2009 Pro Pulling League Champions take the World Cup home from America’s Pull!

America’s Pull in Henry, Illinois belonged to the 2009 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour Champions as Jim Bosch, Bill Leischner, and Steve Boyd took home the World Cup.  The World Cup is a beautiful crystal vase that is awarded to the competitor with the lowest two day event total of points based on their finishing order.  Each former champion finished a solid second place on Saturday night in Henry before winning their respective classes on Sunday afternoon. 

The 2010 America’s Pull kicked off with a highly emotional presentation of a check donation from Case International and Read Brothers to the Locke and Ladwig Families.  The check totaling five thousand dollars was given to assist the Locke Family in their pursuit of raising 1.4 million dollars to operate the St. Jude Hospital for a day in memory of their son Dax Locke.  Last winter, Dax lost his battle to cancer after inspiring people from around the world to light their homes up for Christmas early.  The Ladwig Family who witnessed their son Bryce take on bone cancer and win were on hand with their strong running International known as “Never Giving Up” out of the Badger State to participate in the check presentation as well. 

After the tears dried a Henry tradition took place when Patrick Clifford took the microphone to sing his rendition of God Bless the USA in front of a capacity crowd at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. When the song ended, the excitement for pulling began to churn through the grandstands like a turbocharged tractor on the starting line.  The drivers went to the pit area and set their vehicles to reach for their goal of capturing America’s Pull. 

The Super Stock Diesel Truck class saw a seasoned veteran from the Pro Stock Tractor class, Carl Atley, claim the win in his newest pulling vehicle the “Lethal Weapon” Ford.  Carl certainly proved his knowledge of the diesel power plant as he out distanced his teammate and son Cory for bragging rights.  On Saturday, Ben Miller took the victory back to Freetown, Indiana in his Ford Super Duty known as “Double Time.”  When the total scores were tallied Cory Atley’s consistency gave him the honor of taking the first World Cup of the weekend back to Cedarville. 

The Premier Crop Insurance Pro Stock Tractor class kicked off the 2010 Pro Pulling League Champions tour on Saturday in Henry.  The competition on Saturday night pitted a father versus son rival for the win for the second time in the evening when Steve and Greg Boyd battled in the pull-off.   The edge went to youth in this battle as Greg claimed the victory with his Lucas Oil “Green Streak II” besting his father by four feet when the final measurement was taken.  Steve Boyd was pleased with the 1-2 sweep but was motivated to find his name on top of the list on Sunday.  When the dust settled, Steve achieved exactly what he sought after in session two with a win and the lowest two day point total.  After sweating out many attempts at his distance, Steve avoided a close scare by the ‘Young Buck’ of Brad Moss from Schochoh, Kentucky.  The “Young Buck’ finished a solid second just a foot short of winning its second Champions Tour event after winning at the Indy Super Pull in 2009.  The World Cup was awarded to Steve Boyd and his Lucas Oil” Green Streak” out of Washington, Indiana. 

The Speedco Truck Lube and Tires Pro Modified Trucks saw a who’s who of former champions in competition.  James Bosch, the 2009 Pro Pulling League Champion, began the weekend on an emotional high as he walked his daughter Jamie down the aisle at her wedding.  The emotional evening for Jim was complete when his good friend Peter McKeeth drove the “Midnight Raider” for the Bosch’s to a second place finish.  Former Pro Pulling League Champion Steve Clem grabbed another coat from Henry, Illinois when he took the class with a late hook in the pull-off with his “Ratical” bright colored Chevy from Versailes, Kentucky. On Sunday, a tired Bosch family rolled into the Marshall Putnam County Fairgrounds to take a stab at the dirt at America’s Pull.  Jim Bosch withstood the challenge and a strong push from the “Dixie Chopper” and Jake Zaring for his second career event win in Henry.  The “Midnight Raider’s” two day total of three outdistanced the rest of the pack to secure the Bosch’s a World Cup and a dream weekend! 

The E-3 Sparkplug Super Modified Tractor Class produced a battle of veteran pullers flexing their muscles on the Geico Powersports track.  Ken Veney of Wadsworth, Ohio commanded the victory with the very first hook of the class on Saturday evening.  Veney’s picture perfect pass with the “Funny Farmall” won the class by three feet over the reigning Champions Tour Champion the “Rockstar” Bill Leischner.  Leischner impressed the fans with his new Sassy Racing Engine configuration.  On Sunday, the shoe was on the other foot as Leischner utilized an early hook in the class to power down the track to a victory.  The “Rockstar” received a scare from the newly built “Take a Lickin” of the Bunnage Brothers after they lost a fuel pump on Friday night.  The new Engler chassis and Veney motor configuration continues to pay dividends for the brothers from Golden Gate, Illinois, who have thrown their name in the hat as contenders in 2010.  The weekend belonged to the “Rockstar Energy Drink Dirtslinger” as the Leischner Team and the Rockstar girls gladly accepted the crystal vase from event promoter Jerry Read. 

The final class of the weekend was the high speed Unlimited Super Stock tractors who thrilled the fans of the Lucas Oil track in both sessions of the action packed weekend.  The Unlimited Super Stock class was dominated by a group of Buckeyes with the Roberts Pulling Team sweeping the 1-2 positions on Saturday night.  On Sunday, another red tractor from Ohio the “XXX” of Frank Keener blistered the Illinois soil with the option hook after a reset on the sled.  Keener stood and watched his classmates come up short to claim his first Champions Tour win.  The World Cup competition was incredibly close with numerous competitors being in the hunt for the prized vase.  When the final tally concluded, Tim Howell took his third vase back to the “Toy Box” for a ride home to Wilmington, Ohio. 

The fields were stacked! The competition was incredible, and the fans of Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League could say nothing more then Oh Henry!!

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.