Oh Henry, America’s Pull set to bring the heavy artillery to the Marshall-Putnam County Fair!

The fireworks have settled and another year of America’s Independence has been celebrated with a crack, boom, and bang, but the heavy artillery won’t be shown until this weekend when the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour invades Henry, Illinois.   America’s Pull, follows up our national holiday annually by providing pulling enthusiasts another opportunity to celebrate, when the best pullers in the world arrive at the Marshall-Putnam County Fairgrounds to vie for the coveted Lucas Oil World Cup.  The World Cup has become one of the most sought after pulling awards in the sport, with pullers turning every stone to find the winning combination for the crystal vase. 

A new format for fan favorite event will see the pulling action taking place on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for the 2010 edition, rather than the Friday and Saturday evening format from the 2009 season.  Henry, Illinois, a small river town north of Peoria, has been known to pack the grandstands to capacity with fans and the pit area with pullers as they come from near and far to enjoy an Oh Henry chocolate bar courtesy of the pulling committee.  The 2010 America’s Pull will also witness a substantial donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Dax Locke. 

This past winter Dax Locke’s name became nationally known as a symbol of hope for children around the world.  Dax was stricken with cancer and was not expected to see Christmas in 2009.   Individuals, towns and cities from Melbourne, Australia to London, England and St. Petersburg, Russia to Peking, China put up Christmas decorations early in honor of him.  The Locke Family received pictures and letters from service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan who had put up decorations in their barracks.  On behalf of the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Julie and Austin Locke will come to the fair to accept this donation for the “Kids”, in “memory” of their son Dax.  The Locke family is in the process of raising $1.4 million dollars to operate the St. Jude Children’s Hospital network for just one day.   

The docket set for this weekend is certain to provide the packed stands with a thrill as the Pro Pulling League has five marquee classes scheduled for the Marshall-Putnam County Fair.  America’s Pull will feature a great blend of smoke and noise with the ever growing Diesel Super Stock Four Wheel Drive Trucks, boost building Premier Crop Insurance Pro Stock Tractors, earth shaking E-3 Sparkplug Super Modified Tractors, eye catching Speedco Truck Lube & Tires Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Trucks, and the high speed Unlimited Super Stock Tractors. 

The Diesel Super Stock Four Wheel Drive Trucks have continued to grow in popularity over the last several years with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League competitors and fans throughout the country.  Erik Stacey and his Smoknya Dodge have been one of the mainstays at the top of the results since the class’ inception.  Last year’s Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Midwest Region Champion and America’s Pull winner was Cory Atley with his Caterpillar sponsored Agstremely Hooked Ford out of Xenia, Ohio.  Cory and his father Carl have added a second Ford known as the Lethal Weapon to their already high powered team. 

The Premier Crop Insurance Pro Stock Tractors will kick off their Champions Tour campaign on Saturday evening when the green flag flies.  The defending champion Steve Boyd and the Lucas Oil Green Streak will be back to defend his championship in full force.  Two of Steve’s biggest threats for the championship will come from his sons Greg and Mike. Greg the 2008 Champions Tour champion with the Lucas Oil Green Streak II finished a solid second in 2009, while Mike will be piloting a new third tractor for the Boyd’s.  Looking to upend the Boyd’s will be the father/son team of the Masterson’s with their Tinker Toy and River Rat John Deere’s.  The fans are sure to be on the edge of their seat when the smoke starts to fill the air in Illinois. 

The E3 Sparkplug Super Modified Tractors began their season in North Carolina last month and see a new face among the point’s leaders.  Riding the coat tails of their first career win in the E-3 Sparkplug Super Modified class are the Bunnage brothers, Steve and Wayne.  They are enjoying their new tractor setup that has helped throw their name in the hat as a contender.   In hot pursuit of the Bunnages is a pack of crafty veterans including one of last years champions at America’s Pull L.D. Nation.  Nation’s Four Aces hemi-powered tractor is paired up with his new Speedco Truck Lube and Tires turbine powered Indian Outlaw to provide a double shot at winning for the Butler, Missouri native.  The 2009 points champion Bill Leischner not only introduced Sassy power to his Dirtslinger tractor but also the world’s most powerful energy drink Rockstar.  The two time Pro Pulling League Champion is sure to have a pack of fans in the crowd as Henry is nearly a homecoming for the new Rockstar.  Rolling in from Wadsworth, Ohio will be Ken Veney and his high powered Funny Farmall. Veney has already captured a win this season and is looking to grab the championship he so narrowly missed in 2009.  The E-3 Sparkplug Super Modifieds are certain to bring the heat to the Land of Lincoln this weekend. 

The Speedco Truck Lube and Tires Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Trucks will be back in Henry after a year off from America’s Pull.  The fans will be able to cheer for bragging rights as there is certain to be a Dodge, Ford, and Chevy showdown.  Carrying the banner for the Mopar fans will be Jake Zaring from Fillmore, Indiana.  The Hoosier has had great success in previous years with his Dixie Chopper and has added another show stopper to his arsenal with the Fatheadz Eyewear Dodge.  The Ford fans will have to look no further than Pat Paul and his head turning Dustex Cyclone.  The Georgia native has continually found himself in the winners circle over the last several years with his Ford Ranger.  The Bowtie brand will be represented by several Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions when the defending champ Midnight Raider of the Bosch family, Steve Clem (Ratical), Terry Hagedorn (Untamed Spirit) put the power to the track. 

The high speed wild guys of summer will arrive in Henry after kicking off the Unlimited Super Stock Champions Tour last month in North Carolina.  The wild man Jeff Hirt drove his Ferris Mowers brand new tractor to a victory in its Pro Pulling League debut, and he will look to recreate his winning combination when nerves are racing for the coveted World Cup.  John Evans has proven he has ice in his veins many times and has shown a great knowledge of the dirt in Henry over his spectacular career driving the Big Toy II with Roberts Pulling Team.  The other Toys (Ryans Toy/Big Toy) are certain to be heard from when the dust settles and the music stops at America’s Pull.   Annually the fans are wowed by the Unlimited Super Stocks and their incredible power, and it is certain 2010 will be no different. 

Annually, America’s Pull receives votes as a favorite by many of the competitors on the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour.  The same can be said for the proud sponsors of the league as many mark their calendars to make sure they are represented at Henry.  Tom Spain of VP Racing Fuels, a Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League contingency sponsor, will be on hand at America’s Pull with some of VP Racing Fuels potent product line.  Stop by and visit with Tom over the course of the weekend and discuss the contingency program with him. 

The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League will delight the fans of the United States and Canada when the 2010 pulling schedule storms into their town.  With more then 240 events scheduled and a membership of the best pullers in the country, promoters can’t wait to bring the Pro Pulling League to their venue.    The Lucas Oil Champions Tour series will once again feature international television exposure on major cable television networks including the world leader in sports SPEED, Versus, and Lucas Oils own MavTV (Television for Men by Men).  The core of the Pro Pulling League’s support comes from Team Lucas, a powerful marketing consortium of leading automotive and major brand companies, including, Lucas Oil Products, R&L Carriers, K&N Filters, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, Speedco, Rockstar Energy Drink, Magnaflow Exhaust, Geico Powersports, and Canidae Pet Foods.   For more information regarding the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League contact our office at 812-216-4024; or email us at: info@propulling.com.