MONROE - Fans at the third annual Green County Fall National Tractor and Truck Pull sat forward in their seats or leaned in to get a better view as massive tractors pulled weights of up to 40,000 pounds, Saturday at the Green County Fairgrounds.
The driver gripped the wheel tightly as the tractor's engine began to roar louder and louder until black smoke billowed from the tractor's smoke stack.
More than 90 competitors from across the Midwest attended the event. Most of the drivers are regulars, said Gary Scott, Barneveld. Scott has attended tractor pulling contests for several years.
"They've all seen each other before," he joked. "A lot of them are pretty good friends."
Justin Paulson, Argyle, might have been one of the younger drivers at the event, but he has a lot of experience. He's been involved with tractor pulling for five years. He looks forward to every part competition, from talking to spectators to driving his tractor.
"It's a rush," he smiled when asked what he likes about tractor pulling.
He spends a lot of time to get his tractor ready for every event.
There's always some new piece of equipment that comes out to give the tractor more power, he said. The key is to stay on top of new technology.
He attended tractor pulls as a child, he said, and decided it was something he wanted to do.
He hasn't regretted his decision to drive, he added.
Travis Haugen, Brodhead, grew up spending a lot of time at tractor pulls. His grandfather, great-uncle and father competed at tractor pulls for years.
"I used to watch them all of the time, and then I wanted to do it," he said.
Like Paulson, Haugen said it takes a lot of time to get his tractor ready.
He put a new motor and a new rear end on his tractor this season.
"We spent the past three weeks working on it," he said.
The tractor pulls gave the drivers a chance to show off their tractors and entertain the crowd. The grandstand and infield at the fairgrounds were full as people of all ages came out to see the tractors haul down the dirt track.
Profits from the 2009 tractor and truck pull will support individuals who have suffered hardship or tragedy.
The driver gripped the wheel tightly as the tractor's engine began to roar louder and louder until black smoke billowed from the tractor's smoke stack.
More than 90 competitors from across the Midwest attended the event. Most of the drivers are regulars, said Gary Scott, Barneveld. Scott has attended tractor pulling contests for several years.
"They've all seen each other before," he joked. "A lot of them are pretty good friends."
Justin Paulson, Argyle, might have been one of the younger drivers at the event, but he has a lot of experience. He's been involved with tractor pulling for five years. He looks forward to every part competition, from talking to spectators to driving his tractor.
"It's a rush," he smiled when asked what he likes about tractor pulling.
He spends a lot of time to get his tractor ready for every event.
There's always some new piece of equipment that comes out to give the tractor more power, he said. The key is to stay on top of new technology.
He attended tractor pulls as a child, he said, and decided it was something he wanted to do.
He hasn't regretted his decision to drive, he added.
Travis Haugen, Brodhead, grew up spending a lot of time at tractor pulls. His grandfather, great-uncle and father competed at tractor pulls for years.
"I used to watch them all of the time, and then I wanted to do it," he said.
Like Paulson, Haugen said it takes a lot of time to get his tractor ready.
He put a new motor and a new rear end on his tractor this season.
"We spent the past three weeks working on it," he said.
The tractor pulls gave the drivers a chance to show off their tractors and entertain the crowd. The grandstand and infield at the fairgrounds were full as people of all ages came out to see the tractors haul down the dirt track.
Profits from the 2009 tractor and truck pull will support individuals who have suffered hardship or tragedy.