Jason Glass carries family legacy through grief at Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby

High River chuckwagon driver Jason Glass is carrying the family torch at this year's Calgary Stampede, competing for a third Rangeland Derby title just two weeks after his father Tom Glass, a three-time world champion and Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee, died on June 26 at age 77.

A fourth-generation driver, Glass said his father's absence feels profound on race mornings. "It's sort of strange not having him around to talk to. We communicated every morning before every race. He was the first to the barn after the race to look at the horses and talk about the race," Glass said. "It's very different. I think about it every morning and every night. It's really hard not having my best friend around."

Yet once Glass settles into the wagon, he finds clarity. "Once I'm attached to the horses and the lines, that's all my focus is on. I just know my dad's with me, helping me." Entering the weekend, Glass sits in third place overall in the standings.

Fellow competitors have shown profound respect for the Glass family. Many drivers are displaying the family's checkerboard flag insignia on their wagons as tributes. Glass credited longtime sponsor Birchcliff Energy and the broader chuckwagon community for their outpouring of support.

As a father of two himself, Glass has reflected on whether his children will carry on the tradition. His 15-year-old son Bodie is starting to outrider this year. "I'm not going to push them to do anything. My son might decide to race a wagon, but I just want my family and kids to do what they want to do," Glass said. "Win or lose, I'm just very grateful to be healthy and have great support."