7,500 4X4 Diesel Trucks
Only the best 4X4 diesel drivers dare to compete in Freedom Hall. The chilly temperatures can create a unique challenge for diesel trucks. It’s a balancing act to get the engine warm enough before running out of time. The reigning champion Scheid Diesel driven by Brady Ingram returns to defend his title. A two-time Championship Tractor Pull victor, Scheid Diesel knows what it takes to win on chilly mornings in Louisville. He’ll need to watch out for 2020’s runner-up, Rock Hard Ram driven by Van Haisley, a two time Championship Tractor Pull winner (2011 & 2017) himself, who won a ring at the Bowling Green National Tractor Pulling Championship in 2021.
The third place finisher from 2020 is also back. After a rough season, culminating in Chase Eller’s truck Caretaker blowing its engine at the National Tractor Pulling Championship in Bowling Green, Eller wants a win in Freedom Hall. He’s hoping for a repeat of 2019, when he won the Championship Tractor Pull title. Other trucks to watch out for: On Borrowed Time won in Freedom Hall in 2015 and Chapter 11 the East Coast points champion.
8,500 Light Pro Stock Tractors
Saturday afternoon’s 8,500 Light Pro Stock class will be a showdown of winners with nine different points champions representing pulling associations from across the country. The 2020 Championship Tractor Pull runner-up, Bare Necessities with Mark Wiederhold behind the wheel convincingly won the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League points champions in 2021.
Evan Smoot’s Barnyard Bandit is coming off an excellent season, winning both the Hoosier State Tractor Pullers Association and Enderle Pull-Off as well as finishing second in the National Tractor Pulling Association (NTPA) Region II points race. He’ll face off against the tractor who beat him in Region II, Always $omethin driven by Travis Tilton.
More points champions to watch out for: Up in Smoke (Interstate Pullers), Black Thunder (Wisconsin Tractor Pulling Association), Shagnasty (Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Western Series), One Bad Binder (Indiana Pulling League), Demented (Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League East Coast) and Hostile Environment (Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling).
6,400 Lightweight Super Stock Tractors
The 6,400 Lightweight Super Stock class never disappoints! The 2020 winning tractor Armed & Dangerous Excessive Force is back, with Terry Blackbourn behind the wheel. Blackbourn is coming off a great season where he finished second in the Lucas Oil PPL.
The 2020 Championship Tractor Pull runner-up, The Commander driven by Rex Kuhn returns. This two time Grand Champion (2014 and 2015) won the 2021 National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) Grand National points race and is gunning for the beach in Freedom Hall.
The 2019 Championship Tractor Pull winner Extremely Insane driven by Larry Phillips hopes to add to his trophy collection. Hy Strung driven by Tayton Dean Terry hits the dirt after winning the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Western Series points championship.
10,200 Pro Stock Tractors
With only a few hours to make adjustments or fix broken tractors, pulling on Saturday afternoon and advancing to the finals Saturday evening requires talent, teamwork and a little bit of luck. The drivers fortunate enough to advance from the Saturday afternoon Pro Stock Tractor class have to be ready.
Fortunately many of the tractors competing know what it takes to win in Freedom Hall. Three-time Grand Champion Rampage, driven by the talented Danny Schmucker knows how to read the dirt and find the beach after winning in 2002, 2006 and 2007. After finishing third in the NTPA Grand Nationals he’s ready to jump into the 2022 pulling season with a major victory. Another Grand Champion, Young Blood (2009) driven by Braden Shramek is back to vie for a second title. Shramek is a long-time Championship Tractor Pull fan, attending every year since he was one.
The 2020 runner-up Cotton Pick’n Deere and third place finisher Whiskey Wild are also looking for an elusive title on the track in Freedom Hall.
