Tractor Pull Preview: Friday Evening, February 14
9,500lb Limited Pro Stock Tractors
This final group of 9,500lb Limited Pro Stock Tractors is stacked with a host of past finalists and Grand Champions. Leading that list is two-time Grand Champion Tony MacDonald and the “Well-Spent” CaseIH. Another past Grand Champion, Darin Ratermann and the “Full Boar” IH are also looking to add another title to the collection. The class is full of competitors looking to spoil those pullers’ efforts and bring a stack of state and regional championship hardware to back up their potential. Pro Pulling League Western Series Champion Adrian Cox and the potent “Hickory Hooker” are up for the task, along with Colby Counce piloting the Mid-South Pullers Association title-winning John Deere Tractor. With multiple trips to the finals to his credit, Jerry Martin and his 5020 John Deere are primed to leap to the top of the class in 2025. Another 2024 finalist, Jason Barker, is also primed to take his ITPA standout “Rhapsody” New Holland into the winner’s circle in 2025. A pair of potent tractors from the upper Midwest have also set their sights on a Grand Championship; Nebraska Bush Champ Steve Bousema and the “Special Edition” Deere and David Novak’s Iowa Tractor Pullers Association-leading “The Mean Farmer” Deere have the potential to be in the winners’ circle. Randy Stuckenschneider “Family Feud” IH from the Xcaliber group and Tyler Audet’s “Pure Bred Red” IH from the NYTPA are also champions fighting for their chance to advance to the finals out of this group of twelve tractors.
6,200lb TWD Super Modified Trucks
This second session of Two Wheel Drive Trucks has a massive shootout of three national champions headlining the class. NTPA champ Chase Richardson wheels the “Suffering Sanity” Willys while Jason Sullivan brings the Pro Pulling League champion “Corn Burner” Dodge to the battle. Representing the Outlaws Is their champion, the “Buffalo’s Chips” Jeep-bodied machine of Richard Morris. Two-time past Grand Champion Mendi Brown has her sights set on another title with the “Lil’ Whip” Chevy, while a trio of state and regional champs have the capability of taking the session win and a berth into the finals. Mark Dempsey and the Texas Truck and Tractor Pulling Association title-holding “Sticker Shock” Chevy, NTPA Region 2 champ Joe Schoenemann and his Ol’ Blue Chevy, and Chase Carey’s TNT title-holding “Monkey Business” Ford bring the credentials for a berth into the finals and a chance at the Grand Championship.
Super Stock Diesel-Alcohol Tractors
Coming into the 2025 edition of the Championship Tractor Pull, the “Duel of Fuels” is locked in a dead heat with two wins each for diesel and alcohol-fueled pullers. All four past Grand Champion vehicles are back since the inception of the class in 2020, with new drivers wheeling them in some instances. The 2024 Grand Champion “Triple Bypass” McCormick will be piloted by Jody Ross this time and Codey Chizek seeks his first Grand Championship win on the “Considered Armed and Dangerous – HD” CaseIH that Josh Blackbourn won the title on in 2023. Travis Schlabach (“Bone Twister” IH) and John Strickland (“GALOT” AGCO) were winners in 2022 and 2020, respectively, and are fully capable of making another run at the Grand Championship. That run will not be without obstacles, as the class is filled with pullers who have finals experience from both sides. Brandon Hunt (“Livin’ A Dream” CaseIH), Jeff Hirt (“Runnin’ Bare CaseIH), Kent Payne (“Super Rooster” IH), Terry Blackbourn (“Extremely Armed and Dangerous” CaseIH), Steve Burge (“Lock and Load” IH), and Steve Blagrave (“Red Horse” CaseIH) are all primed for a shot into the finals. They first have to finish in the top six in this session to get that chance at an elusive Grand Championship in the Saturday Night Finals. Looking for his first finals berth is 2024 Pro Pulling League Unlimited Super Stock Champion Jeff Hothem and his “Fully Loaded” Deere. Who will break the tie and gain bragging rights for their fuel? It’s anyone’s game to win!
10,200lb Pro Stock Tractors
This session of Pro Stock Tractor could be billed best as a showdown of “Young Guns” in the sport of Truck and Tractor Pulling. With pullers like Rhett Parish and the “El Nino” CaseIH, Jack Wischmeier and the “Barely Gettin’ By” Deere, and Braden Shramek and the “Young Blood” AGCO early into their pulling careers and already having Pro Stock Finals experience, they’re ones to watch this year and for years to come. Making her debut in Freedom Hall will be another “Young Gun,” Camille Shelton-Parrish on her International machine clad in vintage model 650 sheetmetal. Just as youth may seem to be a running theme, class veterans are also in the hunt for this session, including past Grand Champions Kevin Masterson and the “River Rat” Deere and Rj Simon wheeling the “Loud & Heavy X” Deere.
