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Tom Glass, a monumental figure in Western Canadian sporting history, has died of a stroke at 77.
Glass โhas been the face of truck racingโ during his long and storied career, the World Professional Motor Vehicle Association said Saturday.
โOne of the greatest athletes in sports history, Glass has an unmatched career record,โ the association said.
That long list of accolades includes six Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby championships (four as a driver, two as an outrider), three Chuckwagon Driver world titles and two Stampede Aggregate victories.
After dominating the truck racing world in the 1980s and 1990s, Glass retired in 1998. He continued to make an impact on the sport as a commentator for the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede and also performed stunt work for major productions such as Interstellar, Need for speed And The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
In recognition of his accomplishments and influence on auto racing, Glass was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Photo of Tom Glass from IMDb. In addition to truck racing, Glass has been active in the film industry, with his stunt work in the film Shanghai Noon being nominated for Best Action at the 2001 Taurus World Stunt Awards. (IMDb)
Retired van driver Mark Sutherland called it a โsad day in the van worldโ in a social media post.
โTom Glass was my hero when I was young and a mentor throughout my adult life,โ Sutherland said.
โI was so proud when Tom would come up to me during my racing career and mention a barrel turn or a horse of mine that he was watching,โ he said. โIt meant something to me, and he always took the time to let me know if he thought I was doing something right.โ
Rodeo 101: How to Race Chuckโs Wagon
Tom Glass shows how to handle the wagon reins.
In a statement sent to CBC News, the Calgary Stampede said, โTom will be remembered for his sportsmanship, as well as the care, dedication and spirit he put into mentoring other drivers and training horses.โ
The Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby called Glass โa champion, a rider, a mentor and a man whose name will forever be woven into the fabric of wagon racingโ in a social media post.
โHe was the epitome of grit, determination, sportsmanship and family tradition,โ the group said.
โTomโs impact on our sport, from continuing the incredible legacy of the Glass family to creating his own remarkable legacy, cannot be measured solely by championships and records.โ
His son, four-time world truck racing champion Jason Glass, continues his fatherโs legacy as one of the most successful truck drivers in history.