By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent LAPEER, Mich. — Two mid-Michigan brothers travel throughout the United States and Canada competing in tractor pulls. Their next stop is the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) in Louisville, Ky.
Bob and Terry Jostock, of Lapeer, will join nearly 200 other competitors as the 42nd Championship Tractor Pull roars into Freedom Hall during the show, Feb. 16-19 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The Championship Tractor Pull was originated by Billy Joe Miles in 1969. Each year, Freedom Hall’s basketball court is converted into a championship dirt track to showcase some of the sport’s top drivers. The invitation-only event features drivers and their high-powered machines in Pro Stocks, Super Stocks, Modified and Alcohol Tractors, as well as Two- and Four-Wheel Drive Trucks divisions.
They will compete in five performances during the four-day show for a share of more than $200,000 in prize money – and the grand champion title. The Jostocks will make their first run on Feb. 16 in the 7,500-pound modified tractors division. Bob will drive “Wild Child” and Terry will be on the seat of “Wild Won.”
They both said they enjoy “the thrill” of the pull.
“It’s a thrill to get out there and try to make the best run of everybody,” Bob said. “When I start the tractor up, I forget all about being nervous and just go out and do my thing.”
“We have friends all over the U.S.,” Terry said. “Our competitors are some of our best friends. We’re a real close group of people. We’re all working together until they hook the chain, then we’re all out for the competition.”
In addition to support from both of their families, the Jostocks said their mother, Maude Jostock, goes to every pull. “She loves to go pulling,” Terry said.
Bob had his start in tractor pulling in 1976. He said his friend and business partner, Terry Sawgle, took him to a pull in 1975, and the rest is history.
“We kind of got hooked,” Bob said. “The next year we were already building our first tractor and we started pulling.” Soon, they purchased another tractor at an auction sale.
“We’ve been pulling ever since,” Bob said.
When Sawgle decided to get out of pulling, Terry stepped in. “I had followed my brother all those years of tractor pulling,” he said. “I always watched them and wanted to have one.”
Terry said when the opportunity arose, his job had “freed up” and he had a little more time for the sport. So, he built his first tractor – the tractor he’s still driving today – and gave the sport a try.
“I applied to go to Louisville in 2002 and I got picked,” he said.
That year, Terry ran in the 6,200-pound 2-WD super modified trucks with “Wild One.”
“The first year, I finished third in my first pull and won the finals on Saturday night,” he said. “There’s nothing like winning the first time you’re there.”
The brothers look forward to this year’s event. “I like the pits,” Bob said. “It’s the farm show. There’s thousands of people walking through, taking pictures. It’s fun to talk with people.
“Farmers have a pretty good understanding of what we’re doing. It’s also fun to explain it to people who don’t really know much about tractor pulling.”
“When you get to the places where we pull, people just open their arms to you,” Terry said.
Tractor pull fans have the opportunity to be within inches of their favorite powerful tractors at “The Pit.”
Open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. inside Broadbent Arena each day of the 46th NFMS, The Pit gives pulling fans the chance to walk beside the trucks and tractors, meet the drivers, get autographs and take pictures of the vehicles that will compete in the Championship Tractor Pull.
Fans may also take advantage of this unique opportunity to get a firsthand glimpse of the hard work that goes into preparing these engine-revving beasts before they charge down the dirt track at the oldest indoor tractor pull in the country. Admission to The Pit is free.
The Pit will close at 11 a.m. on Feb. 19 in preparation for the 1 p.m. tractor pull performance. Broadbent Arena is located next to the Pavilion on the west side of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Tickets for this year’s tractor pulls are on sale now at the Freedom Hall Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. Pull tickets are $35 for the Wednesday and Thursday night shows, $45 for Friday night, $40 for Saturday afternoon and $45 for the Saturday night finals.
Friday and Saturday night shows sell out fast. For more information, visit www.farmmachineryshow.org |
