LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Perhaps one of the biggest draws at the annual National Farm Machinery Show is the Championship Tractor Pull. Now in its 58th year, this invitation-only event will be Feb. 14-17 and spotlights the nation’s best drivers and their machines as they compete in five performances at the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Freedom Hall.

Roughly 80,000 attendees will watch as 189 drivers from 20 states and Canada compete to bring home a share of more than $300,000 in prize money. 

Jessie Petro, of Camden, Ohio, is taking his rig, “Buckeye Hauler,” to this year’s show, competing in the 6,200-pound 2WD Super Modified Truck class. Petro has competed in this event several years, getting his first experience at tractor pulling at age 17.

“I used to get nervous at this show, but not anymore,” Petro said. “Getting the equipment there and getting things set up can be a bit nerve wrecking, but there are no nerves once the competition begins.”

Growing up in rural southwest Ohio and working around his father’s trucks led to his love for tractor pulling competitions.

“Dad grew up on a farm and began trucking when he was 16,” Petro said. “Dad hauled ag commodities like grain and fertilizer his entire life. We were tied in very tightly with the ag industry thanks to the trucking industry.”

Petro is one of 19 Ohioans competing at the Championship Tractor Pull. There are 118 drivers from the Farm World readership area of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee and Michigan competing in this event.

“Every competitor has a list of those drivers they want to beat, but in the end it’s just friendly competition,” Petro said. “Between events all the drivers will walk around, talk to each other, and realize that we all spend a lot of time, effort and money in this sport. There’s a lot of camaraderie, and it’s safe to say we all work hard and play hard.”

The action gets under way on Feb. 14 with the 6,350-pound Modified 4X4 Trucks. Competitors include: Christopher Taylor (Eaton, Ind.), Ike Zaring (Fillmore, Ind.), Carmen Foster (Bainbridge, Ind.), Justin Grace (Finchville, Ky.), Steve Clem (Versailles, Ky.), Steve Bost (Pocahontas, Ill.), Ted Skelton (Harvard, Ill.) and Michael Broughton (Armada, Mich.).

Next up is the 9,300-pound Super Farm Tractor class. Competing in this event are Bill Casey (Cygnet, Ohio), Michael Snepp (Franklin, Ind.), Mac Darnell (Cynthiana, Ky.), Greg Freeze (Manchester, Tenn.), Brad Woods (Jackson, Tenn.) and Bradley Foster (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.).

The 7,500-pound Modified Tractors take to the track next. Competing will be Wayne Sullivan (Warsaw, Ky.), Les Korporal (Marion, Ind.), Bill Voreis (Argos, Ind.), Doug Theobold (Shelbyville, Ind.), Steve Bollinger (Taylorsville, Ill.), Bill Leischner (Weldon, Ill.) and Craig Corzine (Assumption, Ill.).

Competing in the class for 10,200-pound Pro Stock Tractors were Avery Nauman (Cardington, Ohio), Darryl Folz (Grandview, Ind.), Jack Wischmeier (Brownstown, Ind.), Mickey Shorter (Sullivan, Ind.) and R. J. Simon (Farley, Iowa).

Thursday offers four classes of competition, starting with the 9,300-pouind Super Farm Tractors. Competitors in this group includes Jeremy Roberts (Sullivan, Ind.), Josh Miley (Frisco, Ind.), Joey Toadvine (Paris, Ky.), Randy Thomas (Sharon Grove, Ky.), Ryan Anderson (Hoopeston, Ill.), and Jimmy Hawkins (Wartrace, Tenn.).

Competing in the 6,200-pound 2WD Super Modified Trucks class are Jessie Petro (Camden, Ohio), Frank Keener (Ashland, Ohio), Ashley Corzine (Assumption, Ill.), Jared Nelson (Altamont, Ill.), Dale Nelson (Altamont, Ill.) and Will Teasley (Cedar Hill, Tenn.).

Competing in the 9,500-pound Limited Pro Stock Tractors will be Brian Miller (Marengo, Iowa), Colby Counce (Ethridge, Tenn.) and Brett Hackstadt (Nashville, Ill.).

10,200-pound Pro Stock Tractor competitors include Julia Ray (Beloit, Ohio), Kevin Schmucker (Louisville, Ohio), Bob Johannigman (Greensburg, Ind.), Tim Cain (New Palestine, Ind.), Peter Norton (Franklin, Ind.), Brett Hackstadt (Nashville, Ill.) and Brandon Simon (Farley, Iowa).

Friday’s session begins with the 9,500-pound Limited Pro Stock models. Competing will be Jerry Martin (Bucyrus, Ohio), Danny Barker (Shelbyville, Ill.), Ryland Helbig (Oakdale, Ill.), Jared Friedrichs (Sterling, Ill.), Jacob Ohl (Danville, Ill.), George Beyer (Sibley, Iowa) and Steven Long (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.).

Next up will be the 6,200-pound 2WD Super Modified Trucks. Competing will be Chad Mayhill (Germantown, Ohio), Alan Cain (West Alexandria, Ohio), Joe Schoenemann (Reynolds, Ind.), Brian Stevens (Taylorsville, Ky.), Russell Phipps (Kane, Ill.), Jeremy Nelson (Sidney, Ill.), Bethany Nelson (Altamont, Ill.), Tim Beaty (Jamestown, Tenn.) and R.J. Simon (Farley, Iowa).

The 8,200-pound Diesel & 8,000-pound Alcohol Super Stock takes center stage next. Drivers include Jeff Hirt (Port Clinton, Ohio), John Strickland (Hamilton, Ohio), Jeff Hothem (Dellroy, Ohio), Steve Burge (Lynn, Ind.), Neil Gettinger (Hagerstown, Ind.), Kent Payne (Veedersburg, Ind.), Brandon Hunt (Herndon, Ky.) and Travis Schlabach (Marengo, Iowa). 

The evening concludes with the 10,200-pound Pro Stock Tractors. Competitors include Mike Linder (Edison, Ohio), Mike Conny (Beloit, Ohio), Kevin Masterson (Grandview, Ind.), Justin Wagler (Morgantown, Ind.), Russ Yoder (Shipshewana, Ind.), Elijah Brown (Clay, Ky.), Rhett Parish (Marion, Ky.), Brad Moss (Prescott, Iowa) and Ken Couch (Jackson, Tenn.).

On Saturday, four more truck classes take to the track. Competing in the 7,500-pound Modified Truck class will be Jeremy Yeager (Bloomingdale, Ohio), K.C. Morris (Quaker, Ohio), Van Haisley (Fairmount, Ind.), Kent Crowder (Attica, Ind.), Brady Ingram (Farina, Ill.), Caroline Counce (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) and Chase Eller (Lafayette, Tenn.).

Competing in the 8,500-pound Light Pro Stock Tractor class on Saturday will be Robert Laibe (Republic, Ohio), Evan Smoot (Eaton, Ind.), Taner Eads (Urbana, Ind.) and Ryan Mitchell (Pella, Iowa).

Competing in the 6,400-pound Light Weight Super Stock class on Saturday will be Mike Wilhite (Cox’s Creek, Ky.), Larry Phillips (Vine Grove, Ky.), Brandon Phillips (Vine Grove, Ky.), Todd Maedge (Marine, Ill.), Bobby Jones (Pleasant Hill, Ill.), Kevin Essary (Milledgeville, Tenn.), Daniel Northcutt (Bradyville, Tenn.) and Phillip Lorance (Woodbury, Tenn.).

The day concludes with the 10,200-pound Pro Stock Tractors. Participants include Dan Parkinson (Granville, Ohio), Danny Schmucker (Louisville, Ohio), Steve Wischmeier (Brownstown, Ind.), Jason Rauen (Farley, Iowa) and Andrew Vorwald (Scotch Grove, Iowa).