Photos and Videos by Dedra Simpson
So, we are in full swing pulling season in Texas. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to cover 2 of the first 3 pulls that the Texas Truck and Tractor Pullers Association (TTTPA) had. So, let’s catch you up to where we are and what all has been going on!
The first pull the TTTPA had was the 12th Annual Melody Oaks Ranch Spring Gathering and Truck Pull held April 4th and 5th. This was the season opener and everyone was raring to go. Most of the competitors had been working on their rigs over the winter trying to better what they had done the previous season.
Super Street:
In Super Street, the battle for the podium started right where it left off. Buck Hyndman’s “Ready to Rumble” and Chris Ryan’s “Mutt” were going to duke it out for first. Unfortunately for Ryan, he was disqualified Saturday and fell 19 points behind Hyndman. Dan Vallance’s” The Farm Truck” put on quite a show Saturday and ended up squeezing between Venessa Finstad and Hyndman for second place.
The second event was held in conjunction with the NHRDA at the Texas Spring Break. Full coverage can be found here, but the moral of the story is this… Hyndman 1st, Darvin Bradley in “Half Breed” 2nd, Vallance 3rd and Finstad 4th.
The Rumble In Riesel event was April 25th and 26th. Hyndman continued his dominance taking first place both nights with a commanding performance Friday out pulling the closest competitor by almost 10 feet (338 to 329). Shaun Braun in “Bad Asset” put on a good show as he stared figuring things out. He was second place Friday and was only a foot away from Vallance who placed 2nd Saturday 3 feet feet behind Hyndman. Ryan was unable to make it for this pull and that cost him almost 40 points in the points chase this year.
So, as of April 26th, the points standings for Super Street are:
- 92 “Ready To Rumble”, Buck Hyndman
- 79 “Uncommon”, Venessa Finstad
- 73 “Borrowed Time”, Ritchie Shafer
- 62 “Bad Asset”, Shaun Braun
- 58 “Tadpole Express”, Jeramiah Peek
- 53 “The Farm Truck”, Dan Vallance
- 41 “The Natural”, Lynn Chupp
- 35 “Half Breed”, Darvin Bradley
- 33 “Mutt”, Chris Ryan
Hot Farm:
Hot Farm has been a class that Clint Metting driving his John Deere named “Bull Frog” has been on top of for a while. Usually close by is Scott Struthoff in his International named “Constant Aggression” and John Link in his Case powered tractor named “Revvelation”. The three of these tractors dominated last year and they were all looking to continue that pattern this year.
The 12th Annual Melody Oaks Ranch Spring Gathering and Truck Pull revealed that Clint Metting was planning on running two tractors this year. Friday, John Link eeked out the win by 0.01 inches over Metting’s “Bull Frog” which was 19 feet in front of Randall Brockman’s “Red Warrior Express” (finished 4th last year). But on Saturday, Metting would have to stand with one foot on the top of the podium and one on the second place because his tractor “Bull Frogg” won with a pull of 340 feet and “Bull Dozzin” Deere took second with a pull of 333 feet. Herman Glueck in “Popeye” took 3rd Saturday (4th Friday)
During the NHRDA at the Texas Spring Break event, Link would once again claim top position while Metting had to be satisfied with 2nd and 3rd place. By all indications, “Bull Dozin” Deere is a strong contender and Metting seems to have his Deere’s running well.
There was a little bit of a shake up during the Rumble In Riesel when Link grabbed the top spot and Glueck finished 2nd. But don’t worry, Metting in “Bull Frog” still stood on the podium with third place and Brockman took 4th. Looking to regains some ground in the points chase, Metting kept his foot in it as he guided the sled down the track to a distance of 332 feet. 8 feet further than Brockman and 10 feet further than Link.
So, as of April 26th, the points standings for Hot Farm are:
- 79 “Bull Frogg”, Clint Metting
- 78 “Revvelation”, John Link
- 69 “Red Warrior Express”, Randall Brockman
- 66 “Bull Dozin Deere”, Clint Metting
- 61 “Feral Farmall 1206”, Bryan Beazley
For more information about the TTTPA, please visit their website or Facebook.