2025 CPCA champion Colby Stanley won while surrounded by friends and family (Facebook/Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association)

By Lane Hoffart

CPCA Winner

Meadow Lake Chuckwagon driver wins CPCA finals

Aug 26, 2025 | 2:15 PM

It’s a story of triumph over tragedy.

After a quick rise through the ranks, Colby Stanley of Meadow Lake was crowned the $25,000 Dash for Cash Canadian Champion at the CPCA Chuckwagon Finals in Lloydminster on Sunday.

Considering he only started professional racing in 2021, he said the win felt great.

“It’s actually a pretty numb feeling. It’s been such a short, short time here we’ve been doing this. You know, I set my goals high, and I dream big. That’s one of my biggest things is [to] dream big and you know to achieve this so soon and to have all my family and friends with me there was pretty special.”

Stanley got his start in chuckwagon and pony chariot driving because his wife is involved in the sport, but it was the loss of his uncle back in 2020 that inspired Stanley and his cousin Curtis to take over the reins.

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“We decided to try and do it for a year just to honour him and to keep the orange and black flying on the track. So, that’s kind of how we got started and we never actually saw ourselves taking it this far. It’s pretty unreal,” Stanley said.

Brynlee Hassan is the CPCA’s live broadcaster who called races during Stanley’s breakout season last year. She attributes his success to being a ‘fantastic horseman.’

“The care he takes for his animals and how in tune he is with his animals is really amazing. He’s very talented at driving. He comes by it naturally but he’s also a very calm-natured guy.”

Hassan said his success and safe driving is likely what caught the attention of the Calgary Stampede. Stanley was invited to attend this year as a demo driver.

“They go out before the first heat and show the crowd what wagon racing is while the announcers explain it. Typically, that’s used as shoo-in to Calgary. If they get you there as a demo driver, it means they see you as a prospect to come and compete there in the future. So, that was a really big accomplishment for him,” Hassan said.

What makes his story even more inspirational is that Stanley almost didn’t make it into this year’s semi-finals. On the last day of competition, he managed to edge his way in by half a point. He said he wouldn’t be champion if it wasn’t for his wife Justynne.

“A lot of times, I just push through all the hard times because of her. I just wanted to do the best that I can and seeing this be the end result is just great. It just comes down to giving back to her and showing that I appreciate everything she does for me.”

After nine weeks of CPCA racing, Stanley plans to enjoy some long-awaited relaxation time with his family, but his Uncle Kirby and his next race will always be on his mind.

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lane.hoffart@pattisonmedia.com