The flash and excitement of chuckwagon racing has its roots in the history of the old west. While a number of stories have looked at the origins of this spectacular sport, one in particular is considered to be the most likely explanation of this fast paced competition that fans flock to see at rodeos and racing events across the west. 

Legend has it that in days gone by, a cowboy's home was his chuckwagon. After finishing a long day on the range, he'd return to the wagon for a meal, some songs and stories with friends, and a well earned rest. At the end of the week, all the cowboys in the area would meet up and head for town for some entertainment. The last one to town would have to buy the first round at the local saloon, so the cowboys were definitely motivated to be as quick as possible in loading up and heading out. A fast team and efficient packing were the name of the game then and still are in today's races. Alberta's first chuckwagon racing competition took place at the 1923 Calgary Stampede. Racers were urged to imitate the cowboys' breaking of camp, with all the speed and skill that is required. These races caught the fancy of Albertans who wanted to see more racing, with all the horsemanship, technique, excitement and action the new sport brought to rodeos. Since that time chuckwagon races have been a crowd pleasing event every summer. The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association has been in existence for over 50 years. It started in the late 1940's in farming communities all across Alberta and Saskatchewan where farmers and ranchers would gather at a local track or in a level field and race horses hitched to a grain wagon. Drivers such as John De La Ronde, John and George Stupka, Glen Ronald and the Oulettes were involved at this time. By the mid 1950's Slim Helmig from Esterhazy, SK and Allan Bensmiller from Dewberry, AB had arrived on the scene. If you wanted to compete in a race back then, it was a pretty simple procedure - you simply showed up and raced.

Today there is a very organized system of membership and race entry requirements. In the late 1960's and early 1970's an association of Rodeo Committees was formed. Towns such as Lloydminster, Pierceland and Meadow Lake were members. Each of these places held chuckwagon races along with their rodeos. In the late 1970's the Northern Chuckwagon Association was formed separate from the Rodeo Committee. Dick Dye, a former driver with the CPCA and Chris Vallevand, a former President, were instrumental in forming the association. In 1978, the World of Rodeo, a group out of Great Falls, Montana who represented 2500 Rodeo Cowboys submitted a bid for the contract to put on the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede. They were told by the Calgary Stampede Board that chuckwagon racing had to be a part of the contract. The World of Rodeo approached NCA President, Chris Vallevand about having the drivers of the NCA put on the races at the 1978 Calgary Stampede. After some negotiating, prize money was agreed upon and a contract was signed. When the World of Rodeo completed their contract with the Calgary Stampede the Calgary Stampede then signed a contract with the NCA directly for the chuckwagon races.