One Bad Apple spoils the bunch at Cassopolis

Published 8:59 am Thursday, August 3, 2017

CASSOPOLIS — It was another packed house at the Cass County Fair.

Motorized Madness continued in the grandstand Tuesday night as the NTPA National Regional Tractor and Truck Pulls took center stage.

Cassopolis is considered one of the toughest pulls in the Midwest and it drew some of the top drivers in the Super Farm Series.

Competing in the Cass County Fair Nationals were the Super Farm Tractors, Two-Wheel-Drive Trucks and Modified Minis divisions as they were trying to earn points toward the Region II championship (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio; TWD, RN II West) and a spot in the 31st Enderle Memorial Pull-Off All-Star Invitational in Urbana, Ohio Sept. 16.

The Wolverine Pullers’ Super Stock Combo class also competed Tuesday night.

One Bad Apple, driven by Bryan Deck of Winside, Nebraska, successfully defended his title in the Super Farm Tractors division with a pull of 327.315.

Tony Sietsema was second in Wolverine Deere with a pull of 325.690, while Rod Deck in Dream On was third with a distance of 319.760.

Dave Lacy in Triple Play Unchained took first place in the modified minis with a pull of 330.570.

Todd Bultman in Stress Relief was second (319.105) and Kevin Bradtmueller was third in Whomp Ass Express (311.190).

Jessie Petro in the Buckeye Hauler captured the two-wheel-drive title with a distance of 305.860.

Jim Roberts in Twister was second and Tod Eisman in Whipper Snapper II was third with pulls of 304.325 and 301.855 respectively.

In truck and tractor pulling, vehicles drag a 20-ton weight transfer sled along a straight, dirt track as the sled’s resistance increases. Within a class of similar vehicles, the puller that achieves the greatest distance is victorious.

The NTPA is the world’s No. 1 sanctioning organization for premier-level events that feature highly specialized machines resembling farm tractors, trucks and dragsters and dedicated competitors that battle for purse money and end-of-season championships.

With superchargers emitting an ear-splitting whine, massive tires churning clay at 100-mph wheelspeeds, turbochargers pumping columns of diesel smoke into the sky, and engine combinations exceeding 10,000 horsepower, high-performance pulling that shakes the ground and fills the grandstand every time it appears at the fair.

 

CASS COUNTY FAIR NATIONALS

At Cassopolis

Super Farm Tractors

Bryan Deck, One Bad Apple — 327.315

Tony Sietsema, Wolverine Deere — 325.690

Rod Deck, Dream On — 319.760

Jorge Zenz, Minor $etback — 315.355

Shane Masten, Thumpin’ Pumpkin — 308.970

 

Modified Mini Tractors

Dave Lacey, Triple Play Unchained — 330.570

Todd Bultman, Stress Relief — 319.105

Kevin Bradtmueller, Whomp Ass Express — 311.190

Tyler Schaendorf, Max’d Out — 301.665

Ken Bultemeier, WAE Flip Side — 289.415

 

Two-Wheel-Drive Trucks

Jessie Petro, Buckeye Hauler — 305.860

Jim Roberts, Twister — 304.325

Tom Eisman, Whipper Snapper II — 301.855

Randy Petro, Kathy’s Komplaint — 298.980

Jacob Shephard, Alchohol Addition

Retapped — 292.285