WHAT A FINISH!

2011 Ponoka Stampede Championship – Ponoka, AB

 It was a historic lineup for the $50,000.00 Tommy Dorchester Sudden Death Championship final heat at the Ponoka Stampede. For the first time in history, 3 members from the same family would compete in a winner take all final. 7-time Ponoka Stampede Champion Kelly Sutherland was joined by his son Mark Sutherland, his brother Kirk Sutherland, and 1999 Ponoka Stampede Champion Grant Profit in the big money final. In one of the most exciting sudden death finals of all time, Kelly Sutherland – driving the Knelsen Rock Products Ltd. outfit, and along with outriders Reo King and Chanse Vigen emerged as the 2011 Ponoka Stampede Champions. It was the 8th time Kelly Sutherland has won the Ponoka Stampede tying the great Ralph Vigen for the most ever.

 Coming off of barrel position number 1 in the sudden death final, Sutherland captured his record tying 8th Ponoka crown with a penalty free run of 1:13.89. Mark Sutherland placed second in the heat from barrel position number 2 just one one-hundred of a second behind his father, followed by Kirk Sutherland and Grant Profit from barrel positions 3 and 4 respectively.

 As far as day results go, Kelly Sutherland’s 1:13.89 held up as the fast run of the day followed by Mark Sutherland, Colt Cosgrave, Doug Irvine with Jason Glass and Mitch Sutherland splitting fifth and sixth respectively. Driver Brian Mayan, injured in an earlier heat, was taken to hospital and released.

 The WPCA Dodge Pro Tour will now take a break for the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby from July 8-17, 2011. Kelly Sutherland is the defending champion, and races will run each night at 8:00pm.

 Billy Melville

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