The Lone Pull in the Lone Star
The Lone Pull in the Lone Star
As many of my readers and followers may be well aware, I spent my 2024 summer and pulling season almost entirely and exclusively working with, and learning from the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association. My duties at the track included those of speaking as a secondary announcer, as well as operation and production on the live stream side of things via Outlawpulling.tv. Off the track I worked with this awesome pulling association as a social media engagement specialist and even re-branded this article series in the heart of summer as “This Week with the Outlaws.” With the points races in the National Tractor Pullers Association and the Pro Pulling League entirely wrapped up, and as I am feeling a bit nostalgic for summer time this afternoon, let’s kick it back a few months and do a special throwback edition of “This Week in Pulling” We can call it a collaborative experience if we must. Therefore, I declare this edition to be “This Week in Pulling Rides with the Outlaws!”
Then there was one. One pull. One weekend. One spotlight for national points level pulling action. As stated earlier, both the other two national level sanctioning bodies have concluded all their points races, in spectacular fashion, I might add. But the Outlaws, the association that always finds a way to live up to its name, carries on deep into the heart of October, hosting one final pull in the Lone-Star State. Draggin’ and Pullin’ in the Pines 2024 Edition will put the power to the dirt and haul the sleds down the track in Lufkin, Texas over two days where four remaining national level points champions will be crowned. All this will take place this upcoming weekend of October 25th and 26th.
Let’s take a look at what chips are on the table, and which cards will be dealt in the 2-day session of Texas style pulling holde-em. Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Trucks, Limited Pro Stock Diesel Trucks, 7,400 Pound Modifieds, and Pro Stock Tractors all still have skin in the game, and will be looking to settle the score, and throw down their hands this weekend.
In the Super Modified Two Wheel Drive Truck Class, perhaps both the cornerstone class of The Outlaws and the great state of Texas itself, it is 2022 season champion Richard Morris of Neosho, Missouri with the most “chips” on the table as he takes his two wheeler he calls Buffalo’s Chips down to do battle. He has a slim lead, just a five point margin that he will have to sustain over two sessions of pulling. Who does he have to stave off? None other than Texas native and future hall of famer, Donald Nelson piloting the truck he calls Whip It. Donald walked away with a points championship at the end of this pull in 2023 in the Modified class. Will this be the year he does it in his trusty two wheel drive machine?
A second Missourian will be making the long haul down south with a current points lead in a truck class. A truck that is becoming synonymous with winning in the Limited Pro Stock Diesel Truck class, Megatron, driven by Jason Wayman is headed to play in the Texas clay with just a two point lead in his division. Unlike Richard Morris, Wayman will be doing battle against not the Texas natives, but rather a whole plethora of iron from his home state. Skyler Leeper is currently in the secondary spot, just two points behind the mega-cab Dodge of Wayman. Followed by Ryan Stahl and then a second entry of Leeper himself. Missouri has each of the four top spots as the Show-Me boys will show us what they are made of.
Headed to the modified class, someone call Tracy Lawrence, because it’s going to take a Texas tornado it seems to knock Cameron Neaves on top of Cotton Candy out of his favorite spot to finish this season. Since putting on a new set of tires at Bloomfield, Iowa this summer, Neaves has accrued what seems to be too many first place finishes to count. He comes into the weekend with a 30 point lead. Wayne Longnecker and River Rat have the number two spot. Neaves and company will put on a great show for fans, as Cameron seeks his fist points championship in over a decade.
Finally the Pro Stock tractors will whomp-whomp-whomp their way into town, as our third Missouri boy looks to bring MO power down to Texas. Defending points champion, Cody Yarick has his John Deere he calls Gone in the pole position at the moment with a twelve point lead over fellow competitor Kyle Carstens of Kansas. Can Cody go back to back in his championship endeavors? This track was one that was almost too much for him to tame in 2023 as his tractor actually suffered a good old fashioned diesel “run-away.” You know, he is looking to get even in his pursuit of success.
Not to be forgotten, the Pro Stock Four Wheel Drive class will also hook to the sled. No points. No shenanigans. Just braggin’ rights and folding cash for this class. You know they set it on kill and put on a show. Will a local walk away victorious, or will it be an Outlaw faithful?
You can check all this out in person, or on two separate live stream sources this weekend. The pull will be available on both Outlawpulling.tv as well as Fullpull.live. With a collaborative broadcasting effort viewers can be exposed to the only national level pull left in the country for the year. They will also have the ability to hear it brought to them by two of the greatest announcers in the business in my opinion as Dan Mayer will represent the Full Pull side of things, and Ron Stone will carry on his mantle as the voice of the Outlaws.
Green Flags and Tight Chains.
Pullin’ is fun.
