6/19/2023
Pro Pulling League
Mackville Nationals Jam-Packed with Fans and Pulling Action
Sellersburg, IN (June 19, 2023) – The Mackville Nationals at St. Edwards Parish in Mackville, Wisconsin has been a longtime stop for the Pro Pulling League and their member-state, Badger State Tractor Pullers. Already a well-attended event, the crowds swelled even more for this edition held June 16th and 17th.
The two nights of twin-track action featured BSTP pullers on the pit-side track with the Terminator sled while the Pro Pulling League competitors squared off with the Coal Train Energy X-Factor sled from the Bungart stable on the grandstand track. Joining the cadre of BSTP classes were three standout Pro Pulling League divisions – the Advanced Yield Light Pro Stocks vying for points on the Hart’s Diesel Silver Series, Unlimited Super Stocks presented by Powersport Parts Warehouse, and Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Trucks presented by Summit Racing – the latter two running for Champions Tour points.
In the Friday night session, the Advanced Yield Light Pro Stock class saw Matt Smith and the Fast Forward 9700 Ford make the 800+ mile run from Pennsylvania a memorable one, taking the win on the seventh hook in the class. Collin Birkholz from Wilton, Wisconsin nabbed the second position on his sharp 1456 IH, while third went to Smith’s stable mate, Mark Smith and his 8700 Ford.
Unlimited Super Stocks presented by Powersport Parts Warehouse followed with nine top-notch machines.
While Smith may have been among those to be nominated for a long-haul award to get a win, Aaron Hull and the Taking Care of Business Deere from Waupun, Wisconsin made a short hour-drive north to Mackville to claim the win. Brandon Block roared into the second spot with the Ruttin’ Deere 2 from Platteville, Wisconsin with Jeff Hothem in his return to ULSS competition taking third on the Blaster Fully Loaded Deere from Dellroy, Ohio.
Completing the night of Pro Pulling League action were the Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Trucks presented by Summit Racing. Steve Bost piloted the Ammann Farms Southern Belle Chevrolet from Pocahantas, Illinois to the win on an early hook with defending class champion Jim Bosch and the Midnight Raider Chevrolet hailing from West Olive, Michigan sailed into the second position. Roger Gregg and the Nokomis, Illinois-based Time to Play Chevy would lay claim to third on sixth pass in competition.
Badger State winners from Friday night included Cory Funk in the Funkengruven Chevy in Pro Stock Diesel Truck, Don Slama on the Fast and Furious Deere in Super Farm, and Nathan Faust in the Hangtime Chevy in Super Modified Two Wheel Drive division.
Another beautiful night and an even bigger crowd were the story for the second session in Mackville. The fans had plenty of action to witness with additional BSTP classes in competition with the Pro Pulling League contingent.
The Advanced Yield Light Pro Stock Tractor class started the night off again and a bit of a shake-up of the order. Travis Tilton, a newcomer to the Hart’s Diesel Silver Series, took his first win in the series with an impressive 335+ foot run on the Always $omething 66-series IH from Bellville, Ohio. Collin Birkholz stood strong again in the second session claiming another second place finish while Matt Smith and the Fast Forward 9700 Ford locked into the third spot following his opening night win.
Unlimited Super Stocks presented by Powersport Parts Warehouse saw a major change in the final order, after a rare 1-2-3 sweep of Deere machines on Friday evening. The always-exciting Jeff Hirt and the Runnin’ Bare CaseIH from Port Clinton, Ohio bounced back from a torched head gasket on Friday to take the win – in spectacular fashion, with a hood-lifting explosion (in our feature photo) past the 346 foot mark. Bob Gansemer and the Ruttin Deere from Platteville, Wisconsin made a claim class supremacy for green tractor fans with his second-place finish while Neil Gettinger and the Lessons Learned CaseIH from Noblesville, Indiana roared into the third spot.
Pro Modified Four Wheel Drive Trucks presented by Summit Racing Equipment closed out the PPL festivities for the second session and saw a past points champion eager to return to championship form. Terry Hagedorn’s Kickin’ Up Dust Chevy from Thompson, Missouri reigned supreme in session two with a 325+ foot blast. Following closely behind was Charlie Hinds and the Runnin’ Wild Ford from Quitman, Texas on jaunt past 323 feet with defending class champion Jim Bosch and the Midnight Raider Chevy in third.
BSTP winners for Saturday night included Kyle Timmerman and the Hot & Nasty Chevy in Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Truck action, Joe Wiltse and the Relentless Ford in Pro Stock Diesel Truck, Mike Gerlach and the G-Force 66-series IH in 4.1 Limited Pro Stock, and Glenn Valenstein and the Never Givin’ Up Fendt in Pro Stock tractor competition.
Replay of this event and livestream of eleven future sessions of Pro Pulling League action are available at https://www.floracing.com/collections/tag/pro-pulling-league
About Pro Pulling League:
Now in its 18th season, the Pro Pulling League continues as the world's largest truck and tractor pulling sanctioning body, featuring 250+ sessions of competition across twenty states through the Champions Tour, Silver Series, Champion Seed Western Series, Ag Protect 1 Midwest Region and their member-states. For the latest in news from the Pro Pulling League stay tuned here at www.propulling.com and follow us in social media: On our Facebook page, on Twitter (@propulling), and on Instagram (propullingleague). Our YouTube channel (@propullingleague) offers exciting truck and tractor pulling action from past events.
2023 Pro Pulling League Marketing Partners
Lucas Oil
Official Oil of the Pro Pulling League
ARP (Automotive Racing Products)
Official Fastener of the Pro Pulling League
MAC Trailer
Official Trailer of the Pro Pulling League
Coal Train Energy
Associate Sponsor of the Pro Pulling League
Fleece Performance
Associate Sponsor of the Pro Pulling League
Optima Batteries
Associate Sponsor of the Pro Pulling League
SCS Gearbox and Probell Racing
Associate Sponsor of the Pro Pulling League
Champions Tour Marketing Partners:
Summit Racing Equipment - Mitas Agricultural Tires - Fair Valley Performance Lemke Motorsports - FloRacing - Powersport Parts Warehouse
Hart's Diesel Silver Series Marketing Partners:
Advanced Yield - Kawasaki Parts Warehouse
Champion Seed Western Series Marketing Partners:
Tuff Wireless - Sancrest Trailer Sales - Sancrest Specialized Transport - No Way Man Diesel - Northwoods Engineering
Ag Protect 1 Midwest Region Marketing Partners:
Wagler Motorsports - Freedom Racing Engines
Submitted By: Bryan Lively