
Tractor Pull Preview: Wednesday Evening, February 12
6,350lb Modified 4x4 Trucks
The first session of the 2025 Championship Tractor Pull sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America launches with a dozen of the finest Modified 4x4 Truck competitors you’ll see in a single-session shootout to determine the 2025 Grand Champion. Among the contenders is the 2023 class championship vehicle, the “Foster Child” Chevrolet with Rob Foster handling driving duties this time around after daughter Carmen wheeled it to that 2023 win and a fourth-place finish in 2024. Another potent vehicle in the hunt is the “Thumper” Ford running primarily on the Outlaw circuit, with Murray Thornton looking to move up the standings in 2025 after Layne Thornton drove it into the second spot at the Championship Tractor Pull in 2024. The 2024 Championship Tractor Pull third-place contestant, Steve Clem piloting the “Ratical” Chevrolet, looks to score his second overall win in the class.
Making their debuts at the Championship Tractor Pull include Will Hitchcock and his 2024 East Coast Champion “Home Wrecker” Ford and the Outlaw championship-winning “Backdraft” Chevrolet of Ryan Thornton.
9,300lb Super Farm Tractors
Super Farm Tractor competition is always intense at the Championship Tractor Pull with two sessions of the class scheduled for the week. Twelve entries in this session will be fighting not only the session win, but also a top-four finish that puts them in the hunt for the Grand Championship title during the Saturday night finals. This session is stacked with competitors who made the Championship Tractor Pull Super Farm Finals in 2024, including the 2024 Grand Champion and NTPA standout “Whoopie Maker” IH with Matt Casey at the controls for 2025; 2024 Pro Pulling League Champions Tour title winner Brad Woods and the “Thunder Struck” 6030Deere; and Jeremy Roberts and the “Wicked Whitetail” Deere. Other past finalists in the mix for this session include Lee Butts and the “Press On” IH as well as David Whelan at the wheel of the “My Last Excuse” IH. Andy Schuldt and the East Central Iowa Pullers Super Farm Champion “Red Resurrection” 1486IH and Brad McFarland on the “UnTamed” 6030Deere with a pair of 2024 points titles (Full Pull Productions and Power Pulling Productions) offer intrigue to the class in their debut at the Championship Tractor Pull.
7,500lb Modified Tractors
The noise and fury of the Modified Tractor division is in the spotlight for session one of the Championship Tractor Pull with 12 entries looking to punch their ticket for a berth into the field of six that will return for the Saturday Night Finals. Brandon Simon returns to defend his 2024 Grand Champion title on the “Simon Sez” machine while the 2024 second-place “Cotton Candy” machine of Cameron Neaves and third-place “Ramblin’ Rose ”of Tommy Owens return to improve on their past efforts. 2024’s fourth-place finalist, the “Money Pit” of the Bollinger Pulling Team will see a new driver making their Freedom Hall debut as Lane Bollinger takes over driving duties from Steve Bollinger. Past Grand Champions looking to make a splash again include pulling legends Bill Leischner (“Dirtslinger”), Wayne Sullivan(“Kentuckian”), and Steve Bunnage (“Takes-A-Lickin”). Russell Phipps returns to Freedom Hall at the controls of the 2024 ITPA Modified Championship-winning “Hush Money” machine after piloting the “Cornfield Cruiser” Two Wheel Drive previously.
10,200lb Pro Stock Tractors
The top three machines in each session of the Pro Stock Tractor class qualify for the Saturday Night shootout to determine the winner of the coveted Grand Championship. This first session of Pro Stocks is stacked with pullers and machines that can win anytime, anywhere! Past championship winners in the mix include the “Tinker Toy” Deere with Darryl Folz in the driver’s seat this year and Carlton Cope and the “Warpath” Massey. They’re joined by 2024 finalists Russell Hildenbrand and the “Loose Cannon” Deere, the “Die Hard Deere” of Kraig Wileman, Randy Barreau and the “Tool Times2”Deere, and Tim Cain and the “Red Gambler” IH. Others to watch include reigning NTPA GN Champ Brent Meyer and the “Injected Funds” Deere and Jason Miller and the “Cruisin’ Mule” IH making their return to Freedom Hall after an 8-year absence.