Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull features two local drivers
- Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
By Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor
On Sunday, Aug. 3, before the main activities of the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull began, the 2025 fair queen Maddisyn Ernest and attendants Rebecca Miller and Kylie Freeman were recognized. Then a prayer for all and it was time. The crowd filled the stands. The weather threatened at one time to douse everyone but held off and instead blessed the event with a double rainbow. The pull was ready to begin.
Now imagine walking into an arena, usually with activity provided by horses or other livestock. On the floor of this dirt arena are two bold white lines running diagonally. This is the path for the tractors and trucks to pull a sled.
As the sled moves forward, weight increases in the front to push the sled down, increasing the difficulty of pulling. Yet, each driver has a goal of over 300 feet, longer than a football field. You make over 300 and you could make a $200,000 payday.
The action started with the smaller tractors in the Limited Pro Stock. Belching fire, then smoke, these machines roared down the path, careful not to hit the boundary. The hope of their drivers was torch that goal.
Many came up short, some were disappointed due to some mechanical failure. Many others pulled with all their might. Gary Behrendt of Ravenna, Neb., the first one to break 300 feet took the lead and everyone was chasing him. With a pull over 304 feet, it looked as if he would win.
Then Justin Deck of Winside, Neb., driving at Case IH tractor named ‘Dream On,’ came desperately clawing down the track and demonstrated what it would take to win. This one pulled 317 feet. Deck took the first-place trophy with Behrendt placing second.
Tyler Paddock of Mound City placed fourth in the event on "Diggin’ Deep Deere." He turned in a pull of just over 302 feet.
Following a demonstration by a souped up two-wheel drive truck. That pulled the sled to 290 feet, the Pro Stock 4x4 trucks began lining up. Each of these babies had extra weight on the front to keep all four wheels on the ground.
And they had power. The roar as each of the beasts came down the path was deafening. The crowd shouted with joy as each one of the 15 trucks blasted down in their attempt to win.
The winning trophy went to Keith Hammons of Green City, Mo., driving “Bi Polar.” He came close to 300 feet. Very close. His pull was 299.9 feet.
Then came the Pro Stock tractors, drivers guiding monsters between the lines, wanting to show what they could achieve. All of the 11 machines were outfitted with turbo that had to wind up to give the tractors the pull the drivers demanded.
With fire out the stack, then smoke streaming out, the tractors built up rpms. Then they were off.
Belching smoke, you felt them as they rumbled across the arena. You could almost feel the determination each possessed in their attempt to become first.
“Wampuscat” driven by Gregg Lager of Hazard, Neb., reached 317 feet, just short of the earlier tractor, but that was enough to win the first place trophy.
Kyle Carstens of Parker driving “Lotta Green” had a pull of 319 feet, good enough for fifth place.
The night was not over. Next, from the Missouri State Tractor Pull Association came the hot rod tractors. Beautiful paint jobs with bodies looking more like a drag racer but built to pull. Again, the roar was mighty, and the people enjoyed the show.
Scott Bracken driving “The Outlaw took first in the Light Modified tractors. His pull was just short of 308 feet.
In the ProField competition, Conner Jaegers placed first behind the wheel of “Rooster.” He had pull of 297.99 feet.
And in the 2.6 ProStreet Diesel, Lane Aldrich and “Smokin’ Goat Reloaded” pulled nearly 291 feet for the first-place trophy.
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