Deep in Illinois' corn country, there's a sled pulling circuit that hosts more than 70 events per summer, runs everything from small garden tractors to Pro Stock semis, and is known for providing some of the most competitive diesel events around.
Established in 1968, the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association (ITPA) was one of the first organized sanctioning bodies in tractor pulling. With this kind of heritage, it might be hard to believe that they’ve only had a Pro Stock Diesel Truck Class since 2007. But it's been a welcomed addition that pulls more than its own weight (no pun intended). In fact, at any given event, at least a dozen trucks compete, hundreds of spectators watch, and a battle for both points and bragging rights ensues. Never lacking in close competition, only a few feet typically separate First through Fifth Place at an ITPA pull.
Most events take place at county or community fairs, culminating at the Illinois State Fair, but are not specifically contained within Illinois' borders. In fact, more than half a dozen events were held in eastern Missouri, and there was even one in Kentucky in 2009. But no matter where they go, one thing's for sure—when the 3.0-Class diesel trucks are in town, there's always a packed grandstand. Here's a look at some of the action we captured on our recent trip to the Midwest.
 |  Seen here is Bob Ranek’s Silver...  Seen here is Bob Ranek’s Silver Bullet being iced down. A custom trough behind the radiator holds several bags of ice which helps pull the coolest air possible across the Cummins mill... |  ...while blasting down the...  ...while blasting down the track. Bob kicked off the nighttime pulling action with a 288-foot pull. |
 Rod Tarr's Super Ram is a...  Rod Tarr's Super Ram is a force to be reckoned with in the Pro Stock Class. With his Scheid-built Cummins-powered Dodge earning him a lot of wins, you can bet his truck makes the better part of the 1,000 to 1,200 hp it takes to be competitive. He took top honors of the night with a 304-foot run. |  Nathan Thornley's Ridin' Dirty...  Nathan Thornley's Ridin' Dirty Chevy is the only Duramax that competes regularly with an entire field of mechanically injected Cummins-powered trucks. Nathan took home Third Place with a 296-foot run. |  Another odd man out from the...  Another odd man out from the Cummins crowd is Billy Zimmer. His truck, Stroked Out, is a P-pumped 7.3L Power Stroke—and the only Ford not housing a Cummins in the Pro Stock Class. Since last winter, Billy extended the bed on his Super Duty, which now provides him with a 158-inch wheelbase, the maximum allowed by the ITPA. |