7/28/2022
Pro Pulling League
Midwest Summer Nationals Heats Up the Stephenson County Fair
Charlestown, IN (July 28, 2022) – As an important stop on the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League summer tour, the Midwest Summer Nationals at the Stephenson County Fair in Freeport, Illinois serves up a hot helping of pulling action every year for two sessions, and the action on July 26th and 27th did not disappoint.
The competition on the 26th featured four Champions Tour classes anchored by a class from the Silver Series. The Protect the Harvest X-Factor sled from Bungart Motorsports provided the stopping power for the event.
ARP Lightweight Super Stock Tractors kicked off the evening in front of a packed house. Eleven machines answered the call to battle attempting to rein in class leader Terry Blackbourn and the Armed and Dangerous – Excessive Force CaseIH from the Chizek stable of tractors. Blackbourn would defend his ground in Freeport, taking the win and posting a second place finish also with the Considered Armed and Dangerous CaseIH. Third would go to the NK Bin Buster Deere entry of Colton Whitworth.
Super Farm Tractors were out in abundance with twenty-six entries for the evening. Jason Viney returned to Champions Tour action at Freeport with the All Cranked Up CaseIH and took the win on the evening, while points leader Don Slama and the Fast and Furious Deere finished in the second spot. Andy Schwenk and the Runnin Buck Wild Deere wrapped up the third spot in Freeport.
Unlimited Super Stocks continued their trek across the Midwest with a stop in Freeport. The Blackbourn/Chizek juggernaut, just as it sits atop the ARP Lightweight Super Stock division also has the top spot in ULSS—in this instance with the Considered Armed and Dangerous-HD CaseIH piloted by Josh Blackbourn. Blackbourn would take his best shot at the top of the class with a 319 foot pass but fell three feet short of a class newcomer, Scott Whitworth. Whitworth already pilots a NK-sponsored Deere in LSS but with the recent acquisition of the former, late Marc Clifton-campaigned Constant Aggravation Deere, he has been making waves on this machine, now known as the NK Field Forged Deere. Whitworth’s persistence paid off with the win in Freeport, his first in Champions Tour competition.
Fourteen 95 Limited Pro Stock Tractors encountered the Freeport track with a bevy of Silver Series regulars joined by PPL member-state Badger State Tractor Pullers combatants. One of those BSTP-based pullers, Jacob Ohl and the IH named Just Add Dirt, took the class win in Freeport with Tyler Elpers driving the Hartman family’s Hardcore Addiction IH into the second spot. Charlie Aschliman continued his presence amongst the top of the class with a third on the Diggin for a Living CaseIH.
Action for session one wrapped up with the MAC Trailer Hot Rod Semis. Joe Giulitto and the Sneaky Pete Peterbilt nabbed first place, outpacing class leader and defending champ Chris Wood and the Class Act Peterbilt in second. Ryan DeBroux and the Playin with Fire KW were third, with a points battle brewing as Giulitto and DeBroux leave Freeport tied for second in points.
Session two was largely a PPL Member-state Badger State Tractor Pullers event with one Champion Seed Western Series division, Light Pro Stock Tractors, also in action. BSTP competitor Kyle Paulsen piloted the Deere Addiction to the Light Pro Stock win in session two in a class of eight, followed by the Hostile Environment Deere of Ryan Mitchell and the Just Gettin Started IH of Justin Hopkins in third. Winners in other Badger State classes in session two included Dan Kastenson (Gold Rush Moline – 640 Pro Farm); Ed Kasper (Addicted to Chaos Deere – Light Limited Super Stock); Ryan Funk (Funkenmuven Dodge – Pro Stock Diesel Truck); and Jason Ruaen (Bootlegger Deere – Pro Stock Deere).
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2022 Official Team Lucas Pro Pulling League Marketing Partners
ARP (Automotive Racing Products)
"Official Fastener" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
Arizona Sport Shirts
"Official Merchandise Provider" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
Big River Steel
“Official Sponsor” of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
General Tire
"Official Tire" Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
Lucas Oil Products
"Official Oil" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
MAC Trailer
"Official Trailer" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
MAVTV Motorsports Network
"Official Television Network" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
OPTIMA Batteries
"Official Battery" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
ProtectTheHarvest.com
"Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
RhinoAg
"Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
Summit Racing
"Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
SuperClean
"Official Sponsor" of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
UNOH
“Official Educational Partner” of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
2022 Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Supporters Include:
Ag Protect 1, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Champion Seed, Scheid Diesel, and Thermo-Tec
Submitted By: Bryan Lively