Okotoks chuckwagon driver Mark Sutherland says he's pretty confident heading into this year's Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby.

He says his horses have been running hard, but a lot of his success depends completely on him if he wants to win the $100,000 championship.

"Well it's really no secret. You have to run penalty free, consistency in terms of running competitive each night. You've got to be fast, you've got to be consistent. And you've got to be penalty free. And if you can do that, I'll be in the semi-finals for the ninth night. And with a good clean run, into the finals on the final Sunday."

Sutherland says he's had pretty good shows in Medicine Hat, High River and Ponoka, so he feels his consistency is there, he just needs to keep that going over the 10 days of Stampede.

Sutherland and the rest of the drivers hit the track for 10 days of racing starting Friday, July 6.