MONROE - Troy Bader doesn't back away from challenges. He is well aware of the pressure that comes with competing in a hometown tractor pull.
Bader, of Monroe, channeled his excitement of nerves and managed a pull of 320 feet, .07 inches to take second place in the Pro Stock class of the Badger State Tractor Pull at the 160th annual Green County Fair Thursday.
"To be behind the seat of something that has more than 3,000 horsepower is a great adrenaline rush," Bader said.
Bader was about one foot short of winning. Nathan Babler of Rock City finished first with a pull of 321.13. Babler was coming off a Lucas Oil championship last week in Mound City, Mo.
"It feels really good to get second place, especially because I was pulling against a pro," Bader said. "Pulling in your hometown is always a challenge because you are gunning for it. Everyone doesn't want you to win your hometown."
Bader has been involved in tractor pulls for 19 years. He and his brother Randy Bader have grown up on farms and always were intrigued by racing tractors. When Troy's brother got involved with tractor pulling about 24 years ago, he soon got lured into the sport. Randy Bader had a pull of 292 but was disqualified for being outside the boundary line.
"I wanted to be like them," Troy Bader said of his older brothers.
Bader was able to negotiate a track that was giving pullers fits. Only four pullers broke 300.
"Monroe typically has a great power track," he said. "There are a lot of pullers that make mistakes about what gear to get in. There also is the sled. There are a lot of factors."
Troy Bader participates in about 15 tractor pulls a year. This is his best finish this year.
"The payout doesn't come close to the cost of the tractor," he said. "We do this sport for the enjoyment of doing it."
In the Pro Farm 640 class, Nick Cunningham of Pecatonica, Ill., finished first place with a pull of 334.19 and Eugene Larsen of Baraboo took second (327.84).
Juda's John Meier continued his hot streak this summer winning the Hot Farm tractor pull at the 160th annual Green County Fair Thursday night.
Monroe's Mike Meier took fourth place in the same Hot Farm class and Monroe's John Wuethrich took eighth out of 17 pullers.
Jefferson's Nick Gallitz finished first place in the Limited Pro class with a pull of 323.92, which was just ahead of South Wayne's Cory Neff who finished second (322.38). Monroe's Scott Olson took seventh (305.786).
In the LLSS 6500 class, Monticello's Larry Hawthorn took fourth place (304.402) and Monroe's Brad Anderson finished seventh (286.88). Rock City's Justin Engelking won the class with a pull of 330.046.
Bader, of Monroe, channeled his excitement of nerves and managed a pull of 320 feet, .07 inches to take second place in the Pro Stock class of the Badger State Tractor Pull at the 160th annual Green County Fair Thursday.
"To be behind the seat of something that has more than 3,000 horsepower is a great adrenaline rush," Bader said.
Bader was about one foot short of winning. Nathan Babler of Rock City finished first with a pull of 321.13. Babler was coming off a Lucas Oil championship last week in Mound City, Mo.
"It feels really good to get second place, especially because I was pulling against a pro," Bader said. "Pulling in your hometown is always a challenge because you are gunning for it. Everyone doesn't want you to win your hometown."
Bader has been involved in tractor pulls for 19 years. He and his brother Randy Bader have grown up on farms and always were intrigued by racing tractors. When Troy's brother got involved with tractor pulling about 24 years ago, he soon got lured into the sport. Randy Bader had a pull of 292 but was disqualified for being outside the boundary line.
"I wanted to be like them," Troy Bader said of his older brothers.
Bader was able to negotiate a track that was giving pullers fits. Only four pullers broke 300.
"Monroe typically has a great power track," he said. "There are a lot of pullers that make mistakes about what gear to get in. There also is the sled. There are a lot of factors."
Troy Bader participates in about 15 tractor pulls a year. This is his best finish this year.
"The payout doesn't come close to the cost of the tractor," he said. "We do this sport for the enjoyment of doing it."
In the Pro Farm 640 class, Nick Cunningham of Pecatonica, Ill., finished first place with a pull of 334.19 and Eugene Larsen of Baraboo took second (327.84).
Juda's John Meier continued his hot streak this summer winning the Hot Farm tractor pull at the 160th annual Green County Fair Thursday night.
Monroe's Mike Meier took fourth place in the same Hot Farm class and Monroe's John Wuethrich took eighth out of 17 pullers.
Jefferson's Nick Gallitz finished first place in the Limited Pro class with a pull of 323.92, which was just ahead of South Wayne's Cory Neff who finished second (322.38). Monroe's Scott Olson took seventh (305.786).
In the LLSS 6500 class, Monticello's Larry Hawthorn took fourth place (304.402) and Monroe's Brad Anderson finished seventh (286.88). Rock City's Justin Engelking won the class with a pull of 330.046.
