The 37th Annual Chapel Hill Lions Club Super Pull of the South roared with success Friday and Saturday night, drawing some of the biggest crowds in the events history.

The weather was beautiful both nights and the track was in perfect shape as pullers came from all over the country to take part in the non-stop action in one of the premier events of the National Tractor Pull Association (NTPA) circuit.

Great show

Chapel Hill Lions Club president Larry Symons said, "This is probably the nicest weather for the pulls that I can ever remember and everything just went off so good. I have talked to a lot of the pullers and they have said over and over again that they would rather come here than anywhere, because the track is the best, the people are the best, and the way they are treated by everyone in the community is top notch."

Symons talked about the incredible volunteerism shown by the Lions Club and the entire community that works all year to put on the renowned event.

"I have never seen a bunch of club members of any kind work together like this for a common cause, many of them spend 12 months a year to put on the pull," said Symons. "But, if it was just the Lions Club, we would not be able to do it, everybody in town chips in and helps out and does what needs to be done for the two nights."

Close competition

Five classes of tractors took part in the event and on both nights and many of the winners had to survive nerve-shattering pull-offs to claim the coveted spot in the winner's circle chair.

Probably the most exciting finish came via a pull-off in the 2,050-lb. Open Modified Mini Tractors class on Saturday night as Indiana puller Adam Koester screamed down the track in his Double Play machine to edge out Friday night's champion Adam Bauer's Iron Toy by a just under four feet.

"It didn't want to stop, we added some weight to the front and it didn't quit moving, it picked the front up and kept churning," said Koester. "When I left the line, it had a little low oil pressure, so I started getting on it and it came up and I took it for a ride. Those Bauer's are a tough bunch to beat, anywhere you go and it just feels great to beat some of these great competitors."

Red Horse rolls

In one of the dominating performances of the weekend, Texas native Stan Blagrave captained his Case Red Horse machine to back-to-back victories in the 8,000-lb. Diesel Super Stock Tractors, pulling his way to a 23-foot win on Friday before coming up with a 13-foot win on Saturday, both times over Brandon Hunt's Liv'n a Dream.

"We moved some weight back to get a hold of the track down there and I was skeptical, but it hooked real hard and ran good and it was an awesome run and a great feeling," said Blagrave. "It's a real good track here, a different and tricky track to figure out. This is a great class of tractors and these guys are all tough competitors and they don't back out for anybody."

There was definitely no backing down in any of the classes as the pullers went hook-to-hook the entire weekend, giving the throngs of fans all their monies worth.

The transformation of Chapel Hill will be in break down mode for many weeks to come as the volunteers return the Forrest sports area to normalcy until next year's Super Pull that will take place on July 18 & 19.

Lions Club Super Pull of the South Results

Friday Night Results

6,200-lb. Modified Two-Wheel-Drive Trucks

1. Kyloe Knapp Back Forty FP/304.635

2. Jacob Fuqua Trax FP/298.240

3. Jessie Petro 2-Timin' FP/294.030

6,200-lb. Modified Four-Wheel-Drive Trucks

1. Pete McKeeth Jus' Rutt'n FP/321.595

2. Rob Foster Simply Red FP/317.350

3. Jason Brammer Corn Fed FP/BR

2,050-lb. Open Modified Mini Tractors

1. Adam Bauer Iron Toy FP/316.365

2. Tyler Slagh Have No Mercy FP/315.855

3. Adam Bauer Cowboy Up FP/311.555

8,000-lb. Unlimited Modified Tractors

1. Ricky Rose Giddyup FP/314.000

2. Dave Archer Pioneer FP/290.145

3. Adam Bauer Cross-Threaded FP/BR

3. Adam Bauer Young Blood Unleashed FP/BR

8,000-lb. Diesel Super Stock Tractors

1. Stan Blagrave Red Horse FP/341.565

2. Brandon Hunt Liv'n a Dream FP/318.455

3. Jody Ross Resurrected Red Neck FP/301.065

Saturday Night Results

6,200-lb. Modified Two-Wheel-Drive Trucks

1. Jacob Fuqua Trax FP/315.265

2. Ryan Writsel Lucky Stryke FP/314.855

3. Renee Theobald Pretty Wicked FP/307.310

6,200-lb. Modified Four-Wheel-Drive Trucks

1. Pete McKeeth Jus' Rutt'n FP/323.225

2. Peyton Davis Punisher FP/318.000

3. Jason Brammer Corn Fed FP/BR

2,050-lb. Open Modified Mini Tractors

1. Adam Koester Double Play FP/326.665

2. Adam Bauer Iron Toy FP/322.965

3. Adam Bauer Cowboy Up FP/320.180

8,000-lb. Unlimited Modified Tractors

1. Dave Archer Pioneer FP/317.970

2. Ricky Rose Giddyup FP/310.940

3. Joe Eder 75th Edition FP/295.420

8,000-lb. Diesel Super Stock Tractors

1. Stan Blagrave Red Horse FP/314.230

2. Brandon Hunt Liv'n a Dream FP/301.205

3. Colin Ross Resurrected Red Neck FP/295.430