Dirtslinger

With the start of the 2009 season of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour came excitement for the summer, goals of championships, and the addition of a new title sponsor to the Super Modified Tractor Class.  E3 Sparkplugs sponsorship of the E3 Super Modified Tractors quickly took a highly competitive class of pullers to the next level of competition and national recognition.  By seasons end three top notch competitors had separated themselves from the pack and found their tractors within grasp of the coveted Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour.  As the field was assembled in Wheatland, Missouri for the Diamond Nationals,  those three competitors found themselves in the spotlight with a hope of winning the title.  As the event began the Dirtslinger team experienced some frantic moments as the tractor had an engine dead due to a magneto/points/coil problem and thus had to drop from first hook to last.   In the end with ice running through his veins Bill Leischner piloted the Dirtslinger to the event win and thus won his third Championship in four years. 

Experience is such a valuable thing in the sport of pulling and with nearly thirty years of it, Bill is known as one of the sports most crafty veterans. That experience has found Bill Leischner in similar situations to the final event at Wheatland, Missouri.  Leischner's career in pulling began in 1982 when he and Rex King teamed up to campaign the Dirtslinger Too.  The Dirtslinger Too had three naturally aspirated Rodecks as their power source. Rex King was known for his prowess in the sport and shared a lot of his vast knowledge with Bill over the time they ran together.  The combination of King and Leischner lead to numerous championships on the state level from the very beginning of the partnership.  With success came new tractors and the Dirtslinger three engine Arias was purchased from the Walsh Family in 1987 to enhance the power that Leischner could put to the track.  Each time Leischner has gone back to the drawling board to construct a new tractor, success has made it's way to Weldon, Illinois.  Be it the three engine Arias powered tractor that helped catapult Bill to a national title, or the 4 engine tractor that was built in 2000.  The Dirtslinger has always been a force to be reckoned with, in the Modified Tractor class.

Over his career Bill Leischner has seen his fair share of changing in the sport and that interest in change prompted him to reach out to a different power source for his second team tractor.  Turbine power found it's way to the Dirtchallenger  in a partnership between Leischner and  numerous time champion Joe Eder.  “ We built that tractor with the intention of having a low maintenance and very consistent tractor.  What we have is a high maintenance inconsistent tractor and thus it is the opposite of my vision” stated Leischner.  The difference in power source is not the only change that must be considered as the set up for the turbine calls for an entirely different approach then the piston powered tractor.  The learning curve for Leischner and his crew has been high but ground is being gained with the Dirtchallenger. 

Day in and day out on the Champions Tour anyone could be in contention for the event win and thus consistency is needed to be successful.  Consistent does not even begin to describe the season the Dirtslinger had as it never finished out of the top five in a class that had an average of eighteen competitors per event.   “This by far is the toughest modified tractor class I have ever seen and it is going to continue to get better with the support of E3 Sparkplugs.  This championship could have gone any direction this season as Scott Tedder, Ken Veney and myself were just a few points apart at the final pull” said Leischner.  Leischner understands he has a big target on his back for the 2010 season, but must be quite comfortable in that position as he has started numerous Champions Tour in the same place. 

In a sport where hundredths of a foot can separate one competitor from another, everything matters in the setup, tuning, and approach to the sport.  Leischner credit's his son Shannon with helping to enhance the quality of their performance with the introduction of computers from Racepak.  “ Racepak brought a mountain of information for which us to sort through after each pass.  We can actually look  at our run and see what happened, rather then have to guess after a pass.”  The knowledge gained has challenged Bill to be a better driver as simple indications on the screen can show a driving flaw over the span of a pull.  Leischner stated: “The computer has shown us how to set up the tractor but also how to drive the tractor.  We can look at throttle position to determine if I was to early or late with applying the power”. Though the computer is helpful for critiquing purposes, one must still have a knowledge of the tractor and how to set it up for success.  That knowledge is something Leischner can draw upon when it is crunch time. 

In talking to the Dirtslinger himself you can tell just how passionate he is about the sport he has loved for years.  Leischner believes: “this sport can go to the next level, it is going to grow and thrive with the help from sponsors.  Pulling can provide sponsors more bang for their buck and thus make it a more affordable market for companies to invest in.”  That vision prompted Bill years ago to go out and solicit  sponsors for his pulling team.  A strong working relationship has been established between Leischner and Heritage Diener Seed, as well as thriving connections with Gottman Toys and Fast Sprayers.  “I can not thank my sponsors enough for their support of our team.”  I also could not do it with my crew especially Shannon Leischner, Scott King and Murl Kimmel for all of their time and sacrifice.  Jed Leischner has been incredibly valuable with his help filming and on the maintenance of the tractors.  A special thanks to Brian Knox of Sassy Racing Engines for the difference he has made in our team.  A deep heart felt thanks to all of our fans and supporters who sacrifice so much to be out at our shows. ” said Leischner. 

It is hard to find words to describe the accomplishments of Bill Leischner's pulling career, but Champion might be one of the words that best captures him.  Whether it was one of his numerous championships on the state level in Illinois, or his third Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour Title, Leischner's Dirtslinger has always been a contender for the end of the season points crown.  To ensure his shot for 2010, Leischner has begun to construct his formula for another title, a formula that will require him to focus on redoing his blowers, as well as adding a few more Sassy Racing Engines to the stable.   As the winter months blow by, the anticipation to get out on the Champions Tour will roar through Leischner's mind like his own E3 Sparkplug Modified, and the when he puts the power to the track the smile on his face will illustrate just how much this man loves to go pulling.