The weatherman played a major role in the standings during the second day of the Toyota North American Pony Chuckwagon Championships at the Westerner Thursday, but he had nothing to do with the disaster that struck defending champion Ray Adamson.
Adamson, who is a three-time champion and nine-time runner up, was his own worst enemy as he took 10 seconds of penalties during the 14th and final heat of the evening, which put him out of contention.
The Camrose driver, who led after the first day with a 1:17.14 time, took out a barrel with his Pidherey’s Trucking wagon and also received a five-second penalty for being off course and finished the day with a time of 1:34.06.
Meanwhile, Colby Arcand of Morinville and Jim Lang of Killam went out in the third heat before the rain came and used the dry track to charge into the lead.
Arcand drove his O’Chiese Sand and Gravel wagon to a time of 1:17.81, giving him a two-day total of 2:35.05, which is 48/100ths of a second ahead of Lang and the Calfrac Well Services rig. which came in a 1:18.15.
Six-time champion Keith Wood of Saddle Lake put together a running time of 1:19.12 in the final heat on his OK Tire wagon and occupies third place at 2:36.60.
Wade Salmond of Weekes, Sask., and Chris Spreen of Whitecourt were also in the final heat and hold down fourth and fifth place respectively.
Salmond had a 1:19.09 on his Nossack Fine Meats wagon and is at 2:36.98 while Spreen and the Trojan Safety Services outfit sits at 2:37.86, following a 1:19.82.
Brian Cardinal of Saddle Lake and the Coldwell Banker — Carol Clark wagon won the 10th heat at 1:19.63 and is in sixth place at 2:38.15 while Ric Rosencrans of Minot, N.D., was second in the 10th heat at 1:19.95 and has the Petrotreat rig in seventh place at 2:38.49.
Eighth spot is held down by Gary Salmond of Niton Junction, who drove the Border Paving sponsored wagon to a 1:20.36 time, leaving him at 2:38.85.
Dale Young of Olds and the Calgary Flames Ambassadors wagon is ninth at 2:39.04 after a 1:19.81 running time and Reed Rosencrans of Minot is 10th at 2:39.64, following a 1:19.50 clocking.
Action continues today and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.