They are close friends, live close to one another and they were even closer at this year’s Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede. Okotoks’ Mark Sutherland and High River’s Jason Glass shared the Safe Drive Award at the Rangeland Derby with the fastest time and neither of them took penalties after eight days of racing at the Calgary Stampede. “You don’t drive eight days here penalty-free being a bad driver and having bad horses,” Sutherland said. “It was crazy that we could drive eight days and we both had the same time (9:43.94). “I am proud, it’s my third safety award.” Glass was happy to share the award with his friend. “It means a ton and to share it with Mark, it is awesome,” said Glass, who was in Sutherland’s wedding party. “It’s amazing, strange but pretty cool. I don’t think there have ever been two people tied for the safety award.” Although both Foothills drivers were in the $100,000 final four Sunday, they were both chasing Kurt Bensmiller, who won his fourth Stampede title in five years at the Stampede. Sutherland was third in the championship heat, Glass was fourth, while Mike Vigen, with his son Chanse on the reins, was second. Ironically, Glass was hit with a three-second wagon-interference penalty in the final when he turned the first corner. The guy he interfered — his buddy, Sutherland. “I had a darn good turn (off the barrels) and then I took a shortcut on my good friend Mark,” said Glass, who came off the four barrel. “I had so much early speed, I thought I was leaving him. I committed and by the time I committed, Mark sent his and it got too tight.” He said no horses were ever in danger, but the penalty was deserved. “It was fair a good call, I shouldn’t have went, I had enough room not to hurt horses, but still too tight,” said Glass, the 2013 Stampede champion. Sutherland said Glass’ interference was a wagon incident, not a case of negligence. “It’s a race and people make mistakes,” Sutherland said. “Jason thought he had more room than he did. No horses were hurt, it was just an unfortunate turn of events. “Jason feels bad. He wasn’t trying to mess with me, he was trying to win a race.” He didn’t say the interference cost him the race — he was already chasing Bensmiller. “We can all talk about what we could have done differently, but Kurt’s the champion,” said Sutherland, who came off the three barrel in the final. “I don’t like to talk about the ‘what if’ world. “If I would have turned faster (off the barrels) I would have been ahead of him. “This was a horse race and Kurt won it.” It was Sutherland’s second time in the final four at Calgary. He had a strong Stampede winning day money twice. His and Glass’ time after eight days put them tied for second going into the two Saturday semifinal heats. The no. 1 guy — Bensmiller, was five seconds ahead of them despite taking a one-second penalty. Blackie’s Jordie Fike was wallowing near the bottom of the 36 drivers after three nights, but was able to make a comeback. “I switched an outfit up on the 3-4, I needed to because I was going out the backdoor on those barrels,” Fike said. He was able to climb up the standings and taking a stab on the final night of qualifying for the eight semifinal spots on Friday, he threw caution to the wind. “Day 8, I gambled a bit and hooked some horses I knew was going to start hard,” Fike said. “The wind come up, and I couldn’t talk them out of starting before the horn. We got a false start, but that is the gamble you have to take to try and get in their deeper.” The drivers will now look to the 2019 Stampede and they know who the guy is to beat. “There is always one guy who pushes you and I don’t have to say his name, it’s Bensmiller,” said Glass with a laugh. “It’s going to push me. I don’t know if I have to buy another 10 horses… but I am going to outrun him.” To see the Calgary Stampede results go to wpca.com
