(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – So we left after the 4^thclass was complete because my youngest son and I weren’t feeling well and hungry.  Oddly enough stopping off at waffle house afterward for a fill up helped tremendously.

I know I didn’t get good shots of every run, but I didn’t miss many and I have this thing about trying to capture the fair behind it in the shots as well.  The perfect shooting position kept eluding me.

First up were the Hot Rod Tractors.  Basically they are allowed up to 600ci NA with one carb and must weigh no more than 5200lbs.  Lots of RPM in this class and when they get the weight right the front tires just tap dance down the track.  The top three were:

1^stplace, Devin Dawson from Waynesville, OH on Family Feud 2 with 310.80.

2^ndwas engine builder John Calvert from Maysville, KY on King Pin reaching 307.71.

3^rdwent to Mark Dawson also from Waynesville on Family Feud stopping at 305.10.

Next class was Super Modified four-wheel-drive.  A few different configurations can run in this class.  170” wheelbase gets 500ci and an 8-71 blower allowed 53% overdrive at 6600lbs.  133” wheelbase gets to run up to a 14-71 (not hi-helix) with 30% overdrive at 6300lbs. They also will allow Pro Stock and Pro Modified trucks to compete.  Pro Stock is allowed 485ci NA and Pro Mod has no displacement limit, but must remain NA weighing 6350lbs.  The Pro Mod trucks definitely sing their own song at a very high RPM.  The three longest pulls were:

1^stDarrell Varner in Stray Dog pro-mod from Midway, KY reaching 331.43.

2^ndRex Bennett in Time&Money from Edmonton, KY with a 329.24 mark.

3^rdGraham Young from Versailles, KY in Renegade pro-mod stopping at 328.32.

Now the Super Modified two-wheel-drive trucks were up and this is usually the loudest class at any pull. Not a lot of rules for these folks. They must weigh no more than 6200lbs and the engines can only have a bore spacing a hair over 5-inches.  They are limited to a 14-71 hi-helix blower (no screws) and the other specs are about the body, chassis, and safety.  At last check the MBR and BAE hemis were pretty popular with some still running the Arias.  At full scream these things are wicked.  The podium finishers were:

1^stDonnie Sullivan from Warsaw, KY in ‘All In’ being stopped at 315.49.

2^ndBrandt Sullivan also from Warsaw in Big Ed Red with a 310.20.

3^rdTim Hartig out of Melbourne, KY in E-Timinator at 306.85.

The last class we witnessed was Limited Light Super Stock which has become very popular with fans and competitors.  It allows a lot of different combinations for both 4 and 6-cylinder tractors (V8 not allowed).  If running alcohol 370ci is the limit with one 3” intake non-intercooled turbo and one spark plug per cylinder.  If diesel is your flavor du jour then you have 3 choices.  470ci with a 3.6” intake non-intercooled turbo; 315ci allows 2 3” intake non-intercooled turbos; 410ci intercooled 3” intake turbo.  Other blanket rules are must weigh no more than 6000lbs, use OEM heads with 2 valves per cylinder, and water injection cannot have a fuel additive.  There were too oops moments in this class that resulted in front tires flying off. Everyone was okay when the dust settled and the event pressed onward.  The top three survivors were:

1^stKevin Shingleton from Georgetown on the Kentucky Gambler Deere halted by the sled at 326.06.

2^ndBrad Akridge of Campbellsville, KY on All About Money AGCO with a distance of 325.59.

3^rdEthan Moore on the Kentucky Sledhunter Deere from Butler, KY dragging to 319.22.

That’s it.  Hope you enjoyed.  Next time I’ll plan better and stay for the diesel trucks.