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In the state of Wisconsin being known as a Cheesehead is a term of endearment, something that everyone can take pride in. Members of the Badger state have for years been known for their loyalty to their home teams the Packers, the Badgers, the Brewers and Bucks, but their love of Cheese may just be what they are best known as well as their dominance in the Super Farm Tractor category! Nick Skaar winner of the 2009 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League hails from Cottage Grove, right in the heartland of the Cheeseheads, as well as the land of the Super Farm. Skaar’s win continued the streak of championships for the Badger State Super Farm contingent, a group of pullers that refuses to let another state claim the title of Pro Pulling League Champions Tour.
Skaar’s may have just been the most dominant tractor on the Pro Pulling League Champions tour last summer with a streak of four consecutive wins helping to propel him to a title. His four wins, were only a part of his incredible season behind the wheel of his “Screamin Norwegian” Case International 7240. In total Skaar finished in the top three at every event except one on the schedule and made it quite difficult for his fellow competitors to ever close the gap on his points lead. “Winning four in a row was something I never dreamed would happen, but that streak was the highlight of an incredible season” stated Skaar.
Winning the title did not really sink in for Skaar until the lights were bright in the Circle City of Indianapolis and he got his opportunity to stand in front of his classmates as the champion. “At the banquet it hit me that this championship really happened and I was Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champion said the champ.” Skaar’s night only got better at the banquet when Lucas Oil Products owner Forest Lucas drew his name from the pool of eligibile winners of a John Deere Gator. Skaar was so excited to be the new owner of such a great piece of equipment, but immediately found himself in a pickle of how to get his new Gator home. A plan was formulated to get the vehicle back to the shop in Cottage Grove and the John Deere fans of the circuit became anxious to see if the “Screamin Norwegian” is going to be towed around in 2010 with a John Deere Gator.
Skaar did not take full credit for his championship as he knows it took a lot of sacrifice and time from his crew to be able to help him achieve his goals on the Champions Tour. “Unfortunately, but fortunately the economy helped me because I had my crew with me. If it was not for them I could not have been out on the track preparing and getting ready to compete at each event.” commented Skaar. Skaar also praised the Pro Pulling League line up crew for their promptness in getting every competitor in the class to the staging area before the class began. “The lineup crew may not realize how much they are helping us but they do. It gives us drivers a chance to get ourselves focused and watch our classmates competing.”
Nick Skaar would also like to extend a special thanks to Hart Diesel, Hypermax, and Columbus Diesel for all of their help throughout the 2009 season. He also thanks Engelking’s Dyno Service which has been very valuable in helping test the power of the incredibly tough “Screamin Norwegian.” Finally, Skaar wants to thank all of his state classmates and Badger State Pullers for all of their support and encouragement during his run to reigning supreme. “I cannot begin to tell you how many phone calls and hand shakes I have received from the Badger State members. Several of them were huddled together at a state pull waiting for the final word from our last pull in Pennsylvania.”
The plans for 2010 will call for a change of tractor entirely as the “Screamin Norwegian” has been sold. Skaar’s final run on his Case will be at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. After the National Farm Machinery Show, Skaar’s focus will turn to getting everything ready for his new tractor and defending his title with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour.