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Chuckwagons stampede through NB

It was in Shane Nolin's genes to be a chuckwagon driver, and it showed in this weekend's Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association event in North Battleford at the Battlefords Agricultural Society exhibition grounds.
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Dave Galloway keeps his head on a swivel as he leads the pack coming out of the final corner in Friday evening's chuckwagon races.

It was in Shane Nolin's genes to be a chuckwagon driver, and it showed in this weekend's Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association event in North Battleford at the Battlefords Agricultural Society exhibition grounds.

It was the first stop on the 2013 CPCA tour.

After the three days of racing, Nolin finds himself third in the standings, placing in the top six each day.

He got into the sport 21 years ago, after growing up watching his father and both of his grandfathers involved in chuckwagon racing.

"Chuckwagon racing is our western heritage. It's important to preserve that, this has been around since the 1920s. It's localized to western Canada, and being in western Canada we should be really proud of that," Nolin said.

He has finished in the top 10 in the CPCA standings eight years in a row, and his strong performance over the weekend puts him in good position to make it nine straight years.

The Rapid View native spends every summer completely committed to racing, shutting down his construction company to travel western Canada competing.

"It's a huge adrenaline rush, it can be very good or it can be very bad," Nolin said.

While the sport looks rough, being tugged on a dirt track in a wagon by four horses, he said it's a smooth ride because of how well groomed the track is.

Races start with drivers rounding two barrels in a figure eight pattern before taking off around the oval track for a one lap sprint. The races are timed, and a point system is in place based on the top lap times.

It didn't take long to have a battle for first place develop. After Saturday's races Vern Nolin and BJ Carey were tied with 59 points apiece. Not far behind was Shane Nolin with 52.

The drivers are back in action next weekend as the tour makes a stop at Little Pine First Nation.