World Financial Group

The Canadian Press recently reported that the sport of curling will be the basis of a Winter Olympic-themed episode of “The Simpsons” next year.  Homer and Marge Simpson form a mixed doubles curling team with Principal Skinner and his mother, Agnes.  The article quotes World Financial Group-sponsored curling skip Randy Ferbey.  While the members of our own Ferbey 4 have yet to be tapped to lend their voices in the episode, you have to admit that it’s cool to have WFG separated by one degree (or possibly two degrees) from one of television’s most enduring shows.

Look for more coverage of the Ferbey 4 right here on wfgsports.com.

Bonnyville, AB is known as the “Multi-Natural” town due to its rich oil reserves, agricultural abundance and bird sanctuary.  And for the second year in a row, Bonnyville was also known for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association racing that took place at its Pro Rodeo.  All the superstars on the Half Mile of “Heck” made the trip,including World Financial Group-sponsored driver Buddy Bensmiller.  He brought the WFG blue and white tarp out against the likes of Leo Tournier, Grant Profit, Codey McCurrach and his own son, Dave, over four days. 

Day one wasn’t a fast start for the “Dewberry Rocket”.  Buddy’s wagon finished third in the seventh heat opposite Leo and Grant with a 1:23.01 time and 8.5 aggregate points.  However, Grant Profit received an Outside Help penalty, which placed Buddy in second for points. 

On the second day of racing, Buddy and the WFG tarp fared better.  He finished second opposite Grant and Leo in heat seven with a time of 1:18.66.  But due to two Wheel Knocked Barrel penalties by Grant Profit, Buddy’s 25 aggregate points led both his competitors. 

The clouds formed for day three and brought rain, but it didn’t hold off the WPCA 2009 tour.  Buddy again took on Leo and Grant in the seventh heat and had his best day in the “Multi-Natural” city.  The World Financial Group-sponsored chuckwagon finished third, but Buddy had his best time in Bonnyville with a 1:17.58 finish and 31.5 aggregate points. 

But day four saw a change of pace for the WFG wagon.  His heat opposite Codey MuCurrach and Dave Bensmiller was placed first.  However, the first heat of the day didn’t bring Buddy much luck.  Despite a very close race, Buddy finished third with a time of 1:23.95 and 26 points. 

For the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo, Buddy’s World Financial Group-sponsored wagon finished 14^th overall with a 5:23.20 time and 91 aggregate points.  In the current WPCA standings, Buddy’s at 17^th place with 531 points.  But there’s still plenty of WPCA season left to go.  The 2009 WPCA tour next visits Drumheller, AB with racing starting on Friday.  Videos of Buddy racing the WFG tarped wagon can be seen at www.wpca.com.  Let’s wish Buddy continued success on the Half Mile of “Heck”!

Ponoka is a town in Alberta with a population averaging 6,600.  But when the Ponoka Stampede is held during Canada Day week, the number of people in this agricultural and oil town grows almost 400 percent.  Among the people helping that percentage increase is World Financial Group-sponsored Chuckwagon driver Buddy Bensmiller.  Buddy and the rest of the WPCA field were given six days to show their stuff at one of Canada’s largest rodeos. 

On day one, Buddy faced off in the blue and white WFG tarp against Grant Profit, Rae Croteau, Jr. and Rick Fraser in the sixth heat.  His time of 1:15.34 wasn’t fast enough to win, place or show.  But Buddy did earn 22 aggregate points and had a clean race. 

Day two saw the “Dewberry Rocket” back on the half mile of “heck” against Grant, Rae and Rick in heat number six.  And while he finished in fourth place on the track, his time did improve to 1:14.27.  This was good for another 22 aggregate points with no penalties.  However, driver Grant Profit had four penalties.  As a result, his finish allowed Buddy to claim third place for this heat. 

On the third day of the Ponoka Stampede, Buddy and the WFG tarp took the track for the sixth heat against the same three racers.  While Buddy slipped again to fourth for the heat, his time of 1:15.09 was good for 16 aggregate points with no penalties. 

Day four saw rain in Ponoka for the first “muddy” day in the WPCA season.  But it was a fine day for the man racing the World Financial Group blue and white.  Although his time of 1:16.03 was the slowest of the stampede so far, it was good enough for second place and 49.5 aggregate points without penalties. 

The fifth day saw a change of pace for Buddy when he was moved to the third heat and faced new competition: Shane Cartier, Doug Irvine and Codey McCurrach.  However, the change did not prove promising for the WFG tarp.  Buddy finished fourth with a time of 1:18.20 and only 7 aggregate points, but no penalties were assessed. 

On the last day, Buddy saw the finish line first.  In the second heat, Buddy faced off against Cody Ridsdale, Lincoln Douglas and Buddy’s son Chance.  Buddy had a 1:14.99 first place finish and no penalties, which was good for 22 aggregate points.  At the end of the Ponoka Stampede, Buddy finished 15^th out of 36 teams with a total time of 7:33.92 and 138.5 points. 

The WPCA Dodge Pro Tour will be on hiatus during the Calgary Stampede, which starts July 3.  But you can check out video of Buddy racing the World Financial Group chuckwagon at wpca.com.  Our hats are off to Buddy for this fine season of chuckwagon racing.

The 2009 World Professional Chuckwagon Association season visited High River, AB over Father’s Day weekend.  And there seemed nothing more fitting than World Financial Group-sponsored chuckwagon driver Buddy Bensmiller, a father of three WPCA drivers, taking the reigns at the North American Chuckwagon Championship.  Although Buddy didn’t take on his sons in High River, he was in good company racing opposite Rick Fraser, Cliff Cunningham and Jason Johnstone all four days. 

Day one featured a strong start by Buddy after the horn, but he finished behind Rick and Cliff for third place.  His time of 1:18.43 was good enough for 27 points in the daily standings.  Also, Buddy had a clean race with no penalties of demerits. 

Those penalties would show themselves on day two.  Buddy, racing the WFG tarp, had a time of 1:19.44, which was third across the finish line.  However, Rick, Cliff and Jason all had penalties in this heat: Rick’s wagon was outside the chalk line, Cliff had an outrider missing the barrel and Jason’s wagon wheel knocked a barrel over.  As a result, Buddy was elevated to first for that heat with 22 points in the standings. 

Day three, though, was the “Dewberry Rocket’s” chance to blast off.  Once again racing in the fifth heat, Buddy and Rick were neck and neck (or is that horse and horse?) all the way to the wire.  But the man with the World Financial Group wagon finished first with a time of 1:18.56 and no penalties.  This earned Buddy 21 more points in the standings. 

And on Father’s Day itself, Buddy started strong but finished third behind Rick and Jason with a 1:18.72 result.  He did earn 37 points in the standings, which was the second highest in that heat.  At the end of the NACC, Buddy finished 15^th overall with 107 points and a total time of 5:15.15.  Interesting finish time, isn’t it? 

Next up for Buddy and the WFG tarp is the Ponoka Stampede starting on June 26.  Videos of Buddy’s races can be seen in the video section of wpca.com.  Also, Buddy is featured this week in the “Racing 101” section showing us how to build a harness for his horses.  You’d be surprised as to what it takes to build a harness!