Keith Wood of Saddle Lake is in position to grab a piece of the North American Pony Chuckwagon championship record book.
The six-time champion is one victory away from tying Jim Pollitt as the all-time winningest driver.
And if the opening day of the five-day show at the Westerner Days is any indication the two-time defending champion is going to make a serious run at the record.
One of his main rivals is two-time champion Ray Adamson of Camrose, who leads this year’s tour standings.
Adamson showed he’s not about to hand Wood the title either as he charged from behind on his Alexander First Nation wagon to edge Wood and the Uncle Ben’s RV World outfit at the wire during the final heat Wednesday.
Adamson finished in an unoffocial time of one minute, 17.73 seconds with Wood at 1:17.83.
Marvin Hubl of Alhambra drove his Allan Dale Industries rig to third in the final heat and third overall at 1:18.98 while Chris Spreen of Whitecourt occupies fourth on the Trojan Safety Services wagon at 1:19.07.
Wilfred Whiskeyjack of St. Brides sits fifth at 1:19.10 with his Cherry Hill Auctions wagon while sixth place is held by Reed Rosecrans of Minot, N.D., and the Reinhart Oilfield Services outfit. He had a running time of 1:19.30.
Wade Salmond of Weekes, Sask., drove his Jan Buechler Royal LePage Network wagon to a 1:19.37 to occupy seventh while eighth is held by Louis Johner of Mayerthorpe and the Wei’s Western Wear rig, who finished at 1:19.87.
Gary Salmond of Edson and the Border Paving rig finished ninth at 1:19.54 with 10th going to Curtis Wood of Saddle Lake following a 1:20.18 on his Red Rose Trailers wagon.
Action continues tonight through Sunday with the first of 14 heats starting at 6:30 p.m.