Subscribe to the ProPulling Press Feed!
One of the most exciting Championships of the 2009 season with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour was the 10,000 lb. Pro Stock Tractor Class. The title run was not just a battle of two tractors but a bit of a grudge match between a father and a son, Greg Boyd the 2008 Champion of the class and his father Steve a numerous time champion in his storied career. The similarities between the two drivers are endless starting at home where they work side by side managing Boyd and Sons, and carrying over to their nearly identical tractors that they pilot. “A funny thing people may not know is that these tractors were within twenty horsepower of one another” stated Steve Boyd. With each tractor being so close to the other, the stage was set for an exciting run through the Pro Pulling League Season.
The Boyd’s, from the farming community of Washington, Indiana looked to continue their dominance behind the wheels of their potent John Deere 8530’s. In the beginning, Steve Boyd, the pilot of the Lucas Oil “Green Streak” jumped out to a big lead in the middle of the season and appeared to all but claim his championship in early August. However, Steve’s son Greg had a different plan in mind, one that saw him making a run at defending his 2008 Champions Tour with his Lucas Oil “Green Streak II. The father and son duo entered the final event of the season with a mere two points separating them for the championship. Under the lights of the home track of Lucas Oil Products, the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri the final score would be settled and the book closed on 2009. After the dust settled and the lights were turned off at the Lucas Oil Speedway, the crafty father had eclipsed the hard charging son in the pursuit of the crown.
With eight different competitors claiming a victory in the Pro Stock class, a win can be hard to come by over the circuit. Throughout the summer Steve Boyd’s Lucas Oil Green Streak found the winner’s circle five times and finished in the top three at ten of the eighteen events. A big win for Boyd came at the prestigious Indy Super Pull at the Indiana State Fair in front a large crowd and Lucas Oil Products President Forest Lucas. The success of the season Boyd attributes to paying attention to the little things. “Each year the Pro Stock Class gets better and better. Our classmates are raising the bar and that makes the little things important. Paying attention to the track is a big key, as well as tire pressure, and weight distribution to name a few things we focus on” commented Boyd.
A few years ago the Boyd’s purchased a Dyno to put directly in their shop on the farm. With the advancements in horsepower they felt it important to know exactly what degree of horsepower they had under the John Deere 8530 shrouding. “Our Dyno has really advanced our program over the years, but it also showed us that there is a lot more to the sport then just horsepower” stated Boyd.
One of the most valuable aspects of the team may lie outside of the setup of the tractor or the driver’s hand. The Boyd’s put a lot of value in video coverage of their classes, gathered by Steve’s wife Karen at each event that they compete in. “Karen tapes all of our pulls which helps a lot since it gives us an opportunity to go back and see a visual of what our run looked liked, rather then just the computer” said Boyd.
A former champion in the sport Boyd truly values the Championship he won in 2009, as it was something he and his team had to work very hard for. That team has a big key ingredient in Tim Strickland. Strickland is the man behind the scenes of the Lucas Oil “Green Streak” Team. “Tim works his butt off on these tractors and we cannot thank him enough for all he does” added Boyd. Strickland, along with the employees the Boyd’s have in house, create a strong support system when coupled with the Boyd family. If there truly is safety in numbers, then the Boyd’s should be feeling Superman strong right now.
Outside of the team Steve would really like to thank Forest Lucas, for his incredible support of the series as well as their tractors. Boyd also extends thanks to the legendary Tim Engler for all he does to help with the tractors, Phil and Tim at Riverside Engines for their incredibly hard work and efforts to raise the bar for their team, as well as Columbus Diesel for their strong fuel system and durable turbo chargers. “I really can’t say thank you enough for everything everyone does to help with this sport. It is not just about the pullers but all of the facets of the sport. The promoters, directors, announcers, tow tractor drivers and all have to come together to make this Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League stand above the rest” concluded Boyd.
A look to the future will see a tightly packed pulling trailer as a third pulling tractor has been constructed for Mike to drive. Mike is Steve’s son and Greg’s brother who has found great success in the sport of pulling in the past. The addition of the third tractor can only add to the intensity the Boyd’s bring to each event and the fear of the competitors sitting behind them in the pulling order.