30th annual Enderle Pull-Off to be held Saturday

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The twin tracks at the Champaign County Fairgrounds will be the center of the pulling universe on Saturday, Sept. 17, as 110 of the National Tractor Pullers Association’s best competitors from 2016 get one more try at one more trophy and another chance to say “Thanks, Kent.”

The 30th annual Enderle Pull-Off – sponsored by Enderle Fuel Injection of Simi Valley, California, and presented by Farmers Equipment Incorporated of Urbana, Case IH – will again arrive in two spectacular sessions. Regional National Session One at 1 p.m. will bring 50 competitors to the line in 12 divisions of tractors (Light Super Stock, Heavy Super Stock, Heavy Super Stock Diesel, Super Farm, Pro Stock, Light Pro Stock, and Limited Pro Stock), trucks (Two Wheel Drive, Four Wheel Drive, and Super Stock Diesel 4×4) and modifieds (Mini and Multi-Engine). Qualifying for this session began with late-season events in 2015 and continued through five competition regions and around 60 pulls on the NTPA’s 2016 schedule.

Then, Grand National Session Two at 7 p.m. will feature the top five competitors in each of 12 GN divisions: Light Super Stock, Super Stock Diesel, Super Stock Open, Super Farm, and Pro Stock Tractors; Two-Wheel-Drive, Four-Wheel-Drive, and Super Semi Trucks; and Mini, Light Unlimited, Multi-Engine and Unlimited Modifieds. Every one of the 20 events on the NTPA’s Super and Grand National circuits had Enderle implications, and several races for those coveted invitations have or will come down to the final hooks of the season.

In all, over $107,000 in prize money is there for the taking – in the form of checks signed and presented by EFI founder Kent Enderle himself – for those competitors willing to turn up the wick and go for it. We invite you to check out www.allstarpull.com for qualification details and point standings.

In between the afternoon’s and evening’s on-track action, the 30th Enderle promises to be a season-ending festival for the pulling fan. Drivers and crew members will be giving their vehicles a final tune and shine but are happy to answer questions, take pictures and sign autographs. Access to pit, vending and exhibitor areas is included in the price of admission. But, says Gregg Randall, NTPA Office General Manager, competitors and spectators had better relax when they can.

“The prospect of that final run of the season with everything set on kill is exhilarating, and fans can sense it. But it can be overwhelming, too, even for experienced drivers,” he said. “All that hard work, all those road miles, and all those wins and strong finishes to get to this prestigious event flash through the drivers’ minds at some point during the day, as does the finality of another season. Speaking for the NTPA team, it affects us as well. From the track to the sled to the officiating crews, we dig deep to put on the most exciting event we possibly can.”

Advance, discount all-day (both session) adult tickets are available for $20 at the NTPA’s Webmall (ShopNTPA.com) as well as presenting sponsor Farmers Equipment of Urbana and sponsors Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant of Urbana; Dave Kehl Chevrolet of Mechanicsburg; Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken locations in Clark, Logan, Shelby, and Miami counties, and over 80 area O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Children under 10 are admitted free.

On the day of the event, adult admission is $30 for both sessions or $25 for Session Two only. No refunds will be issued. If any of Saturday’s classes are not completed due to inclement weather, they will be rescheduled for Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m.

In high performance truck and tractor pulling, participants strive to drag a metal sled weighing up to 20 tons the greatest distance along a straight, dirt track. Competitors build highly specialized vehicles that resemble farm tractors, trucks and dragsters and battle for purse money and end-of-season championships.

The longest-running and most lucrative one-day invitational event in the motorsport, the Enderle Pull-Off will have awarded competitors over $1.6 million in prize money since its inception in 1987 as a means of expressing gratitude from Kent Enderle and his late wife Joan toward customers of Enderle Fuel Injection across the pulling world. The first three Pull-Offs were held at the Ohio State Fair, the next 16 in Fort Recovery, Ohio, and the past 11 as a stand-alone event in Urbana.

Colin and Jody Ross of Waynesburg, Pa., with “Triple Bypass” will be one of over 100 competitors competing at the 30th Annual Enderle Pull-Off.
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/09/web1_tractorpull.jpgColin and Jody Ross of Waynesburg, Pa., with “Triple Bypass” will be one of over 100 competitors competing at the 30th Annual Enderle Pull-Off.

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