Mod Reflection

This reflection will be dedicated to the powerhouse Modified Tractors and the brain children behind these awesome machines.  Regardless of sanctioning body, affiliation with the sport or the level of experience one has in pulling, one commonality is true and that is the multi engine tractors are unreal!  As a child, I remember watching the likes of Tim Engler, Paul Norman, John Hileman, Fast Fred Freeman and the legendary Art Arfons compete against one another for bragging rights and a sizeable cash prize. 

Today this class truly seems to be one of the more popular classes in terms of growth with both the NTPA and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League showcasing large volumes of competitors registered to compete for the annual points championship.

E-3 Sparkplug Modified's

We will kick things off in New London, North Carolina where the 2011 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champion resides and has been finely tuned for a title defense.  I won’t call 2011 a rookie season for Stan as he had a few years worth of experience in the class first with a three engine mod and then secondly with a four engine setup on his old chassis.  Stan learned a lot in the first few years of his participation in the class and relayed all of that to his new Engler Chassis that he used to win the title.  It is a certainty that Stan won’t be able to play the new guy card in 2012 as his Hemi powered Shel-Shocked is wearing a huge target on its chassis!

Aiming to hit the bull’s eye is none other than the 2009 and 2010 Champion Tour Champ, Bill Leischner of Weldon, Illinois.  Leischner welcomes support from Speedco Truck Lube and Tire and Firestone for the 2012 campaign and will lean on his four Sassy Hemi combination in pursuit of reclaiming his title.   Leischner worked hard in 2011 to upgrade his motor configuration and with a full season under his belt it is a certainty he will be tough as nails in the points chase.
 

In February, Joe Eder found  the winning combination on Saturday of the Farm Machinery Show to claim the Finals title.  Eder, who debuted his 75^th edition last season, is a big threat for the title that Shelton and Leischner will both be looking for.  Traveling all the way from New York to reach the Champions Tour schedule may be a real daunting task for Eder, but if he can make it to the hooks, I see him in the hunt come Wheatland.

In Southern Illinois the Bunnage Brother’s reside and carry high hopes as they enter the 2012 season.  A disappointing start to 2011 that saw them miss the first event of the season in Saluda, South Carolina due to horrific flooding on their family farm has provided them with additional incentive to recover their form from 2010.  This may be the year that the boys from Golden Gate don’t settle for event wins but a title crown and painted helmet on the stage in Indianapolis.

One of the more overlooked competitors on the Champion’s Tour is Indiana’s own Scott Tedder and his Mr. Twister.  Tedder is always in the mix of the point’s race and I see 2012 being no different if he commits to the full schedule.  Tedder is listed on both the Pro Pulling League Champions Tour list as well as the NTPA Grand National Pre-Committ for the Modified and newly introduced Light Unlimited.  Regardless of where he goes, Tedder will make his presence known!

I additionally have my eye on Keith and Ricky Long of Glasgow, Kentucky.  The Long brothers have taken the step up to the Modified class after having spent decades behind the wheel of a Two Wheeler.  The Longs will keep their focus on the Two Wheel Drive class as well but have the new introduction of their modified that will occupy a large chunk of their time.  Only time will tell if these guys can run with the big threats for the title in 2012 but I firmly believe it is only a matter of time.

After a lot of reflection I have to say that this E-3 Sparkplug class may very well be the toughest on the circuit with Lucas.  I know my original reflection pointed directly at the Pro Stocks, but as I write this I am blown away with the depth of this class.

NTPA Grand National Mod

On the Grand National side of the docket the 2011 Champion is back on the list for a championship defense in 2012 and I believe he carries the title of the favorite heading into the season.  Bret Berg of Minnesota has been very successful with his Money Maker and if the National Farm Machinery Show Preliminary was any indication, it appears that all systems are a go!   Berg used a brilliant cross tracking approach to claim the win on Wednesday Night.

In Lapeer, Michigan there are two tough running tractors from the Jostock pulling stables. Bob  has been a staple with his Wild Child  for many years and should not be overlooked as a contender for the championship. The 2007 NTPA Modified Champion claimed a couple of wins on  the Grand National circuit last season and will only need a few more this year to assure the title goes home with him.  If it isn’t going home in the hands of Bob, it is certain he hopes his brother Terry and Jim Martell may fight to claim a title with the other team tractor.  Had it not been for breakage after his first pass, the Jostocks might be riding into the season with the title of the NFMS Champion but Terry and the Wild Won were unable to come back in a pull-off against Joe Eder and thus they finished second on Saturday night.

New to last year’s points race was Doug Lively and his hemi powered Bank Robber.  Lively from Iowa made a big splash in 2011 when he took top honors at the Wisconsin Dairyland Nationals in Tomah.  Later in the season he found himself winning again at the Fort in Ohio.  Lively is a veteran puller and after his first real experience with this tractor on the NTPA Grand National circuit it is clear he is a name to be considered for top billing.

Stonington, Illinois has not only become home to the Bollingers, but also to the Allison power plants they rely so heavily on.  Their two tractor team of the Money Pit  and Top Gun  are season favorites year in and year out and deserve to be considered in the discussion for the season ending awards.







I don't know who will win the championships with either pulling organization but fans of the Modified Tractor division should be stoked for cage match battle royal to the finish! 

Modified Power Rankings
The rankings for the Modified class were solely based on the two days worth of competition in Louisville. I have tried to follow the same points guideline for every class that I pre-ranked and with only one event to rank, there isn't much change.  The next Modified Power Ranking will reflect several events on the Champions Tour as well as the Grand National opener for the mods.  


1) Joe Eder 75th Edition
2) Bret Berg Money Maker 
3) Terry Jostock Wild Won
4) Bill Leischner Speedco Dirtslinger
5) Bob Jostock Wild Child
6) Wayne Purser Uncle Sam
7) Stan Shelton Shel-Shocked
8)The Bunnages Takes a Lickin
9) The Stewarts Down and Dirty
10) Scott Tedder Mr. Twister

Pre-Commit Two Wheel Drive

The Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Truck class on both the NTPA and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Series have some of the largest numbers of any of the national touring classes.  At any given point both the Grand National and Champions Tour events should have sixteen to twenty vehicles vying for the win.

On the NTPA Grand National circuit the Petro Family finished with a strangle hold of the top three positions in the points.  Lead by Randy "Kathy's Complaint" the Ohio natives will head to Hazel Green looking to jump start their season and advantage in the points standings.  With the previous three championships having been claimed by either Randy or Jessie, it is clear that the Petro's will be very tough to beat! 

In 2011, Doug Theobald introduced a brand new pulling truck,  his "Wicked" Chevy S-10.  The new truck took the Theobalds  on one heck of a ride as Doug won four of the seven NTPA Major events:  Tomah, Chapel Hill x2 , Enderle Pull-off.  Doug,  along with his wife Renee "Pretty Wicked" will look to build on a solid season last year as they hope to stake claim to their first NTPA Grand National title.

Another heavy hitter on the list is former Grand National points champion Chuck Knapp "Back Forty" of Iowa.  Knapp was just ten points away from finishing in the top three in the championship hunt in 2011.  I am not taking a real big risk when I say this but it is my firm belief that the championship will go home with one of these teams.  Whether it is Ohio, Indiana, or Iowa is something we will have to wait to see.



Optima Battery Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Trucks

The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League was truly dominated by two trucks on the Champions Tour in 2011. I honestly cannot think of a more dominating performance than the season that Jeremy Nelson had with his "Midnight Gambler".  New for 2012, Nelson welcomes Speedco Truck Lube and Tire as his title sponsor of his newly chopped 1941 Dodge panel van.   Nelson and classmate Brad Moss "Ridin Dirty" claimed eleven of the thirteen Champions Tour events last season.  Moss is scheduled  to be competing in the Pro Stock class in 2012 and thus the driving chores of arguably the most consistent truck on the circuit over the last three seasons will fall back on Ricky Long of Glasgow, Kentucky.  With Ricky and his brother Keith scheduled to be competing in the Modified tractor class with their new toy, I am anxious to see how they manage running both of their two wheel drive trucks. 

Jordan Nelson was an event winner in Kilgore, Texas in 2011. The youngest Nelson brother has been a staple in the top 5 of the Champions Tour points and is just waiting for his break to claim top honors.  With one of the Illinois boys claiming the title last year, the hopes of the team to defend the championship are really high.

In my opinion Donald Nelson and Mark Austin were two of the biggest surprises of the entire 2011 Champions Tour circuit.  Nelson introduced the "Lil Whip" Chevy Colorado at the kickoff event in Saluda, South Carolina and later claimed a win in Hamburg, New York.  The "Lil Whip" finished in the top five of the season- ending points and proved that the "good ol boy" from Texas is a true threat for a title.  Austin of Ashmore, Illinois kicked off his 2011 season by narrowly missing the finals of the National Farm Machinery Show.  Having added a Sassy Racing Engine to his Dodge for 2011 it was evident that the new combination really clicked for "Gamblin After Dark". The Dodge was one of the most consistent trucks on the circuit and if Mark can occasionally steal a win he may find himself in the hunt come Wheatland. 

New to the Pro Pulling League Pre-Commit list for 2012 is the Writsel Family of Orient, Ohio.  With the incredible performance Jeff Writsel "At it Again" put together it would be incredible if the team was to chase the entire points series.    If they choose not to, there is no question that Champions Tour competitors will take notice of the events that the guys from Ohio roll into with the previously mentioned "At it Again" and Ryan's Ford Ranger "Lucky Stryke".



Below you will find my Power Rankings for the Two Wheel Drive class to kick off the season.  There were many opportunities to gather points during the indoor season that I considered as well as factoring in the Champions from the points race last year.  With just seven days remaining until the Champions Tour kicks off in Saluda, South Carolina, and six weeks before the NTPA Grand National hook in Hazel Green many folks will have an opportunity to move their way up in the rankings very shortly.   
 

Power Rankings 
1) Jeff Writsel At it Again
2) John Mumma After Midnight
3) Randy Petro Kathy's Complaint
4) Tony Tatum Parts City 
5) Doug Theobald Wicked 
6) Jeremy Nelson Speedco Midnight Gambler 
7) Jacob Fuqua Trax  
8) Bill Oberste Missouri Gambler 
9) Wayne Sullivan Big Ed Red 
10) Long Motorsports Ridin Dirty

Reflections on the Pre Commit Lists Pro Stock's

The NTPA and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League have released their coveted lists of Pre-Commit competitors for the upcoming season of competition.  After a close look at both of them, I wanted to put a list of what jumped out at me together for the blog!  That initial reflection as lead to a series of posts that will go up highlighting the classes!

Let me first state that these two lists are a bit different, the NTPA posts their list of the 10 competitors that will be a part of their program, but other competitors may have purchased a Grand National license with intent to compete for points.  On the Pro Pulling League list, they limit their Champions Club which is for a set number of competitors, but they list all of the folks who registered for a Champions Tour membership.  With NTPA they pay 10 pullers show up money, while the Pro Pulling League pays sixteen competitors in the majority of their classes.  The show up money is an incentive that has really helped both organizations to retain members while increasing their following as the spots that receive the check for fuel are highly coveted.

For this blog, I will reflect on the Pro Stock Tractor Class!  

Luca's Oil Pro Pulling League
Premier Crop Insurance Class

At first glance, the P.P.L. Premier Crop Insurance Pro Stock class truly caught my eye as one of the toughest I have ever seen.  Let's start with last year's champion Stuart Maize and the "Billet Binder".  Maize's consistency was a big key to his winning the points last year over the Linder Brothers.  A big change for 2011 was the partnership between Maize and D&R Pulling.  D&R has added another tractor to the list in the form of Dennis Schnitker and the "Bite N Binder" Case MX series tractor.  That will put Maize, Dennis, Dennis' nephew Rodney's "Melt Down"  and Dennis Schaubert's "The Hunted" all together to collaborate and relay information toward helping the team fight to win!  There is safety in numbers and this group will have four attempts at claiming a title.

If last year proved anything in this category, it was that anybody could take the win on any given night on the Champions Tour in the Pro Stock class.  I see this year being no different as the list just continues to grow with heavy hitters.  I am excited to see the addition of Steve Boyd back on the list and look forward to seeing if he can find the winning formula he had in 2010.  We will see if having the additional tractors was the key ingredient to the winning puzzle. 

The "Youngbuck" team is back in full force for the 2012 campaign after missing a portion of the circuit in 2011.  After a runner-up finish in 2010, is this the year that the men from Schochoh, Kentucky take the title back to the farm?  When looking at my list of potential favorites for the title, I view the "Youngbuck" as one of the biggest threats to the title defense of Stuart Maize.  Another big threat will come from last year's runner-up the "Linder Brothers" of Edison, Ohio.  If the NFMS was any indication for the future, the Linders are poised to make a run at grabbing their first Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Championship.

Additionally, I am very excited to see Warren, Illinois', Gary Brinkmeier and the "Fuelish Pleasure" Case International on the Champions Tour list.  If Gary and his family run the full points circuit, it will add another big threat for the red fans! 

NTPA Grand National Pro Stock
Last year the Schmuckers claimed the NTPA Grand National Title with their "Rampage" John Deere from Louisville, Ohio.  The win was not necessarily a big surprise as the Father/Son Team had been very tough on the state circuit and at the selected Grand National events they ran.  In 2012, the Schmuckers add to their team with the "Git Er Dun Deere".  This addition will only make these guys from Ohio a big threat for a title defense!

On the list of potential champions is the fan favorite Massey Ferguson, the "Warpath" of Carlton Cope.  Over the last few years there might not be a competitor that has gained more ground on the National circuit than Carlton Cope.

The Cains of New Palestine, Indiana, will bring their two tractor team into the title race after a busy off season, which saw them build a new "Ace's Wild" for Chris to drive. Tim Cain "Red Gambler", the 2009 NTPA Grand National Champion and his son Chris will look to bring the title back to the Hoosier state and the International fans.

Additionally carrying the red banner on the NTPA Grand National circuit will be the welcome back tour for pulling legend Rob Russell and his "Work Horse" out of the state of Iowa.  Russell came out for the 2011 season and did a great job of dialing in the new tractor.  If history has any indication on the present, this former Super Stock power may be a big threat for the title.  

Photo Credit:  Jake Morgan Pulloff.com

I am excited to introduce a new feature that I hope to update throughout the pulling season of 2012 in the form of Power Rankings.  On a weekly basis during the college sports season there are weekly poll's published which rank the top teams within the respective sport!  This idea was something that I had pondered, but it wasn't until a discussion with Jesse Post of JP Pulling Productions that I decided to try and do a poll.   Within the NCAA there are many polls that fans can look for their favorite team such as the ESPN, the Coaches poll, USA Today and the AP to name a few.  These rankings are purely for fun, but I feel it may add another unique element to the sport.

Below you will find the first Power Ranking for the Pro Stock Tractor Class.  The rankings for the first poll were based upon the indoor pulling season results and the final standings from the 2011 pulling season! 

Power Rankings
1) Mike Linder- Linder Brother's John Deere

2) Ken Couch- Cotton Pickn Deere John Deere
3) The Schmuckers- Rampage John Deere 
4) Moss and Stratton- Youngbuck John Deere
5) Carlton Cope- Warpath Massey Ferguson
6) David Justison- John  Deere 6030
7) Ross Boersen- Greenline Express John Deere
8) Jeff Sapp- Big Country John Deere
9) Blaine Stamm- Stammpede International
10) Bryce and Calvin Vangenderen- John Deere

Whats in a Name?

Have you ever reflected about the power that a pulling vehicles name can possess within our sport?  I find myself fascinated by the names that pullers give their vehicles on a daily basis and often try to research why the name was settled upon.  For this topic, I reached out to pullers through Facebook and the pulling message boards with the hope they may be willing to share their story and though I did not share all of the wonderful stories that I received, I did use the information that I got to defend my thoughts.

I believe that a name can fall into one of many themes, some of those themes are; Names that are Team oriented, Names developed to show pride or allegiance to a state or city, Names based on loyalty to a brand, Lyrics to songs, sponsorship influence, profession and occupation of the driver.  I understand that not every puller is motivated by one of these topics but a large majority fall into this framework.  

Names as part of a Team-

Many teams are building an additional truck or are adding to their already existing program.  In doing so the theme used for their other team vehicles may weigh heavily on their decision to keep the team cohesive.  I understand that this is not the case with every team out there but it has become common with many.  Building on the existing theme only helps to restore the identity that has already been created by the team.  

Hometown/Home State

Pulling is a nationwide sport and that brings the element of great pride to the fans in the stands.  Many pullers have followed the trend to name a pulling vehicle to show their love for their home territory.  Additionally, states have also adopted a mascot or slogan, which our sport hasn't wasted any time in embracing to utilize for a name.  Being an avid fan of college athletics, I love how a team can have such an influence on a community, which comes into effect tremendously right now with the March Madness excitement.  I find nothing more thrilling than hearing the fans support someone who is pulling from their home state.  Now if we can get the fans of pulling to create a "Big Blue Nation" or a "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" for the competitors, we will be in great shape. 

Occupation/Name 

As the sport has evolved, so to have the names of pulling vehicles.  Pullers have truly learned to think outside of the box when it comes to naming and have found many ways to play on words to portray their point.  Todd and Tarry Feiss have developed their names based on two common themes; their last name and their profession.  Todd and Tarry own a skiing lodge in Indiana known as Perfect North and when their son suggested they name their economy modified the "S'no-Farmer", it just made perfect sense.  In the years that followed the Feiss's have added more to their pulling arsenal in the form of the "S'no Farmer Extreme" Modified that Todd runs with the OSTPA and NTPA, as well as the aptly named "Feelin Feissty" and "Hoosier Avalanche".  "Feelin Feissty" is a play on their last name and fits the Chevy SSR Two wheel drive just perfectly, while the "Hoosier Avalanche" is actually a name that Todd and Tarry borrowed from a fellow competitor but felt it fit perfectly for the truck that Tarry drives throughout the summer.  As they look to the future, the same concept of naming will hold true for them when the family introduces the "Feissty Farmer", the stable mate to the ever growing "S'no Farmer Extreme".

Brand Loyalty

The Domann's of Winchester, Kansas have made a name for themselves over the years with their Hurricane Allis.  The name carries a double meaning for the Domann's as at the time of naming their tractor any Hurricane in the world was named after women (Alice), plus Allis shows their deep loyalty to the Allis Chalmers brand.

  

The Domann's classmate Stuart Maize and his Billet Binder bring again a double meaning to the name, as it shows loyalty to the brand of International with the Binder name but also makes reference to one of the advancements in the sport of the Billet Blocks.  The Billet Binder is a name with brand related ties that has developed a tremendous following over the last few years.

Song Lyrics

The 2011 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Speedco Truck Lube and Tire Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive champion falls into this category with the vehicle aptly being named; "Gun Powder and Lead".  The Hagedorns of Thompson, Missouri share the name of their truck with a chart topping song by country music's IT girl, Miranda Lambert.  Music is a form of expression and it is clear that pulling fans and competitors like their music.  Finding inspiration in a song lyric occurs for people throughout the world on a daily basis, and I firmly believe that relating to a song is a great way to reach out to a fan base!   

Miscellaneous

Additionally a puller may find motivation based on their transition into the sport or their class as is the case for Jim Webb and the "Red Headed Stepchild".  When the team made the decision to move to the NTPA Grand National circuit, they did not have the powerplant that many of their competitors may have had in the class.  It was determined by the team that they would feel like the "Red Headed Stepchild" of the class but as time has passed, the team has far exceeded the image their tractor's name portrays. 

What can a name do? 

Names carry a lot.  In NASCAR we associate a driver's name with the vehicle number or sponsors that they are associated with, but in pulling the recognition is aimed toward the vehicle's name.  When pullers reflect on what to title their machine, they should truly consider the idea that they will be known by this name for many years to come.  Many fans can't tell you the driver of a pulling vehicle but with ease they can shout with pride their favorite machine. 

Let's make our pullers Super Heroes

Those who follow the Dirt Late Model Circuit are quite familiar with the nicknames of the drivers on their circuit.  Though I feel pulling is associated by the vehicle name, I do think that the nicknames given to the late model drivers allow one to differentiate within a wide world of motorsports.  The nickname becomes an alias or almost a super hero persona that the driver becomes.  I can just see it now.  How cool would it be for puller's to develop their own alias?   For instance the "Wauseon Warrior Jim Holman" or the "Schochoh Showstopper Brad Moss?"   Having these personas gave the fans yet another reason to ask the question:   "How did they get this nickname or why"?    I firmly believe that if we can truly engage the fans of the sport then why not create an additional opportunity for an impression for the folks that are in the stands?  I am hoping that over the course of the pulling circuit in 2012, that I can help the rookies develop a nickname that the fans will be able to embrace to help grow the following of each individual.  Wouldn't you like to meet New London, North Carolina's own "Axman, Hacksaw, or the Radial-Man" Grayson Shelton, the pilot of the General Tire Cutting Edge?  If a fan can find a means to relate, then we have done our jobs in the sport of pulling.  Every fan is just looking to be influenced.  It is often the name or unique style of the vehicle that draws folks in but maybe the nickname can help to wrangle folks into one team's environment.  

Snake

As a fan of pulling, I have always loved the message that a name can portray!  I have witnessed firsthand how popular a specific vehicle can be and the name recognition that accompanies it.  Writing this blog, I often refer to my childhood which was spent in the sport!  I remember the following that John Lorenz of Fresno, Ohio carried when he drove his International Harvester Pro Stocker.  When I close my eyes I can almost hear the fans of Bowling Green starting with a very slow and lightly chanted "Snake".  As the International began to get ready to pull the chant got louder and more frequent, "Snake, Snake, Snake, Snake, Snake".  This scenario truly epitomizes the power of a name when 20,000 fans are chanting the vehicle's name in unison just as the tractor spoils up on the International's screaming horses.  In today's pulling culture, I don't believe there is a name that truly captivated an audience like the "Sneaky Snake" did in the eighties and nineties.

Names that have captured me or an audience over the years!

Whadjathink- The late Jake Owen campaigned this Chevy for a year as part of the HOT Motorsports Team.  The next season he changed the name and the truck over to Outrage but Whadjathink always captured my mind as I love the idea of a question as a title.

Willy Makit- Arguably the most recognizable two wheel drive truck and name in the sport in the last two decades has been a staple of the Long Motorsports Team.  Ricky and Keith purchased the Willy's from Billy Johns of Adairville, Kentucky and campaigned the truck with a few upgrades and changes until the end of 2011.  In early 2012, the truck was purchased by Bob Barbee of Full Pull Motorsports and will be driven by his wife.  

Fancy Farmer- The late Robert Elliott pulled his modified from the area of Mayfield or Fancy Farm, Kentucky from the early eighties to the mid nineties.  Robert was a big threat with his mod and later moved on to a Two Wheeler known as Ol Blue when he finished his pulling career with a slew of Grand National event wins.

Mr. Sparkle- The late Glenn Davis drove the heck out his Chevy S-10 known as Mr. Sparkle.  Glenn was from Hollywood, Florida and truly was considered a threat at any pull he arrived at.

  

Honkin Donkey- The Hathaway's of Pennsylvania are now back in the sport in the form of Mini Rod's but for years they campaigned a two wheel drive by the name of the Honkin Donkey.  I fell in love with the name and for the trick on the back of truck that promotes the Hathaway's Donkey Farms.

 

The Odd Couple- Joe Eder was one of the more dominant puller's in the era of this tractor.  The Odd Couple spoke of the motor combination that he ran with his modified out of the state of New York. 

Studley Studebaker- The late Jon Boden was the pilot of this aptly name pulling machine from the Buckeye state.  The Studebaker was quite Studley as it helped raise tremendous awareness of the Super Modified Four Wheel Drive class not only on the state level but the national circuit.  Jon's wife Patty ran the stablemate to Studley known as the Green Machine and the nineties and early two thousand's the Boden's were a potent force.  Their son Bob later took the reigns of the program as his father's health declined but I will never forget just how awesome the Green Studebaker was and what a fitting name it had! 

Shotgun Red- The running mate to my vote for the all time most recognized name the "Sneaky Snake", "Shotgun Red" was driven by John Wilkins of Fresno, Ohio.  The "Shotgun Red" 3688 International was a highly decorated tractor with many NTPA Grand National Titles and Super National wins with the USHRA and NTPA Circuit.  "Shotgun Red" was actually a puppet that was made famous by co-hosting the show Nashville Now on TNN.  Today, the puppet is still very popular and so too is the name in the pulling world.

  

Orange Blossom Special- What has actually served as anthem for Bluegrass musicians throughout the world describing the train known as the "Orange Blossom Special", also captured the hearts of pulling fans in the eighties when Allen Gaines brought his two wheel drive Chevy to a pull.  Gaines later built a late thirties series Chevy for exhibition only and that truck will forever be carrying it's wheels through my mind like the fiddle in the song makes me sway!

 

Some of Todays more recognized names- 

Silver Bullet- Jordan Lustik-84, Pennsylvania Unlimited Super Stock 

Redline Fever- Esdon Lehn- Dayton, Minnesota Diesel Super Stock 

American Thunder- Bill Voreis Argos, Indiana Unlimited (May not be competing in 2012) 

4Play- Jim and Paul Holman- Wauseon, Ohio Four Wheel Drive 

Footloose- Larry Koester- Wadesville, Indiana MiniRod 

Dirtslinger- Bill Leischner- Weldon, Illinois Modified 

For years I have often reflected on what I would name my own pulling vehicle if the day or time came that I was to own one.  In all of my reflections the same name sticks out continually and that is the name “Motor Mouth”.  For those of you that know me on a personal level you understand that is a play on words based on the fact that I love to talk and do so quite often at pulls with a microphone in my hand.  Though I have yet to settle on what my nickname might be with my resent move to Evansville, Indiana, I had settled on a name in previous home of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  The Cape Crusader was certainly a name that I felt was fitting for a super hero type persona but now it is back to the drawing board for names.   

There are so many wonderful pulling names out there and these are just a few that popped into my mind while working on this story. I would like to generate a running list of names based on the feedback we receive on this story and maybe work our way to voting on the most popular name in pulling.  As always I appreciate you reading and I hope you will share your comments on some of your favorite names of pulling vehicles either on here in the comments section or on the Miles Beyond 300 Facebook page. 

Photo Credit to Dan Mayer/Jeff Luckey/Mike Walker/Tarry Feiss

Pulling exists outside of my bubble!

The 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was an eye opening experience for me and my project of Miles Beyond 300.  As the week went along, I met numerous people who expressed an interest in talking with me about pulling in their respective communities, however it was one conversation that truly opened my eyes.  Let me firstsay that I have not purposely lived in the bubble that I do but I feel I have had blinders on as I have grown accustomed to my pulling community, which doesn't really stray from the midwest.  Growing up I traveled with my dad to events on the TNT circuit, SRO, USHRA, NTPA, ATPA, KTPA and Bluegrass Pullers.  To me, pulling really didn't exist outside of these markets and as the NTPA continued to grow and the Pro Pulling League formed, I never strayed too far from what I knew.  I did get a strong introduction to the Outlaws over the summer of 2005 and 2006 and additionally in those years I learned about one of the most strongly independent state organizations in the form of the ITPA.  

On Friday Afternoon in Louisville, I spent over an hour learning about the United Pullers.  For those of you who may live in a bubble just like I do, the United Pullers is a western based pulling organization which sanctions events throughout the Rocky Mountains,  reaching the states of Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Oregon,  Montana, Washington, New Mexico and Alberta, Canada.  In the club they currently have a membership of nearly 250 competitors.  Due to the lack of events, the United Pullers has to travel to where they can find a fair in which to hook and that requires the competitors to spend a good amount of seat time in transit to the events.  Every class that the organization sanctions will run at each of the events which raises the total number of hooks to between eighty and one hundred per event.

Thanks to the president of the organization Skyler Neibaur for pulling the blinders off my eyes and introducing me to a great show that currently exists that I did not know about.  Skyler, his father and a couple other representatives of the United Pullers made their way to Louisville for the first time in 2012.  The idea of competing at the prestigious NFMS is something that the folks from the United Pullers would like to consider, but the setup they require at home on their circuit is quite different from what they would  need to run in Louisvile.

The United Pullers are faced with the idea of pulling on sand and at altitude on a daily basis, with only one event on the schedule being contested  below 4000 feet of elevation.  The approach they apply is such that they have no weights on the front of their two wheel drive trucks, while boasting several layers of weights on the back of the truck.  To get the grip they need they have to pack the back of the truck so that the two rear tires will bite.  Once the tires bite, there are no weights on the front to prevent the truck from wheelies so the tuning technique and driving style are of the utmost importance.
As is the trend with many pulling organizations, the United Pullers have seen significant growth and attendance in their Diesel Pickup classes (Superstreet, 2.6 and 3.0).  With the increase in the diesel classes, the United Pullers have found themselves with many sponsorship opportunities coming forward from companies within the diesel industry.  Another exciting sponsorship has come in the form of new title sponsor, Edge Products.  Edge Products is known for aftermarket performance electronics not just for diesel vehicles but also gas cars and trucks. 

If you are a fan of pulling and are looking for a unique organization that brings the entire package to the fairgrounds week in and week out, look no further than the United Pullers.  Pulling is wonderful wherever it is being contested but wouldn't it be cool to experience it a mile high?

To learn more about the United Pullers please visit their website by clicking the link!
United Pullers

Belt Buckles to the Winners!

In November, I featured my awards for the 2011 pulling season.  When I posted those awards, I had no real idea that it might lead to something and that I would have a real award to present to each of the award winners.  In November, I was at a trade show in Miami, Florida, when I struck up a conversation with Dan Ashworth.  Dan owns a company known as Ashworth Awards and they are known throughout the world for making unique medals for Marathons and running events.  On the display table he had a belt buckle that featured a Semi's grill and I fell in love with it.  Needless to say, Dan Ashworth and his staff made these wonderful awards for me and here is the finished product.  The belt buckle features Miles Stratton and Brad Moss' Youngbuck John Deere.  I sent the art team at Ashworth Awards several pictures of pulling vehicles and this was the final proof that I chose.  If you have a desire to have medal's constructed please look at the Vendors section of the blog and contact Dan and his staff!  Below is a second look at the Awards that I presented and I hope these Buckles are received with excitement by the winners!

 Pull of the Year- Scheid Diesel Extravaganza- I was lucky to be the announcer at this event in Terre Haute!  For years I have traveled to BG with my father and I have witnessed die hard pulling fans but Diesel fans tend to raise the bar even more than usual.  Not only did the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League do a phenomenal job with this show but it was one of the largest, most responsive crowds that I have ever stood in front of.  Overall this event was truly my pick for the Pull of the Year.  

Favorite Event- Wisconsin Dairy Land National- This was my first trip to the Badger state for this acclaimed pull.  Let me say without hesitation that this pull did not disappoint!  I loved every facet of this event and have marked my calendar with the plan to be back the final weekend in June.  

Puller of the Year- Kathy Archer Schalitz- this lady claimed an NTPA Grand National Championship in what was the most exciting class on the circuit in 2011.  The final pull of the year had three competitors vying for the title; Bill Voreis the champ, Brian Shramek one of the most decorated Diesel competitors in NTPA History and Kathy.  With a potent combination Kathy claimed the title and punctuated what was a fantastic season for her entire team.  

Pass of the Year-Kathy Archer Schalitz-  The final run of the Unlimited Season not only cemented the championship but was the third run of the night.  With ice in her veins she nailed it!  I also considered Doug Lively's Pulloff pass at Tomah, Kevin Masterson's run at Altamont, Jeremy Nelson's winning run at the Indy Super Pull and Bill Leishner's Decatur, Illinois pull to the 400 foot barrier. 

Rookie of the Year- The NTPA Rookie of the Year race was ridiculous with guys like Ryan Salenbien, Darrin Hunt, Doug Lively, The Schmucker's just to name a few.  On the state circuit Bethany Nelson had an awesome year in her debut with 3 wins in six attempts in Illinois.  I chose to give the nod to the Schmucker's after a very dominant year with the NTPA Grand National Pro Stock circuit.  It truly will be a tough choice for the powers at be, come banquet time for the NTPA! 

Surprise of the Year-

Gold- When the Boyd's decided not to run a full circuit with the Pro Pulling League Champions Tour, the strangle hold they held gave big shoes to fill in the Pro Stock class.  In Northwest Missouri a new star arose in the form Stuart Maize.  When the season began in Wilmington, Ohio, it looked as if The Boerson's would take the former Boyd tractors back to the top.  Red fans must be proud of the Billet Binder International and the four Champions Tour wins it collected on the circuit.  It wasn't that I didn't think Stuart Maize could win the title but I didn't expect the dominant season he had. 

Silver- Brian Shramek Youngblood Unleashed- Give him time and he will figure it out!  He absolutely did that and then some with his six engine pulling configuration.  This tractor and driver will be a huge threat in 2012, as it seems it will only get better with another year of running!  

Bronze- Brad Moss, I have known this gentleman was quite the Pro Stock driver but I never expected he would jump right into two wheel drive truck and win in his first weekend on the Champions Tour! He jumped into a highly competitive truck and was exactly that, highly competitive! 

Most Improved- Mark Austin- At the end of the season of 2009, Mark took a step forward when he upgraded his chassis in purchasing the Pair of Jacks from Steve Jacks.  The 2010 season Mark ran this truck with a Fowler Hemi and did his best to learn the truck while running the Champions Tour, Midwest Region and ITPA circuits.  At the end of 2010, Mark took another big step when he bought the motor that was originally in the truck from Steve.  In doing so the Gamblin After Dark had Sassy power again and became a combination that was quite dominant in previous years.  Mark upgraded the program even further with one of the best paint jobs these eyes have ever seen.  2011 saw Mark putting together one of the most consistent seasons that I can remember on the Champions Tour.  In previous years he very well might have won the points title but with two pullers on the circuit sharing over 80 % of the wins amongst themselves it was a tough year! 

Dominator Award-Jeremy Nelson- In all of my years I can't think of someone who put together a season like this guy did in 2011.  Jeremy could actually be classified under many of these categories with the wonderful season he had.  Not only did he win his first Champions Tour Title, he grabbed another State championship with the ITPA.  He won seven Champions Tour Hooks but one he is most proud of is the Illinois State Fair Pull which has evaded him in previous years.  The truck appeared to be on cruise control in 2011!

Comeback Puller of the Year- Doug Theobald- Wow, what a year for this Indiana native.  Doug didn't just build a new truck; he won Tomah, swept Chapel Hill and put his name in the hunt for the Championship with the NTPA.  I am not sure how the NTPA determines their Puller of the Year but this gentlemen deserves a serious look and consideration.

  

Never Give Up Award- Adam Bauer- After watching the results for the better part of the summer it was my opinion that Jason Hathaway would all but run away with the Mini Rod Championship but despite all of his wins the former champion Bauer claimed another title.  It certainly is unfortunate for Hathaway as his sophomore season and debut of the second tractor was nothing short of remarkable but this should only motivate the Donkey's to work even harder in 2012!

Team of the Year- The Varner's-  Wow, I grew up watching the Varner Brother's pulling their Midway, Kentucky based trucks.  Darrell always had his Rare Breed Two Wheel Drive, while brother Gary ran the Fast Break Four Wheeler.  In recent years Darrell has gotten rid of the Rare Breed to build a second Four Wheel Drive known as the Stray Dog.  These brothers went on a big streak this season on the Champions Tour and had it not been for Gary being unable to hook at Saluda, SC, the second night they may be celebrating a championship.  Darrell won a Regional Championship, while Gary finished Runner Up on the Champions Tour.  Between them the brother's collected five Champions Tour events, thus cementing them in my mind as the Team of the Year! 

Wind er Tight- Tim Fitzsimmons- I had been following the Outlaw Points online all summer long but hadn't had the opportunity to see the Country Heat in action.  Tim had a great year on the Outlaw circuit claiming a points championship in a competitive two wheel drive class.  I can honestly say that when I did get to see Tim run at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, that I was baffled at the RPM's this truck was turning.  I am not sure that I have ever heard a motor screaming as loudly and running as hard as I did when the Country Heat made its pass. 

Debuts of the Year- I have already highlighted Doug Theobald's great success with his new truck but I wanted to highlight several other competitors that debuted new vehicles and had incredible successes with it! 

Stan Shelton- What a great year which ended with a Championship! 

Jason Hathaway- Winning on the NTPA Circuit isn't easy but this tractor made it look that way. 

Tim Stone- Finishing in the top three of the Champions Tour was a remarkable feat for this new John Deere.  

Darrick Barga- Not only did the Barga's collect their first win but they were in the hunt numerous times throughout the season.  

Thanks for reading the blog! 

Closing Reflections on the 2012 Show and answers to the questions I was asked the most in Louisville!!

This will be my final reflection on the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show and all of the action that took place in Freedom Hall.  I have been trying to compose all of my thoughts and beliefs on the magic that is the NFMS.  Let me first say that I am typically one that is quite resistant to change and in my day to day life I don’t like to waver from what it is I know.  I have come up with a few topics that I wanted to highlight and then I have posted a list of questions that were the most commonly asked of me at the Farm Show. 

 

Full Pull’s

As a fan I would like to see the Farm Show reward competitors for hitting the sand pile by setting a full pull.  As I sat in the session on Saturday afternoon, I was disappointed that Mike Happe did not make the pulloff.  Happe was the first competitor to truly make it to the sand but a tractor later the full pull was set less than a foot beyond his distance and thus he was not in the pulloff.  Happe had already made two runs and of course the idea of running a third time may have put major strain on his equipment but in my humble opinion, he was worthy of being in that shoot out for the top three.  It did become pretty evident that from class to class the track had changed and thus getting an exact setting on the sled was a bit of a challenge right off the bat. 

Announcing

Four years ago the committee and fair board chose to make a change in replacing Harold Walliser and hiring Dave Bennett.   I considered myself lucky to have had some work experience with Dave in 2006 and 2007 while traveling with the Outlaw’s.   As I was beginning my announcing career, two men other then my father were influential in educating me on announcing and they were Art Downs of Illinois fame and Dave Bennett.  For those of you who have not had a chance to travel west of the Mississippi, you should, to get a real feel of the prowess and knowledge Dave brings to his craft as the voice of the Outlaws.  Over the last few years Dave has found his feet as one of the announcers and has been diligently doing his homework on each of the competitors selected.  His research has not just been limited to the computer as Dave is working to develop relationships with the competitors he doesn’t see regularly over the summer.  Being around Broadbent Arena a fair amount this year I witnessed Dave holding court with many competitors throughout the afternoon hours.   I feel that Butch and Dave did a great job at the 2012 show and displayed a lot of chemistry which they have been working to develop over the last few years. 

On the Same Topic of Announcing

The message boards have been buzzing with the idea of a third announcer for the Farm Machinery Show.  The tasks of this announcer would be to bring new feature stories to the track and highlight some of the current events while Butch and Dave provide the commentary.  I agree firmly that the idea of an announcer being on the track to relay new features would be welcomed and could add more color to the event.  There are many great announcers out there who could fill this role should the Farm Show decide to go this route. 

Competitors

Every year the competition gets better and the professionalism rises.  Folks take being accepted to this event as a great privilege and it becomes quite evident in the amount of time they spend in preparation for their fifteen seconds in front of the fans.  I want to commend the competitors on their friendliness and willingness to visit with fans and passersby while on display in Broadbent.  You never know who is watching and it is a great testament to our sport to see such wonderful ambassadors who are willing to stand by their respective vehicles for hours to answer questions and pose for photos.  Finally, I was amazed to see how much joy and excitement the selected competitors brought to the Wednesday Night Autograph session in Freedom Hall.  It was clear that the folks chosen to be a part of the panel of signers were very glad to be representing their class, vehicle and in some cases sponsors. 

 

Questions:

Over the week in Louisville, I was asked many questions and I chose to answer several of those questions in this final reflection of Farm Machinery Show Topic.  

What do you think of the schedule? 

I truly enjoy the current format of the show and the way the committee has it laid out.  I am a fan of variety and though Diesel heads or Diehard tractor guys will disagree, I believe the noise classes actually provide a great addition to the show.  I loved the story line of this year where the older statesmen battled against Jacob Fuqua for the finals.  On the National circuit be it PPL or NTPA one of the toughest divisions year in and year out is the Twd Class and thus I hope they stay put.

What class would I like to see in Freedom Hall?

I am a big fan of Limited Pro or the 4.1 Turbo class.  I love the level of competition they bring to the table and the number of quality tractors that have developed in the few shorts years since the class’s inception.  Pro Stock has always been something I loved and the 4.1 class is actually the closest thing to the set up the Pro’s ran when I was younger.  Many Super Farm competitors have made the jump up to this class and I truly believe the direction of the Super Farm class as a whole may be leaning this way in the future.  Adding the class would be wonderful but the major question is:  who would it replace?  Right now I would say the Diesel Supers, but if Esdon Lehn and Brian Shramek can pulloff their revitalization in 2012 the Diesels will be back.  

Should Farm Show add a second Light Super Stock class? 

I don’t believe this would be a good choice as I think it would water down the quality of the single session.  There are truly fifteen to twenty solid running Light Super Stock tractors and adding more would take away from the show itself.  The one thing I would like to see is the Diesels and Alky’s running together in one class.  Esdon has proven over the last few summers that “Redline Lite” can fight with the best in the class on any given night. 

When am I going to be announcing with my dad in Louisville?

I didn’t really discuss this much in my critique of the announcing as I wanted to save it for this question.  Over the years this has been the question that I am asked the most and my answer has always been the same.  I want to be an announcer at the Farm Show and if I am ever called upon to do so, it will be because I have earned it.  I did not want to ride my father’s coat tails into Freedom Hall and thus for that very reason, I have never asked him to try to help me.  It has been my goal to hone my skills as an announcer, to learn from all of the great people with whom I have been able to work with over the years and develop my own style.  These folks have taught me a lot over the years and have inspired me to work harder in order to learn more about this sport: Leslie Mears, Stacey Butson, Art Downs, Dave Bennett, and of course Butch Krieger.  

No one is prouder of my father and all of his achievements than I, but when I started in 2003, it was my goal to do this on my own and without a lot of influence from him.  It is my hope to be on the floor of Freedom Hall someday but until then I will keep working to grow and learn.  

How do I come up with the topic of a specific blog?

Each individual story line has either been something that ran through my mind that I wanted to highlight or it was something that was suggested to me by someone reading the blog.  If you are reading this and have a question or idea for a story please send it to Milesbeyond300@gmail.com.   I have several stories in the works and will also be doing a few interviews this week for feature stories to be on the blog in March.  Thanks for reading!