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Event, season champs crowned as Lucas Oil Pro Pulling Nationals conclude at Lucas Oil Speedway

By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling Nationals completed its two-night run Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway with Bethany Nelson pulling off a sweep in the Super Modified 2 WD Trucks division.

Nelson, of Altamont, Illinois, piloted Sweet Revenge to not only the victory in Saturday’s season finale, but also her second career championship on the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling Series.

PHOTOCREDIT: Bethany Nelson and Sweet Revenge powered to victory Saturday night at the Lucas Pro Pulling League Nationals, while also wrapping up the Super Modified 2 WD Trucks season championship.--CREDIT: GS Stanek Racing Photography

Nelson had a pull of 352.28 feet, more than 12 feet further than runner-up Jason Sullivan in Cornburner at 339.90. Hi Maintenance, driven by Tony Fleming, was third at 338.18.

Going late in the pulling order, Nelson said she was able to take advantage of information gathered from teammates Misty Nelson, Jeremy Nelson and husband Jared Nelson.

“With the good equipment and my teammates behind me, we got to watch all of them tonight and that was a huge benefit for me coming in late,” Bethany Nelson said. “We got to see what everybody else did wrong and take all that data and put it to my truck.

“Jared hit the set-up tonight, which he tends to do lately and we took it down there for a ride.”

As for the season championship, Bethany Nelson said it was a team effort.

“It’s pretty awesome to come to Wheatland and double up,” she said. “Jeremy did it several years ago. To come out here and win and win the points, it’s pretty awesome. I can’t thank my team enough.”

In other Lucas Pro Pulling Nationals Champions Tour action:

Blackbourns dominate in Unlimited Super Stock Tractors: Josh Blackbourn drove Armed and Dangerous International Threat to victory in Unlimited Super Stock Tractors. Blackbourn, of Newton, Wisconsin, had a pull of 316.46 to hold off teammate Terry Blackbourn, in Extremely Armed and Dangerous, who went 309.73.

It was a team effort as Josh also drove the fourth-place tractor, Considered Armed and Dangerous. Brent Long, in Long Machine, was third at 306.52.

“In the sport of tractor pulling, we’re not out here qualifying. You’ve got one shot to run and if you don’t get it right … you just focus on the next day and try to make adjustments and make it better,” Josh Blackbourn said, reflecting on a tough pull Friday night in the Lightweight Super Stock Tractors. “That’s what we did back in the pits today. We had a little meeting and came out with a game plan.”

Season points leader Jeff Hirt of Port Clinton, Ohio, in Runin’ Bare finished fifth, one position in front of his nearest championship challenger, Robert Gahsemer in Ruttin Deere. It was Hirt’s fifth points championship.

Hirt said it was special because of the extra work the team had to do over the past week, with major engine repairs, just to make it to the season finale.

“For the number of passes, we’ve probably put in 10 times the effort of any other we’ve had,” Hirt said. “To get down the track (tonight) and make a respectable run - it wasn’t a great run - but it worked for what we needed. That’s all that mattered tonight.”

Roberts takes win and Miley championship in Super Farm Tractors: Wicked Whitetail, driven by Jeremy Roberts of Sullivan, Indiana, had the first of 10 pulls in the Super Farm Tractor division. He made a pull of 330.39 feet stand up for the victory.

“This thing is really running. I wish there was a longer season,” Roberts said. “But hey, 2020 has been a screwed up year and we’ll take every win we can get.”

Roberts said he was happy to draw the No. 1 spot in pulling order.

“I always think that an early hook here at Wheatland ends up in your favor,” Roberts said. “We laid down a 330 and I had to make a decision if I wanted to keep it or turn it down. Three thirty, I couldn’t turn down. I had to roll the dice and see if it would stay and it did.”

High Maintenance, driven by Josh Miley, wound up second with a pull of 324.70 and Screamin Norwegian, piloted by Shaun Boyd, was third at 324.54. Miley’s strong runner-up was good enough to nail down the season championship for him.

“There’s a lot of good iron in our class,” Miley said. “I’m just happy to capitalize on our short season. When you have a short season, it’s either all or none.”

Long doubles up in Super Modified Tractors: Keith Long of Glasgow, Kentucky, picked up career victory No. 3 as he piloted Lucas Oil Bullseye to a pull of 310.73 feet to win the Super Modified Tractors division.

Ricky Long was second in Lucas Oil Racing TV, 5.67 feet behind Keith Long, but that was enough to give him the season championship.

“It’s special, any time you win one,” Ricky Long said of the championship. “Whether you run a full season or a partial, it’s special to win a Lucas Oil Series championship.”

Pro Stock Tractors win, championship goes to Masterson: The Pro Stock Tractor win went to Kevin Masterson, in the John Deere Tinker Toy. Masterson, of Grandview, Indiana, went for a pull of 324.98 feet to edge out Jack Maize in Billet Binder at 323.12.

The victory also propelled Masterson to his first Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League season championship in a truck owned by his dad, Don Masterson.

“I’d really like to thank Patrick Gentry and Joey Harris for helping me. I’d like to thank my Dad for the opportunity,” Masterson said.

Rob Russell in Work Horse was third at 322.07.

Close one goes to Samet in Modified 4 WD Trucks: Less than one foot separated the top three in Modified 4 WD Trucks. Emerging with the win was Ken Samet of Hoopeston, Illinois, with a pull of 331.59. Just behind were Terry Hagedorn in Kickin Up Dust (331.21) and Hagedorn also in Gun Powers & Lead (331.07).

Hagedorn, meanwhile, did enough to capture the Modified 4 WD Trucks season championship.

It's a Hot Rod Semi repeat for Cloudt in Rubber Duck: For the second night in a row, Mitch Cloudt of Oberlin, Ohio, driving Rubber Duck, won the Hot Rod Semi class as well as wrapping up the season championship. Cloudt had a pull of 360.72, 3.38 feet better than Ryan DeBroux in Playin With Fire. DeBroux, of New Franken, Wisconsin, also was second on Friday night.

For the latest news, results, schedule and other information about the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League visit www.propulling.com.

Big Buck 50 next: The 7th annual Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt is set for next Thursday through Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway. The opening night has an open practice session from 5-8 p.m. followed by O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stock qualifying to set Friday’s heat race lineups as drivers work their way toward the $10,000 to win main event to be held on Saturday.

Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models will have full programs Friday and Saturday with the Lucas Cattle Company ULMA national champion crowned following Saturday's event.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05. Times are one hour earlier on Saturday.

Thursday's admission:
Grandstands free
Pit passes $25

Friday's admission:
Adults (16 and over) $15
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $12
Youth (ages 6-15) $5
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $35
Pit pass $35

Saturday's admission:
Adults (16 and over) $20
Seniors (62 and over)/Military $17
Youth (ages 6-15) $10
Kids (5 and under) FREE
Family pass $50
Pit pass $40

For ticket questions or information for any event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

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