NFMS Modified Tractor

The Modified Tractor class was one of the most exciting classes at the 2011 NFMS and alot of that had to do with the battle between the Illinois Boys Steve Bunnage and Bill Leischner. Missing from the finals for the first time in a long time was the most feared Modified/Unlimited in history the American Thunder of Bill Voreis.

At the 2011 NFMS, I had the great honor of meeting Jeff Gueningsman. Jeff had made a name for himself on the Grand National circuit in 2010 and qualified for Saturday Night's Finals. In speaking with Jeff it was evident just how much he loved the sport of pulling and the people he competed against. Sadly, in the early portion of the pulling season Jeff was diagnosed with cancer and was taken from the ranks of pulling way to quickly. I am not certain if Jeff's wife and family have submitted an application for the 2012 NFMS but if they have, the tractor should be in as a Finalist from 2011. I chose to not have the Aftermath tractor on my list as I am was truly not certain if they applied.

The major question for me in doing this is will Kathy Archer Schalitz and Brian Shramek apply, these two Unlimited competitors along with Bill Voreis staged the most exciting points battle of the 2011 NTPA pulling season with all three of them having a shot to win at the final hook of the season. If they did apply, I am certain they will be accepted in the show. I based my choices off of the past and truly not remembering the Archer's coming to Louisville, thus I left Kathy as a did not apply. Shramek campaigns the DSS and PS so I banked on him applying as he will already be there with his other tractors.

In 2011 five new tractors were debuted on the Pro Pulling League Champions Tour. All five tractors took their turn on the top of the pulling order with each collecting a win. One of the five was the turbine of the Barga Family, these guys have been working their rears off to prove that a turbine combination can cut with the reciprocating engines and this summer a big step was taken by The Apache and Shannon Leischner's Dirt Challenger. The other four all boasting hemis were run by Scott Tedder, pulling legends Joe Eder and Ken Veney, and Pro Pulling League Champion Stan Shelton. The idea that brand new configurations and chassis' can come out to the national circuit and immediately win baffled me but I can tell you I loved every minute of pulling I was able to take in with these competitors.

Adding to my joy was a rookie I watched at Tomah, Wisconsin in the form of the Bank Robber Doug Lively. Doug truly captured my attention in the afternoon session on Friday afternoon when he made not one but two fantastic passes to capture the win! Doug not only sent a signal that afternoon but punctuated over the course of the weekend.

There are so many what if's or did they apply questions within this class that I am truly uncertain about a good portion of the field. I learned last year that a finalist isnt guaranteed to be back the next year when Shawn Swearingen did not get accepted after taking a season off. In 2011, Wayne Purser did not make his typical trip to the Super National events on the NTPA schedule. With that I am kind of puzzled as to if he gets in again to create the potential dual between Uncle Sam and American Thunder or if he is left out! I chose to reward other competitors that were out in 2011 and left my first finalist off my predictions.

Criteria One

2011 Finalist
1 Steve Bunnage Takes a Lickin
2 Bill Leischner Dirtslinger
3 Bob Jostock Wild Child
Jeff Gueningsman Aftermath (If the Gueningsman Family and Friends applied, I believe the tractor is accepted)
4 Adam Bauer Cross Threaded
-Wayne Purser Uncle Sam Did not compete enough

Criteria Two

NTPA Top Five
5 Bret Berg MoneyMaker
Bob Jostock Already In
6 Terry Jostock Wild Won
7 Doug Lively Bank Robber
8 The Bollinger's Top Gun

Criteria Two

Pro Pulling Top Five
9 Stan Shelton Shel-Shocked
Bill Leischner Already In
10 Scott Tedder Twist of Fate
11 Michael Stewart Down and Dirty
Darrick Barga The Apache- Turbine powered tractor which traditionally has not been accepted.

Criteria Three

At Large 

12 Bill Voreis American Thunder (Though the tractor is up for sale, I am hopeful he will be in the field for the NFMS)
13 Joe Eder 75TH Edition
14 Ken Veney Funny Farmall
15 Brian Shramek Youngblood Unleashed (Take two Chevy's off and bring the second trailer with you as I feel all three are in)

Diesel Super Stock Tractors

There really isn't a whole lot of change from one year to the next with this class!  Brian Shramek has continued his dominance in the category with his Young Blood Agco DT225, but in 2011 a new face moved up in the ranks in the form of Jody Ross and the Resurrected Redneck.  The Resurrected Redneck is a unique piece as well as it is a McCormick competing in the Diesel Super Stock class.  I look forward to the 2012 NFMS to see if Brandon Hunt can continue living his dream as he debuted his Case Mx340 in Freedom Hall last year!  Brandon will also be debuting a new Case in 2012, that in the form of his son that was born just a few weeks ago.  I am also very hopeful that the King of Smoke will choose to apply to Louisville again in 2012, after a one year hiatus.  The class needs Esdon and so too does the NFMS in my opinion! 

Based on Criteria One, I gave seven tractors spots from the 2011 Finalists position.  Jeff Demers was a qualifier but did some catastrophic damage to the John Deere in the pulloff and was unable to compete on Saturday Nights Finals Session.  Because he earned the spot in qualifying, I gave him the nod for Criteria One.  

Criteria One
2011 Finalists
1 Brandon Hunt Livin A Dream
2 Brian Shramek Young Blood
3 Matt Goodwin Intimidator
4 Steve Burge Lock N Load
5 The Blagrave's Red Horse
6 Mark Ulmer Lost
7 Jeff Demers Smokin' Hot Deere

Criteria Two 

NTPA Points Top Five 
Brian Shramek Already In
8 Jody Ross Resurrected Redneck
Steve Burge Already In
The Blagraves Already In
9 Esdon Lehn Redline Fever

Criteria Three 

Outlaws Champion 
Matt Goodwin Already In

Criteria Four 

NTPA Points Top Ten 
10 Hans Boxler Jr. The Special
11 Mike Beck High Tech Redneck
12 Adam Harris Southern Express
13 John Raymond Smoke & Mirrors
14 Jim Schaendorf Radical Red

Criteria Five 
15 Henry Everman Final Decision

Unlimited Super Stock

The Unlimited Super Stock Class seems to truly have been on a down slide over the last few years, with numbers seeming to be much lower on both National circuits.  In 2011, Terry Blackbourn and Chizek Team revolutionized the class with a de-cubed 903 Cummins V-8. As a person who got to witness this unbelievable pulling combination firsthand at America's Pull in Henry, Illinois and Tomah, Wisconsin, I am confident that the Unlimited Super Stock class just bought a few more years with this invention.  It is rumored that several very prominent competitors in this class have made the call to Wisconsin to have Mr. Blackbourn work their magic for their engine configuration.

I did my best to work through the class for my 2012 predictions and it looks very similar to last years with the exception of two new competitors.  With that said, I am truly excited about the option of inviting two European Competitors to the Bluegrass State to showcase their potent pulling combinations!

Criteria One 

Finalist from 2011

1Frank Keener XXX 

2Jordan Lustik Silver Bullet 

3John Evans Big Toy II 

4Terry Blackbourn Extremely Armed and Dangerous 

5Tim Howell Ryan's Toy 

6Terry Blackbourn International Threat

Criteria Two 

NTPA Top Five 

Jordan Lustik Silver Bullet Already In 

Terry Blackbourn International Threat Already In 

7 Earl Wells Galot 

Josh Blackbourn Extremely Armed and Dangerous 

8 Sid Broughton Desperado 

Criteria Two 

PPL Top Five 

9 Jeff Hirt Runin Bare 

Frank Keener XXX Already In 

10 Larry Roberts Big Toy

John Evans Big Toy II 

Tim Howell Ryans Toy

Criteria Three 

Outlaws Points Winner

Robert Polson was the Points Champion, I have him in the Light Super Stock Field but it may be vice versa.  

Criteria Four 

NTPA/PPL Top Ten + (At Large) 

11 Aaron Hull Prison City Pulloff 

12 Neil Gettinger Lessons Learned 

13 Kevin Campbell Controlled Chaos 

14 Mike Novinger Dominator Deere 

15 D'n Aerdvruter from The Netherlands 

16 Zeinstra New Born Deere

Light Super Stock NFMS

Last year the Light Super Stock class put on a solid show at the NFMS, but in my opinion not having Mark Peissig, Kevin Lynn and Esdon Lehn truly hurt the class!  I am guessing that they will opt to follow last years trend and not apply for the 2012 NFMS Show, with that said my guesses are almost a reflection of the 2011 show.  I have also wondered if the committee would let diesel tractors and alcohol tractors compete in the same class, my belief is they will leave the diesels out and thus David Esteb is not accepted.  I am not sure that all of these competitors will apply for the show but this is my best guess!

Criteria Two
NTPA Top Five
1 Brian Korth Excessive Force
2 Marcus Wettleson Gunpowder and Lead
3 Larry Phillips Extremely Insane
4 Brian Korth Considered Armed and Dangerous
Esdon Lehn (No Application)

Criteria Two
PPL Top Five
5 Todd Maedge Monkey Mayhem
6 Mike Wilhite Blue Blazes
7 Brent Payne Color of Money
David Esteb (Diesel Tractor, not accepted)
8 Mike Sandefur Farmboys Fantasy

At Large Selections
9 Mike Happe Red Menace
10 Rex Kuhn Git R Done
11 Bob Barbee Stormy
12 Jay Fuqua Tennessee Tracks
13 Monica Shaw Beauty and the Beast
14 John Hoffman International 5488
15 Robert Paulson Blue Can Fever

National Farm Machinery Show Super Farm

Wow!  This class is hands down the most difficult for me to choose for the the Farm Show.  In total I had around 45 tractors that I hoped to fit in 31 spots.  To break ties or make a final decision, I looked at the entire body of work for the season.  Everyone tractor could make a case to be accepted and for that, I am expecting that my list is far from perfect.  I also chose to not put NTPA Grand National Champion Ryan Salenbien in.  Ryan was incredibly dominant over the summer on his debut season with the Grand National circuit, however he was Disqualified last year and thus I feel he will not be added to the list of competitors.  

Criteria One NFMS Finalist

2011 Finalists

1 Shawn Wildermuth Replacement Deere

2 Rodney Davidson Red Iron

3 John Kutz Diggin Deere

4 Norm Kavan Magnum Force

5 Blain Fraker Agitator

6 Larry Sheets Jr. Red Rider

7 James Slama Fast and Furious

8 Rodney Deck Dream on 

Criteria Two 

2011 NTPA Top Five

Shawn Wildermuth Already In

9 David Pedley Pulling Wide Loose Deere

10 Darrin Hunt Dreamin Too

11 Ted Liechty Rush Hour

Criteria Two 

Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League

John Kutz Already In

12 Bradley/Quinton Hartman International Addiction

13 Al Wright Runnin Red Hot

Blain Fraker Already In

14 Justin Wagler Real Deere

 Criteria Three

 Outlaw Points/OSTPA/ITPA/Badger State-Champions

15 Chad Weitzenkamp Someday Outlaws

16 Jim/Brian Barman Badger State

17Jared Bradley Tennessee Red  Mid South Pullers 

Criteria Four

NTPA Top Ten Points

18 Larry Dean Never Enough

19 Russ Freeze Deere Traxx

20 Russel Counce Dixie Deere

21 Travis Wisel Irrational Behavior

22 Wayne Lamoureux Fear the Deere 

Criteria Four 

Pro Pulling League Top Ten

23 Chad Darlage Showtime

24 Tom Gallitz Runnin in the Red

25 Nick Skaar Screamin Norwegian 

Criteria Five 

At Large/Regional Champions

26 Scott Holtgrew Deerestroyer
27 Clay Darnell Maximum Overdrive
28 Josh Miley High Maintenance
29 Julia Conny Mac Daddy
30 John Pitt Ragin Bull
31 Harley Siestma Wolverine Deere III 


Notables that just missed

Barrett Flowe Pay Dirt

Roger Liermann Running on Red

Leon Hellebusch No Mercy

Taylor Van Beek Extreme Pleasure

Mike Conny Mr. Mac Daddy

David Batliner Superhick

John Pitt Raging Bull

Mowrey's Deal N Deere

Mowrey's Auction Express 

Dean Hollicky Big Green Tractor 

Brown/Wells Green Reaper 

Bob Siestma Wolverine Deere II 

National Farm Machinery Show Two Wheel Drive guesses!

It is hard for me to believe that it is that time of year again!  In the next few weeks the National Farm Machinery Show selections will be sent out from the committee and planning for the shows will be finalized!   As a side project over the last few years, I have done the best I can to research the fields to get some form of an idea as to who may be accepted.  I developed who I refer to as my Rubric for the process in which the committee may follow to make the tough decisions of who to keep and who to possibly decline.  This year from the beginning I have found a bunch of hard decisions that have made me realize that there is no real finite methodology to make these decisions.  I have added the option of an At Large Selection, that is for someone I simply can't see not being selected by the committee do to their pulling reputation, although the seasons results may not be indicative of a selection! I also did not select three trucks for the Petro's as they only have two drivers, but I did add all three trucks from the Long's stables as they have added Brad Moss to their driving force!   

Criteria 1

NFMS Finalist

2011 Finalists

1 Ricky Long Willy Makit

2 Randy Petro Kathy's Complaint

3 Jeff Writsel At it Again

4 Jared Nelson Midnight Revenger

5 Bill Oberste Missouri Gambler

6 John Mumma After Midnight

7 Lisa Tatum Hardin Full Throttle

8 Jeremy Nelson  Midnight Gambler

Criteria 2

2011 NTPA Top Five

Randy Petro Already In

9 Jessie Petro 2 Timin

Jessie Petro (Not in the multiple truck one driver block)

10 Doug Theobald Wicked

11 Chuck Knapp Back Forty

Criteria 2

Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League

Jeremy Nelson Already In

12 Brad Moss Ridin Dirty

13 Jordan Nelson Midnight Madness

14 Mark Austin Gamblin After Dark

15 Don Nelson  Lil Whip

Criteria 3

 Outlaw Points Champion/OSTPA/ITPA/Badger State/BOB/

16 Tim Fitzsimmons Country Heat Outlaws

17 Ryan Writsel Lucky Styke OSTPA

 Jeremy Nelson ITPA Already In

Criteria 4 

NTPA Top Ten Points

18 Jeff Bartley Lumberjack

19 Kyloe Knapp Eighty Acres

20 Renee Theobald Pretty Wicked

21 Will Beeler Just Forgiven

22 Oz Hay Nitroholic

Criteria 4

Pro Pulling League

Jared Nelson Already In

23 Keith Long MavTV

John Mumma Already In

Ricky Long Already In 

24 Tony Tatum  Parts City

Criteria 5

NTPA Region Winners/ PPL Region/ At Large Selections 

25 John Gott Region IV Winner, successful at BG!

26 Adrian Hunter (Unable to attend last year after weather issues)  

27 Donnie Sullivan Hansel Sullivan Memorial- At Large Selection                

28 Wayne Sullivan Big Ed Red- At Large Selection

29 Stan Shelton General Tire- At Large Selection 

30 Will Teasley Bad Boy- At Large Selection

Notables 

Robert and Cole Zajicek- Cole made a strong impression last year in his debut as the option puller putting his truck in the sand, only to have a sled reset! 

Marty Clock- Regional Champ

AJ Reidl- Regional Champ

Andy Teasley