Driver Bios

Kelly Sutherland

A remarkable athlete and arguably the greatest chuckwagon champion of all-time with an extraordinary career record, 2007 will be Kelly's 34th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Kelly captured his sixth career Ponoka Stampede Championship and fifth career Calgary Stampede Aggregate title en route to winning his record ninth World Chuckwagon Championship in 2006. He is a ten-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion, a two-time WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Champion Driver, was named the WPCA's Chuckwagon Person of the Year in 1994 and won the 2005 WPCA Clean Drive Award. Kelly has qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat a record sixteen times - including eight consecutive trips from 1995-2002, he received the Calgary Stampede's Fan Favorite Award the past four consecutive years and outrode for Ralph Vigen's Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship outfit in 1972. Kelly has won over eighty show championships in a career spanning over thirty years, and has captured practically every major event in chuckwagon racing history. 2006 saw Kelly record twenty-nine top ten runs, including five first place runs and sixteen other runs that cracked the top five. He competed in three sudden death championship final heats at the Ponoka Stampede, the Calgary Stampede and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore. Kelly placed in the top ten overall in nine of eleven shows, including seven top five overall finishes and won the Smithbilt Hats Wheels on Fire Award at the Battle of the North. Mentored by chuckwagon legends Dave Lewis and Ralph Vigen, Kelly himself is a living legend with his signature eagle feather and thumbs up wave to the crowd upon completion of every race. Kelly and his wife Debbie have three children - Tara, Mark, and Mandi and five grandchildren.

Buddy Bensmiller

A driver with one of the most distinguished careers of all time, 2007 will be Buddy's 29th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Buddy is a two-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver, a three-time Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion, he won three Calgary Stampede Aggregate titles, was the WPCA's Chuckwagon Person of the Year in 2000 and received the Calgary Stampede's prestigious Guy Weadick Award in 1994. Buddy has won a record four WPCA Clean Drive Awards and two Calgary Stampede Mullen Transportation Safe Drive Awards. He has qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat nine times, and outrode for Bruce Craige's 1981 Calgary Stampede Championship outfit. Buddy won the CPCA Championship eight times and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Championship nine times. 2006 saw Buddy post eighteen top ten runs, including six runs that cracked the top five. He received the UFA Community Ambassador Award at the Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller and placed in the top ten overall at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge and the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby, with a third place overall finish at the Ponoka Stampede being his best of the year. Buddy is a secondgeneration wagon man and now competes against his three sons on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. Buddy and his wife Darlene have four children - Lisa, David, Kurt and Chance - and two grandchildren.

Kurt Bensmiller

One of the most popular young stars of chuckwagon racing, 2007 will be Kurt's 6th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Kurt won the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 2002 and was the recipient of the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award in 2001. 2006 saw Kurt post thirteen top ten runs, including seven runs that placed in the top five. Top ten overall finishes at the Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore were his best of the year. Kurt is the youngest man in WPCA history to qualify two wagons into a single sudden death championship final heat at the 2002 Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. Kurt is a third-generation chuckwagon driver whose grandfathers are former CPCA Champion Allan Bensmiller and Calgary Stampede finalist Allen Smith, his father is the legendary Buddy Bensmiller and brothers David and Chance are fellow competitors on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. A two-sport athlete, Kurt played two years of Junior 'A�?� hockey with Battleford's North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Kurt is single and makes his home in Dewberry, Alberta.

Jason Glass

One of the most esteemed chuckwagon champions of today, 2007 will be Jason's 17th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Jason was the 2000 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver. In 2001 he was the Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion, received the Calgary Stampede's Mullen Transportation Safe Drive Award for least penalized driver and made his third trip to the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat. Jason is a two-time recipient of the Calgary Stampede's Fan Favorite Award, he was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1989, the Top Rookie Outrider in 1987, received the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award in 1990 and the Rod Glass Memorial Award for most improved outrider in 1988. As an outrider, he was part of two Calgary Stampede Championship outfits and three Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. In 2006 he posted thirty-two top ten runs, including four first place runs and fifteen additional runs that cracked the top five. He had top ten overall aggregate finishes at nine of eleven shows he competed at, and qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore. His right hand wheel horse 'Missouri�?� was named to the 2006 WPCA Equine Outfit of Excellence and he received the UFA Community Ambassador Award at Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby. Jason is a fourthgeneration chuckwagon champion, whose father Tom Glass, grandfather Ronnie Glass and great-grandfather Tom Lauder, are some of the greatest names the sport has ever known. Jason works in the movie industry as a stuntman and actor in the off-season and has worked in the company of stars such as Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson and Robert Duvall. Jason is single and makes his home in High River, Alberta.

Chad Harden

One of the most admired people in professional chuckwagon racing today, 2007 will be Chad's 7th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Chad received the prestigious WPCA Chuckwagon Person of the Year Award in 2006 and received three UFA Community Ambassador Awards at the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River, Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby and the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. Chad was the 2002 Ponoka Stampede Champion, won the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 2001 and was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 2000. He has qualified for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby every year since he started competing and is the only chuckwagon driver to win association and Calgary Stampede top rookie honors in a single year. He posted fifteen top ten runs in 2006, including two first place runs and five additional runs that cracked the top five. He had top ten overall aggregate finishes at the Grande Prairie Stompede, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge and the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River, with a third place overall finish at Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby being his best of the year. Chad is the only driver to have won the Chuckwagon, Pony Chuckwagon and Pony Chariot Championships at the Ponoka Stampede. Chad has become one of the biggest contributors to advancing and improving the overall status and integrity of the WPCA and the sport of chuckwagon racing and in 2006 he introduced chuckwagon racing's first mascot - 'Skippy the Squirrel�?�, which became a popular addition amongst the fans at all the stops along the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. Chad is a thirdgeneration chuckwagon driver whose grandfather Leroy Harden and father Robert Harden drove wagons for many years. Chad owns and operates Generation Chemicals Inc., an oilfield chemical company and in the off-season is a big sports fan. Chad and his wife Dori have three children - Montana, Cheyenna and Dawson - and make their home near Mulhurst Bay, Alberta.

Mark Sutherland

An exciting driver and a top promoter of chuckwagon racing, 2007 will be Mark's 8th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Mark won the Calgary Stampede's Mullen Group Safe Drive Award in 2006 and the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for the Top Rookie Driver in 1996. Mark pioneered the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology as a tool for chuckwagon training and is one of the featured drivers on OLN's award winning 'Half Mile of Hell�?� series. In 2006, Mark posted nineteen top ten runs including two first place runs and six additional runs that cracked the top five. He had top ten overall finishes at five show championships, including top five overall finishes at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River and the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby, where he just missed qualifying for the sudden death championship final heat. Mark received two UFA Community Ambassador Awards in 2005 at the North American Chuckwagon Championship and the Red Deer World Finals. Mark is a graduate of the University of Alberta and is a second-generation chuckwagon driver whose father is the legendary Kelly Sutherland. Mark works for the EnCana Corporation in the off-season. He enjoys electronics, hockey, hunting and training horses when he is not racing chuckwagons. A native of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Mark and his wife Dina and their two children - Kiera and Dayton, now make their home near Calgary, Alberta.

Luke Tournier

One of the elite drivers in professional chuckwagon racing today, 2007 will be Luke's 15th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Luke was the undisputed Calgary Stampede Champion in 2005, winning both the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby's sudden death final and the Calgary Stampede Aggregate title. For the second consecutive year, Luke had a horse named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence. 'Port�?� was this year's champion left leader and joins his running mate 'Smoothy�?�, who was the champion right leader in 2005. In 2006, Luke posted twenty-one top ten runs, including five first place runs and eight other runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at the Grand Prairie Stompede, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge, the Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller, the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede and the Red Deer World Finals. Luke won his first WPCA show at the 2005 Red Deer World Finals. Previously a member of the CPCA, Luke won fourteen CPCA show championships and was a two-time finalist for the sudden death CPCA Championship dash. Luke and his family were recipients of the CPCA's Chuckwagon Family of the Year Award in 2001. He is the older brother of fellow competitor Leo Tournier. Luke enjoys hockey and spends many hours in the winter at his son's games. Luke and his wife Michele have three children Shalyn, Lane and Quaid.

Wayne Knight

Consistently one of the top drivers from the CPCA circuit, 2007 will be Wayne's 19th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Wayne was a finalist for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby's sudden death championship final heat in 1998 and was nominated for the Calgary Stampede's prestigious Guy Weadick Award in 2001. He is a two-time CPCA Champion Chuckwagon Driver and a two-time CPCA High Point Driver. Wayne won three shows in 2006 at the Meadow Lake Stampede, the Saskatoon Exhibition Derby and the Lloydminster CPCA Finals show. While driving two outfits in 2006, he posted twenty-eight top ten runs, including five first place runs and fourteen additional runs that made the top five. Wayne finished in the top ten overall at seven shows he competed at, including three show wins, and finished first and second at the Lloydminster CPCA Finals. Wayne holds five CPCA track records at Cold Lake, Little Pine, Dewberry, Saskatoon and Lloydminster. He was the CPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1984 and received the CPCA's Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement in 2003. Wayne qualified for the sudden death CPCA Championship dash five consecutive years from 1998-2002. Wayne has won fifteen show championships in the past ten years. He received the Fan's Choice Award at the Lloydminister Finals in 2000. Wayne's father, Cliff got him started and to this day they continue to work together training horses using natural health methods and preparing for each race.

Troy Dorchester

This year will be Troy's 9th consecutive appearance; he won the Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 1998, qualified for the Rangeland Derby Sudden Death Championship Final Heat in 1999 and 2000, and was named the WPCA Champion in 1999. Troy is a 3rd generation driver whose Grandfather, Father, and Uncle have been World and Calgary Stampede Champions.

Rick Fraser

One of the most renowned chuckwagon champions in the world today, 2007 will be Rick's 9th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Rick was the 2004 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver and received the Calgary Stampede's prestigious Guy Weadick Award in 2005. Rick has twice qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final, he won the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 1999, outrode for six Calgary Stampede Championship outfits and two Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. He received the WPCA Showmanship Award in 2001 and was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1982. In 2006, Rick posted fourteen top ten runs, including ten runs that cracked the top five. He won the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award for being the top aggregate wagon at the Grande Prairie Stompede and had top ten overall placings at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the Ponoka Stampede and the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby as well. He received two UFA Community Ambassador Awards at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore. Rick is a third-generation chuckwagon driver. His grandfather was the legendary Tom Dorchester and his stepfather was former World and three-time Calgary Stampede Champion Dave Lewis. A very devoted family man, Rick and his wife Sue have three children - Amy, Kaylee and Cody. In the off-season Rick owns and operates Rick Fraser Vacuum Truck Service in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Jim Knight

One of the longest competing drivers in chuckwagon racing today, 2007 will be Jim's 29th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby - tied for the longest consecutive streak of any active driver. He had the perfect show when he won the 2006 Cold Lake Chuckwagon Championship placing first on three consecutive days and for the second consecutive year he qualified for the sudden death final heat for the CPCA Chuckwagon Championship. Jim received the Calgary Stampede's prestigious Guy Weadick Award in 2002, received the CPCA's Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement in 2001 and was the CPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1977. Jim drove two outfits in 2006, posting nineteen top ten runs including three first place runs and eight additional runs that placed in the top five. In addition to his win at Cold Lake, Jim qualified for two sudden death championship final heats at the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship and the CPCA Finals in Lloydminster. He placed in the top ten overall at six shows, including top five overall finishes at the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship, Cold Lake Chuckwagon Championship, Meadow Lake Stampede and the Turtleford Chuckwagon Championship, where he placed two wagons in the top ten overall. Jim is employed as a Varel Rock Bit Salesman for Pendemak Industries and enjoys watching hockey, curling and hunting in the off-season. Jim's biggest fans are his three children, Chad, Nicole and Chantal. Jim and his wife Michelle currently reside in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.

Norm Cuthbertson

Recently retired from full-time competition, Norm Cuthbertson will long be remembered as one of the greatest chuckwagon competitors of his time and 2007 will be Norm's 17th appearance as a driver at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Norm is a two-time WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Champion, a three-time Calgary Stampede Aggregate Champion, has twice captured the Calgary Stampede's Mullen Transportation Safe Drive Award for the Least Penalized Driver and has qualified for the sudden death championship final heat five times. Over the past twelve years, Norm has nineteen major victories on his resume as a driver and as an outrider he has outrode for three Calgary Stampede Championship outfits and two Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. He was named the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit in 1992 and received the WPCA's Most Improved Outrider Award in 1987. 2006 saw Norm post eighteen top ten runs including one first place run and five additional runs that cracked the top five. Norm was the WPCA's season-ending points leader in 1996 and was runner-up for the Calgary Stampede's prestigious Guy Weadick Award in 1995. Norm and his wife Judy enjoy going to the horse races.

Neal Walgenbach

A masterful chuckwagon driver and horseman, 2007 will be Neal's 13th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Neal successfully defended his Grande Prairie Stompede Championship in 2006 and, for the third consecutive year, qualified for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby sudden death championship final heat. Neal was the 2001 WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Champion, the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award winner for the Top Rookie Driver in 1995, had his left hand wheel horse 'Hotshot Robbie' named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence in 2005 and was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1987. Neal is co-holder of the track record at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby and has the highest sudden death final winning percentage of any active WPCA driver. In 2006, Neal posted twenty top ten runs, including two first place runs and eleven other runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at seven show championships including top five overall finishes at the Grande Prairie Stompede, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge, the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby and Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby. He qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Grande Prairie Stompede and the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Neal has placed in the top ten at the Calgary Stampede for the past seven years. Neal is a second-generation chuckwagon driver whose father is chuckwagon legend Hally Walgenbach ' a four-time World and Calgary Stampede Champion. Neal and his wife Lorna have two children - Melitta Rae and Hally. Neal works in the oil and gas industry in the off-season and enjoys hunting and watching hockey.

Reg Johnstone

One of the paramount chuckwagon drivers the sport has ever seen, 2007 will be Reg's 25th appearance as a driver at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Reg was the first man in history to capture both the World Chuckwagon Championship and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship - a feat he accomplished in 2005. In 2006, he won the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge, had his left hand wheel horse, 'Tiger', named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence and received the UFA Community Ambassador Award at the Grande Prairie Stompede. Reg is consistently one of the top performers at the Calgary Stampede and holds the Calgary Stampede track record for the old Calgary track. In 2006, Reg posted twenty-seven top ten runs, including six first place runs and eleven other runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at eight of eleven shows he competed at and qualified for two sudden death championship final heats at the Grande Prairie Stompede and the Ponoka Stampede. Reg has won all but one of the current WPCA Pro Tour show championships at least once over the course of his career ' the largest variety of any WPCA driver. Throughout his illustrious career, Reg has been a top promoter of chuckwagon racing to the chuckwagon fans and many tourists attending the Calgary Stampede and WPCA Dodge Pro Tour shows. He participates annually in the downtown attractions at Rope Square in Calgary, cooking pancakes and judging contests. Since 1981, Reg has placed in the top ten of the World standings seventeen times and has averaged over a victory a year. Reg has three children, Wade (Butch), Barbara and Jason and three grandchildren. Reg and Marilyn make their home in Bashaw, Alberta.

Grant Profit

A top-notch chuckwagon driver and classy individual, 2007 will be Grant's 14th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Grant is a former winner of the North American Chuckwagon Championship and the Ponoka Stampede Championship, is a two-time recipient of the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award and is a big supporter of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. 2006 saw Grant post fourteen top ten runs including four additional runs that cracked the top five. He qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Ponoka Stampede for the third time in his career, and along with an eighth place overall aggregate finish at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby, were his best of the year. Grant received the UFA Community Ambassador Award at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the Newalta Clean Drive Award at the North American Chuckwagon Championship and the Smithbilt Hats Wheels on Fire Award at the Badlands Dinosaur Derby, all in 2005. Grant's best year came in 1999 when he scored back-to-back victories at the North American Chuckwagon Championship and the Ponoka Stampede Championship, qualified for the sudden death championship final heat for the WPCA Pro Tour Championship and was runner-up for the World Chuckwagon Championship. Grant and his wife Shelly have two children - Charleigh and Calie. Grant works in the movie industry in the off-season.

Hugh Sinclair

One of the winningest drivers in professional chuckwagon racing today, 2007 will be Hugh's 18th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Hugh won his third Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship in 2006 and was the Calgary Stampede's Aggregate Champion in 2000. His other Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championships came in 2000 and 2004. Hugh outrode for two Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship outfits and one Calgary Stampede Aggregate winner. He was the WPCA's Top Rookie Outrider in 1982, the Most Improved Outrider in 1986, received the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award in 1998 and holds the track record at Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby. In 2006, Hugh posted sixteen top ten runs, including ten runs that cracked the top five. In addition to his win at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby, top ten overall finishes at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede and the Red Deer World Finals were his best of the year. In 2005, Hugh won two Smithbilt Hats Wheels on Fire Awards at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede and Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede and received the Kenn Borek Memorial Award for Most Sportsmanlike Driver at the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. Hugh is a second-generation driver whose father Tom Sinclair was a top competitor throughout the 1970's. Hugh and his wife Carolyn make their home in Grande Prairie, Alberta. He has a daughter Chandie, and enjoys all sports, especially hockey.

Ray Mitsuing

One of the most successful drivers from the CPCA circuit, 2007 will be Ray's 24th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby and he is competing this year on a special invitation from the Calgary Stampede. Ray is a five-time CPCA Champion Chuckwagon Driver and was twice the CPCA High Point Driver. Ray was the 1992 Calgary Stampede Aggregate winner and has twice qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat. He won four Cheyenne Frontier Days Championships and holds eight CPCA track records. He has qualified for the sudden death CPCA Championship dash five times and received the CPCA's Most Improved Driver award in 2003. In 2006, Ray posted eleven top ten runs, including four first place runs and six other runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at four shows he competed at, with breaking the track record at the Wainwright Stampede being his best of the year. Ray has won over thirty championships in his career, has placed in the top ten of the CPCA standings for most of his career and was a 2003 F.S.I.N Sports & Recreation First Nations Award winner. Ray and his wife Josephine have 4 sons - Darren, Dean, Devin and Dale.

Jerry Bremner

One of the most exceptional chuckwagon competitors of all-time, 2007 will be Jerry's 22nd appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. 2006 was a year to remember for Jerry. He won the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the North American Chuckwagon Championship and one of his outriding horses, 'Slash', was named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence. Jerry is a three-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver and was the 1993 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion. He is coholder of the Calgary Stampede track record, has outrode for three Calgary Stampede Championship outfits and has qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat six times. Jerry won the WPCA Clean Drive Award in 2003, was named the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1984, the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit in 1987 and was the 1986 World Champion Outrider. In 2006, Jerry posted twenty-four top ten runs including six first place runs and eight other runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at six show championships and qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Ponoka Stampede, the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby and the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship. He won both Hayes Vegetation Wheels on Fire Awards at the Grande Prairie Stompede and the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. Jerry was the first rookie driver from the WPCA to qualify for the Calgary Stampede in 1985 and finished in the top five in the World standings eight consecutive years from 1989-1996. Jerry, his wife Donna and daughter Jaycee make their home in Westerose, Alberta. Jerry is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling.

Brian Laboucane

One of the most decorated CPCA drivers, 2007 will be Brian's 28th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. 2006 saw Brian win his sixth career CPCA Championship, he was the CPCA High Point Driver for the third time in the past five years and he captured the St. Walburg Chuckwagon Championship as well. He has twice received the CPCA's Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement and, along with his family, received the CPCA's Chuckwagon Family of the Year Award in 2005. Brian has won over seventy-five show championships in his career with the CPCA and holds two track records at the Loon Lake Chuckwagon Championship and the Saddle Lake Chuckwagon Championship. While driving two outfits in 2006, he posted twenty-three top ten finishes including two first place runs and eleven others that cracked the top five. Brian finished in the top ten overall in eight shows he competed at, including seven top five overall finishes. Brian runs a commercial cattle operation and owns/operates a retail oil business for Boss Lubricants out of Calgary. He and his wife Brenda have three children - Kim, Carmen and Jamie - and three grandchildren.

Grant Preece

Consistently one of the top drivers from the CPCA circuit, 2007 will be Grant's 22nd consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. He outrode for Herman Flad's Calgary Stampede Championship outfit in 1980, was named the CPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1982 and was the CPCA Champion Outrider in 1983. Grant received the CPCA's Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement in 1999 and holds the CPCA track record at the Millarville Chuckwagon Classic. Grant qualified for the sudden death final heat for the CPCA Championship two consecutive years in 2003 and 2004. Driving two outfits in 2006, Grant recorded thirteen top ten runs including five runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall five times, with a runner-up finish at the Turtleford Chuckwagon Championship and a fourth place overall finish at the Meadow Lake Stampede being his best of the year. Grant has finished in the top ten in the CPCA standings over most of his career and has qualified for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby every year since he started driving full-time. Grant has acted as a mentor to many drivers, most recently and notably his own son Ryan, who became the youngest driver to ever qualify for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby in 2005. Grant is the brother-in-law to WPCA driver Norm Cuthbertson, and is a rancher, journeyman carpenter and operates a hunter guiding business. He and his wife Carol have two children, Ryan and Kristy.

Troy Flad

Ross Knight

A popular and personable driver from the CPCA circuit, 2007 will be Ross's 13th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. He has won three career show championships at the Regina Buffalo Days Derby, the St. Walburg Chuckwagon Championship and the Saskatoon Exhibition Derby and also outrode for three Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. Ross is a fourtime CPCA Outrider Champion and received the CPCA's Most Sportsmanlike Driver Award in 1994. Nicknamed 'Skinny', Ross enjoyed his best year on the CPCA circuit in 2005, posting two show wins and qualifying for the sudden death final heat for the CPCA Chuckwagon Championship as well. He was one of just two drivers to race penalty free for all ten days at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby in 2004. Driving two outfits in 2006, Ross posted thirteen top ten runs including seven runs that cracked the top five. He finished in the top ten overall at the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship, the Cold Lake Chuckwagon Championship, Meadow Lake Stampede, Saskatoon Exhibition Derby and the CPCA Lloydminster Finals. Ross and his wife Gail have two children - Casey and Carlee, who travel to all the shows with Ross supporting him in any way they can and helping him as his barn crew. Fourteen year-old Casey has already been spotted in the wagon box with his dad and may even start outriding this year.

Kirk Sutherland

2007 will be Kirk's 18th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Kirk qualified for the sudden death final in 1987 and received the 1984 WPCA Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award. He was the top aggregate winner at the 2005 Colonial Days Fair and qualified for 2 sudden death finals at the Colonial Days Fair and the Ponoka Stampede.

Tim Haroldson

2006 will be Tim's first appearance at the Rangeland Derby; he will be 1 of 4 rookies competing for the prestigious Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver. Tim placed 13the in the CPCA standings and won 2 show championships at the 2003 Wainwright Stampede and the Colonial Days Fair and received the CPCA Award for Corporate Involvement in 2000.

Doug Irvine

2007 will be Doug's 5th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. A very personable individual who is developing into one of the top chuckwagon drivers in the world today, Doug had his most successful year as a chuckwagon driver in 2006. He won the WPCA Clean Drive Award - his first major driving award, and qualified for two sudden death championship final heats at Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby and for the prestigious WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship. He received the UFA Community Ambassador Award at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge and outrode for Kelly Sutherland's Aggregate winning outfit at the 2006 Calgary Stampede. In 2006, Doug posted fifteen top ten runs, including eight runs that cracked the top five. Top ten overall finishes at the Grande Prairie Stompede, Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby and a third place finish at the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede were his best of the year. Doug outrode for Buddy Bensmiller's 2003 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship outfit and has outrode for three Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. A former member of the CPCA, Doug was the CPCA's High Point Rookie Driver in 1998, the CPCA's High Point Rookie Outrider in 1993 and the CPCA Champion Outrider in 1997. A truck driver in the off-season, Doug also enjoys playing hockey. Doug and his wife Jimmi Lou have a daughter Dacia. .

Rae Croteau Jr.

Already a champion chuckwagon driver at just 25 years old, 2007 will be Rae's 7th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. 2006 saw Rae capture the Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller for the third consecutive year, the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede for the second time in his career and for the second consecutive year had a horse, this time his right hand leader 'Dan', named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence. Rae received the WPCA Showmanship Award for Professionalism in 2002. A former member of the CPCA, Rae was the CPCA's High Point Rookie Outrider in 1996, the CPCA's High Point Rookie Driver in 1999 and the CPCA's Most Improved Driver in 2000. In just eight full years of competition split between the CPCA and the WPCA, Rae has won eight show championships and holds three track records. In 2006 Rae posted twentythree top ten runs, including six first place runs and twelve additional runs that cracked the top five. He placed in the top ten overall at six show championships, with all but one of those finishes being in the top five, including two runnerup finishes at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede and the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River. He also qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. Rae is a third-generation chuckwagon driver whose grandfather Ray Croteau and father Bert Croteau were both former Calgary Stampede finalists. Rae and his wife Allison have a daughter Cora Lynn and make their home in Bonnyville, Alberta.

Leo Tournier

Mike Vigen

This is Mike's 12th appearance at the Rangeland Derby; he qualified for the sudden death final and won the Stampede's Mullen Transportation Safe Drive Award in 1998 and received the Orville Strandquist Award for Top Rookie Driver in 1993. Mike holds the track record at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby. He is a 2nd generation driver, whose Father was 5-time World Champion Ralph Vigen, and Mike is the father of the 2004 World Champion Outrider, Chanse Vigen.

Gary Gorst

One of the most likeable and competitive individuals in the CPCA today, 2007 will be Gary's 12th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Gary and his family were co-recipients of the CPCA's Chuckwagon Family of the Year Award in 2005. He enjoyed his best all-around year at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby in 2004, placing tenth overall in money won and eighth overall in aggregate time. Gary had his best finish in the CPCA standings in 2006 placing second overall and qualified for the sudden death final for the CPCA Championship for the first time in his career. While driving two outfits in 2006, Gary led all CPCA drivers by posting thirty-three top ten runs, including one first place run and seventeen additional runs that cracked the top five. Gary placed in the top ten overall at eight shows, including nine top five overall finishes and placed two wagons in the top ten overall at the Meadow Lake Stampede, and two wagons in the top five overall at the Saskatoon Exhibition Derby and the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship. He also had the highest pointed second wagon on the CPCA circuit in 2006. Gary started driving chuckwagons at age 15, and first competed at the Calgary Stampede as a substitute driver for his father Art Gorst from 1979-1981. His most memorable moments in chuckwagon racing came in 1976 when he won the Best Driver award at the Meadow Lake Stampede before his hometown crowd and watching his sons Logan and Dustin win the Calgary Stampede in 2005 as outriders for Luke Tournier's winning outfit. After some time off, Gary returned to driving chuckwagons full time in 1997 and in his first year back qualified for the 1998 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Gary and his wife Janice have three children, Logan, Dustin, and Jenalee. Gary is employed as the Supervisor of Operations for the Department of Highways and Transportation in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

Shane Nolin

One of the top chuckwagon drivers on the CPCA circuit today, 2007 will be Shane's 5th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. He won the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship in 2006 and placed in the top five of the CPCA standings for the fourth consecutive year. Shane has twice qualified for the sudden death final heat for the CPCA Championship in 2003 and 2004. He received the CPCA's Award for Excellence in Corporate Involvement in 2004, was the CPCA's Most Improved Driver in 2002 and is co-holder of the CPCA track record at the Melfort Chuckwagon Championship. Including his win at Little Pine in 2006, he has two other show championships on his resume at the Melfort Chuckwagon Championship in 2005 and the Saskatoon Exhibition Derby in 2002. While driving two outfits in 2006, Shane posted twenty-three top ten runs, including seven runs that cracked the top five. He qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship and placed in the top ten overall with two wagons eleven times, including top five overall finishes at the Little Pine Chuckwagon Championship, the Cold Lake Chuckwagon Championship, the Dewberry Chuckwagon Championship and the Wainwright Stampede, and placed both his wagons in the top ten overall at three shows at Little Pine, St. Walburg and Turtleford. Shane works as a carpenter in the off-season and enjoys working with horses and watching horse racing and hockey. Shane and his wife Stacey have two children - Cassedy and Lyndsey.

Ross Fisher

Tyler Helmig

A top-ranking driver in professional chuckwagon racing today, 2007 will be Tyler's 12th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Tyler was the 2002 World Champion Chuckwagon Driver and a finalist for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby's sudden death championship final heat in 1996. Tyler is a former champion of the Klondike Chuckwagon Derby in Edmonton, he was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1988, received the WPCA's Most Improved Chuckwagon Outfit Award in 1994 and his outriding horse 'Ice�?� was named to the WPCA's Equine Outfit of Excellence in 2005. 2006 saw Tyler post eighteen top ten runs including one first place run and eleven additional runs that cracked the top five. He qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the 2006 Battle of the North in Dawson Creek and placed third overall. He also had top ten overall aggregate finishes at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Derby in Lethbridge and the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River. Tyler is the only man in history to have won both the World Chuckwagon Championship and the World Pony Chuckwagon Championship. When he is not racing chuckwagons, Tyler enjoys snowmobiling, team roping and hockey. The son of former Canadian Wild Horse Racing Champion Glen Helmig and son-in-law of rodeo stock contracting legend Harvey Northcott, Tyler, his wife Cindy and their son Tyce make their home in Leduc, Alberta.

Vern Nolin

One of the CPCA's top chuckwagon drivers, 2007 will be Vern's 5th consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. 2006 saw Vern win back-to-back shows at the Dewberry Chuckwagon Championship and the Wainwright Stampede. He also qualified for the sudden death final heat for the CPCA Chuckwagon Championship for the second consecutive year and placed in the top ten of the CPCA standings for the third consecutive year. In 2004, Vern won the Meadow Lake Stampede, was the co-winner of the CPCA's Most Improved Driver Award and, along with his wife Karen and two children Brett and Brendan, received the CPCA's Award for the Chuckwagon Family of the Year. His son Brett received the CPCA Youth Achievement Award in 2006. While driving two outfits in 2006, Vern posted twenty top ten runs, including three first place runs and nine additional runs that cracked the top five. In addition to his wins at Dewberry and Wainwright, a seventh place overall finish at the Lloydminster CPCA Finals was his best of the year. Vern is one of three partners in a commercial and residential contracting operation in and around the Meadow Lake area. Vern and his wife Karen have two children - Brett and Brendan.

Roger Moore

One of the best all-around cowboys from the CPCA, 2007 will be Roger's 8th appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. He won the Calgary Stampede's Orville Strandquist Award for the Top Rookie Driver in 1997 and has outrode for two Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship outfits and four Calgary Stampede Aggregate winners. He is a seven-time CPCA Outrider Champion and has posted show wins at the Meadow Lake Stampede, Las Vegas Stampede, St. Walburg Chuckwagon Championship and the Unity Chuckwagon Championship. 2006 saw Roger post eleven top ten runs, including four first place runs and two other runs that cracked the top five. He qualified for the sudden death championship final heat at the Colonial Days Fair, and his two fifth place overall finishes at the St. Walburg Chuckwagon Championship and the Lloydminster CPCA Finals and two seventh place overall finishes at the Turtleford Chuckwagon Championship and Saskatoon Exhibition Derby were his best of the year. Roger works as a truck driver and a cat operator in the off-season. Roger and his wife Joyce have four children - Kristie, Rochelle, Corey and Kleyson.

Sean DeBolt

Todd Baptiste

An eight-year veteran driver and one of the best from the CPCA, 2007 will be Todd's second consecutive appearance at the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby. Todd was the WPCA's Top Rookie Driver in 1999, he outrode for Edgar Baptiste's 1996 Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Championship outfit and was named the CPCA's High Point Rookie Outrider in 1989. Driving two wagons in 2006, Todd posted ten top ten runs, including three first place runs and three additional runs that cracked the top five. A runner-up finish at the Wainwright Stampede and a fifth overall finish at the Dewberry Chuckwagon Championship were his best of the year. Todd started his chuckwagon career with the CPCA as an outrider in 1989 and as a driver with the WPCA in 1999. Todd returned to the CPCA as a driver in 2004 and has qualified for the Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby two out the past three years. A rancher and a truck driver in the offseason, Todd also enjoys hockey and hunting.