and will help boost the return of Colonial Days.

“With the $100,000 dash on the Saturday, they will be a great way to cap off our fair week,” she said.

The CPCA will be releasing the details of the 2021 season on social media on Dec. 10.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports