Author Glen Mikkelsen talks ‘Kelly Sutherland: King of the Chucks’

Ian White learns more about chuckwagon driver Kelly Sutherland, who is featured in a new book written by Glen Mikkelsen.

Author Glen Mikkelsen believes Kelly Sutherland is the greatest chuckwagon driver ever, but it took his rivalry with the late Tom Glass to spur Sutherland on to greater heights.

“It’s like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, for example, or Federer and Nadal. You have to have somebody equally as good or comparable to let both of those champions rise to another level,” Mikkelsen told CTV News.

Mikkelsen’s new book is Kelly Sutherland: King of the Chucks, which chronicles Sutherland’s enormous success in the sport, including his 12 Calgary Stampede championships.

As for today’s chuckwagon drivers, Mikkelsen admires 2025 Rangeland Derby champion Chanse Vigen but says he’s a long way from equalling Sutherland’s achievements.

“To be that dominant over 50 years, I don’t think right now there’s anyone going to be like Kelly Sutherland,” Mikkelsen said.