Subscribe to the ProPulling Press Feed!
Following three stellar classes of Lucas Oil Pro Pulling Series competition on the property of the Knoxville Zoo, victors in the aptly titled Great Smokey Mountain Shootout, presented by Geico, included Keith Long (Super Modified Two-Wheel Drive Truck), Michael Stewart (Super Modified Tractor), and Patrick Paul (Pro Mod Four-Wheel Drive Truck).
To those near the sport, as well as newcomers witnessing the action of a top caliber truck and tractor pulling event for the first time, all would agree, it’s was a jungle out there. In fact, the season’s second Champions Tour point event featured its trio of divisions with competitors towing in from 13 states; 27 within the supercharged two-wheelers, 23 four-wheelers, and a mind-boggling 21 of the multi-engine modified tractor variety.
Keith Long showed why he’s a past national champion in the Super Modified Two-Wheel Drive Truck division, his multi-hued, Chevy-bodied Bulls Eye out of Glasgow, Kentucky putting a full ten feet on the star studded field. Long’s run came deep into the program, relegating Jeremy Nelson’s unique Midnight Gambler to second, his Dodge spinning to conclusion at 314.86 feet to Long’s better 324.93. Donnie Sullivan’s early pass at 311 held up for third in the Sullivan Memorial bowtie out of Warsaw, Kentucky. Fourth witnessed the machine of Keith’s brother, reigning Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League world champion Ricky Long’s Willy Makit at a strong 309, with a similar distance posted by Stan Shelton’s General Tire Cutting Edge, out of New London, NC for fifth.
Since the announcement over the winter that E3 Spark Plugs had joined the PPL as a staunch supporter and title-holder of the Super Modified Tractor class, speculation was high that the infusion in points and per-event prize monies would see a spike in participation. Perhaps the best proof came on the faces of spectators gazing at the pit area; from total awestruck to others shaking their heads in utter amazement at the sight of mechanical marvels featuring literally every conceivable configuration of blown automotive engines, jet turbine and Allison aircraft, and derivatives from other pulling applications.
The home state of Tennessee was done proud when second generation driver Michael Stewart, son of Jerry Stewart of Paris, guided the four-engine Down ‘N Dirty to a mammoth 343-foot blast that held up for the remainder of the evening. Michael and the Stewart Family had every reason to hold their heads high, with the nearest competitor being multi-world title holder Bill Leischner, of Weldon, IL, whose similar four motor Dirtslinger topped out at 329.11. Leischner’s pass was all the more impressive when considering that the steering wheel fell off its hub early on, with the run made via front wheels in the air, and gentle rear wheel brake stabs only! Following closely was drag racing icon, Ken Veney, whose recent addition of a fourth motor to his Wadsworth, OH-based Funny Farmall resulted in a fine 326.28. Tim Howell steered the Larry Roberts owned The Turbulent Toy to fourth on the strength of three T-64 General Electric turbines used primarily in helicopter aviation. Howell, of Wilmington, OH, was measured at a distance of 324.33. Speaking of unique combinations, Don Nelson’s Cat Spring, Texas-based Texas Bullwhip, powered by two blown Chevrolets, plus an I-466 diesel-to-gas industrial engine, garnered a hard-earned fifth with a strong 315-plus. With literally too many highlights to mention all, certainly worth noting was the unveiling of veteran puller L.D. Nation’s 4 Aces entry out of Butler, MO. Featuring four supercharged automotive engines, Nation’s machine is as breathtaking for its chrome, anodizing and color scheme, as it is an engineering feat, with both pairs of left, and right-side engines sloped at outward angles for balance of reciprocating mass. New vehicle bugs kept the showpiece from an all-out run, but promises to be the talk of the sport for months to come.
The third class of the night saw the proverbial cream rise to the top in Pro Mod Four-Wheel Drive. Pat Paul, a veteran of many years on the champion points trail with his Georgia-based Ford, proudly flew the colors of his sponsored Dustex Cyclone, which held onto its early blast at 303.81 to claim the top prize. Paul, of Waleska, was eventually followed by a trio of big-inch Chevrolets, including some of the sport’s heavy-hitters. Tom Tormoehlen, a revered pulling engine builder out of Vallonia, Indiana, had his hands full in not only guiding his potent Spellbound to a close second place at 302.99, but also spun the wrenches during the class after his daughter Leann’s debut in a similar bowtie, titled Charmed, suffered an axel separation after her first attempt early in the pull order. Gary Varner’s sleek Fast Break, of Midway, Kentucky, was right in the hunt, his Ford scorching the dirt to a fine 302.46, followed in fourth by fellow blue grass resident, and past world champion Steve Clem’s Versailles-based Ratical, at a 300-plus. Jake Zaring was the first Dodge on the results sheet, his Dixie Chopper sponsored showstopper came to a halt, as did returning West Virginian, R.B. Moler’s To The Extreme, also a Dodge, at a pair of 299’s. No less than three entries scratched and clawed for seventh through ninth, including Larry Smith (Holland, MO), Charles Hinds (Quitman, TX), and Virgil Barker (Washington Courthouse, OH), at 298 apiece.
The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League will conduct in excess of 240 truck and tractor pulling events across the United States and Canada, from a roster of more than 1,000 active members. Its elite Lucas Oil Champions Tour series of events receives valuable and comprehensive international television exposure on major cable television networks, including sports giant ESPN2, SPEED and Versus.
The core of the PPL’s support structure comes from Team Lucas, a powerful marketing consortium of leading automotive and major brand companies, including Lucas Oil Products, Dixie Chopper, R&L Carriers, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, K&N Filters and Super Clean.
For additional information, including schedules, points, news, contingency awards, rules and other pertinent information, please visit the official website at: www.propulling.com. Or contact: Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League headquarters at: 812-216-4024; email: pro_pulling@yahoo.com.