Speedco Great Smoky Mountain Shootout Brings Energy and Excitement

Excitement and anticipation abounded as vehicles unloaded on the grounds of the Knoxville Zoo for the opening event of the 2010 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour Circuit. Competitors and fans alike waited eagerly as vehicles rolled out of the trailers to reveal pristine new wraps and gleaming motors from an abundance of hard work over the winter. Fueled by crisp mountain air, both nights of action brought a mix of winners, both predicted and unexpected.

The most surprising performances of the weekend came from the twenty-two competitors in the Speedco Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Truck category. While all the teams had their motors freshened over the winter, Jake Zaring came with a fresh look to his team as he debuted a brand new second machine, so new in fact that the truck had not yet been lettered. Usually it takes a full year of competition to work out the bugs of such a complex pulling machine, but Zaring showed that his piece was pristine pulling the sled past 322 feet as the first hook of the class on Friday night. The Rockstar Full Pull mark was set at 320 feet and nine other trucks followed out the gate with Steve Clem’s Ratical truck pulling the farthest in regulation competition at over 340 feet. Zaring hooked first in the pull off setting the bar high at 324.74’, but he knew that nine tough competitors were waiting to hook, including former class champions Clem, Terry Hagedorn and Jim Bosch. His mark withstood the tests of the other trucks and the yet to be named machine took the win.

Saturday night’s competition proved to be exciting and unpredictable as a different winner was crowned in the Speedco Pro Modified 4 Wheel Drive category. As the first hook of the night again, Zaring’s unnamed truck set the mark to beat high at 310.84’. His lead wouldn’t last long as Gary Varner, the 27 year veteran from Midway, Kentucky, would find the right setup in his Fast Break truck to take the lead. His lead held for eight tough competitors until Pat Paul’s Dustex Cyclone took over with a distance of 313.25’. The Dustex Cylcone’s run was able to hold up to take the win and Paul attributed his success to a crucial decision made last year to park his second truck so that he could concentrate more on the Dustex Cyclone. Steve Clem also had a good weekend finishing in the top five both nights.

Consistency was the story in the Rockstar Energy Drink sponsored Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Truck class with seven trucks finding themselves in the top ten during both nights of competition. The Long Pulling team from Glasgow, Kentucky used their experience and track reading skills to place all three of their team trucks in the top ten each night sporting a win on Friday night in Willy Makit, a ‘41 Willy’s bodied truck with a Miner Brothers motor. The team took second with Ridin’ Dirty and fourth with MavTV on Friday night as well. The MavTV truck faired the best for the team on Saturday taking fifth with Willy Makit and Ridin’ Dirty placing sixth and eighth respectively. After motor problems just two weeks ago, Jeremy Nelson showed that the kinks were out of his Midnight Gambler by finishing in fifth on Friday and taking a win on Saturday. Two weeks of hard work went into setting the Midnight Gambler straight and paid off at the first point’s event of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League’s Champion’s Tour. Stan Shelton’s General Tire Cutting Edge had an impressive weekend with its top ten finishes. The slick machine sustained a fresh tune up over the winter and the New London, North Carolina native used his knowledge of the red dirt track to stay in the top. Pulling veteran Wayne Sullivan was another notable this weekend piloting his Chevrolet bodied Big Ed Red, finishing in the top ten on Friday and the top five on Saturday. Two rookies to the category rounded out the top ten each night with LeAnn Tormoehlen in Flamin’ and John Mumma in After Midnight. Tormoehlen also drives a Speedco Pro Modified 4 Wheel Drive truck and finished third with it on Friday night, but is new to this category and her Brad Anderson powered two wheeler. Mumma is an over 30 year veteran of the sport behind the scenes and is in his first year of competition. His son-in-law Jeremy Nelson (Midnight Gambler) serves as his crew chief.

Diesel fans left the weekend more than satisfied after witnessing the spectacle that is the Hot Rod Semi class. Team Laribee finished the weekend strong with a win each night. Friday night belonged to Mike Laribee’s single turbo powered Shameless, taking the win with the help of his brand new 5.3 inch turbo, one of the biggest available on the market. The former two time champion was on his way to making a great pass on Saturday night but an air flapper closed at mid track causing the machine to suffocate. But his teammate Super Joe Metzger saved the day for the team by piloting Brockasaurus to victory. Metzger took third on Friday, behind his teammate and Dana Lindsey’s Red Hot and Rollin’. Lindsey finished in the top five on Saturday, keeping her at the top of the point’s race. The Mitchell pulling team of Dale Mitchell and Bill Reinhart mixed things up with their reliable Freight Rod, second on Saturday night, and their new piece acquired from Illinois over the winter called Down and Out. Kendra Rodgers, a three year veteran in the category finished the weekend solid as she helped her brother Chad with adjustments to their new team truck called Unpredictable.

Fans also had the opportunity to experience first hand the amazing products offered by the sponsors of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. Canidae pet foods was on site to hand out samples and treats for canine and feline friends. The all natural meat based pet foods ensure that pets receive the best nutrition according to their health and lifestyle. Exposing the fans to an extra energy edge were the representatives from Rockstar Energy Drink. Fans were offered a variety of samples to help them find an extra edge during the day.

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.