By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor
They came from as far as Pennsylvania and Virginia, spending tens of thousands of dollars on their trucks and tractors, for the chance to lug a huge weighted sled about 230 feet.
The inaugural Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Classic brought out 144 competing trucks and 101 competing tractors to the Arena in Corbin this week.
In a total of 14 different classifications, drivers attempted to pull a weighted sled across the Arena floor, roughly 230 feet. A laser accurately measures how far the sled is pulled to determine the winner.
A lot of time and money goes into those few seconds of glory.
“We’ve probably got about $65,000, $70,000 in it,” said Justin Massie of the competition tractor he owns jointly with his wife and brother-in-law.
Massie started competing with a stock tractor near his home in Northern Kentucky, but things got bigger and bigger.
In 2006, he and his family purchased the speciality pulling tractor he drives today.
“Every weekend, throughout the summer, we’ve got about three hooks (events) a week,” he said.
The body of his tractor partially comes from a 1965 Farmsall model, but it’s been modified to be able to haul up to 85,000 pounds on the sled.
“We’ve been farming cows and everything all my life, and we went to watching tractor pulls and I just got hooked on it,” Massie said.
And though winners receive cash awards, it hardly makes up for the money spent on the trucks and tractors.
“It’s just an expensive hobby,” Massie said.
Many pulls are held outdoors. Due to the immense amount of black smoke emitted by the diesel burning trucks and tractors, a large plastic tube was attached to the exhaust to carry the smoke out the back door of the Arena.
Winners in the Battle of the Bluegrass points championship were: Work Stock Truck, Scott Willoughby; 10,000 Hot Farm, Dennis Peach; Pro Stock 4WD, Jay Holt; Light Limited Super Stock, Jerry Sipes; 2.6 Trucks, William Chambers; 8500 Pro Farm, Keith Race; and 2.8 Trucks, Taylor Stivers.
Entertainment
Hooked on the truck pull
The appeal of the truck and tractor pull
- Entertainment
-
-
Car show at Cumberland Falls
Want to be part of a classic car show or just come and look at all the chrome? Then don’t miss The Cumberland Valley Cruise-In to Cumberland Falls Car Show Saturday.
-
Friends of Library to bring impressions of Elvis, others
Last year, master impressionist Dave Ehlert came to Corbin as the legendary American author and humorist, Mark Twain.
-
Bentley brings tour and show to The Arena on May 11
For Dierks Bentley, one of life’s greatest sights is one of a sunset. Coming from his native Arizona, the country singer and songwriter has had many a chance to see some spectacular ones in his young career — a career that continues to rise like the sun.
-
The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s ‘String Spectacular’ is coming to London
The Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky Inc. will present The Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra’s “String Spectacular!” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at First Baptist Church in London.
-
Take a Bow
This weekend’s performances of the musical “Little Women” by the Redhound Theatre of Corbin High School will be special in two ways.
-
Redbuds blooming in B’ville, London
Redbuds, arts, crafts, storytelling, music, folklife and bicycles will be spread out over two counties this weekend.
-
Murder for a cause... a good cause
Forget the board game “Clue,” and how Colonel Mustard murdered Miss Scarlet with a candlestick in the study.
-
Annual Murder for a Cause to feature Golden Girls Spoof
Fantastical Theatricals will present The Golden Girls Mystery Party Saturday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Depot on Main to benefit Corbin’s United Effort.
-
Redbud Festival announces Heritage Living Class schedule
The following hands-on Heritage Living Classes will be held as part of the Barbourville Redbud Festival and Heritage Living event coming to Union College in April. The Festival will be here before you know it and classes fill up fast, so spring into action and sign up.
-
‘Chili Bowl’ kicks off Main Street events
Is your bowl of chili the stuff that legends are made of? The Main Street Corbin program is looking for a few good cooks who can concoct a batch of the tasty and spicy stew for next Saturday, when their Inaugural Corbin Chili Bowl event takes place.
- More Entertainment Headlines
-
Car show at Cumberland Falls




