BILL HALTER MEMORIAL TRACTOR PULL RESULTS from BLUE RIDGE

The LSGTPA tractor pulling teams returned to scenic Blue Ridge, Texas, for the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull and some summer time tractor pulling.  Blue Ridge was settled on property originally owned by Matthiss Mowry, who received the land grant from the Republic of Texas, for his services during the Texas War of Independence.  Originally named Pull'n Tug, the blackland prairie town name was changed to Blue Ridge, around 1860, for its blue flowering grass.  Once home to the 16th Texas Cavalry, and now home to the Blue Ridge Tigers, the town once called Pull'n Tug makes for exciting tractor pulling and tugging action.

Jared Stephan leaves the starting line at the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull in Blue Ridge, Texas.

Youth Class tractors opened the show, with Mason Hovind taking the win aboard his 'Yes Deere' entry.  This was just the second pull on a fresh engine for the 'Yes Deere', following a mid-season engine rebuild.  Kody Langham scored a runner up finish aboard his Bonham Service Center sponsored tractor, while Lane Duncan posted a third place finish aboard his 'Texas T-Rex' tractor.  Jared Stephan pulled to a fourth place finish, driving the 'Rusteze' tractor, and returned to pilot the 'Iron Head' tractor to a top five finish. 

Lane Duncan pilots his 'Texas T-Rex' downtrack, during the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull in Blue Ridge.

Stock Class tractors were paced by Aidan Hovind, aboard the 'Yes Deere' tractor, with Aidan Hovind also piloting the 'Rusteze' machine to a runner-up finish.  Steve McCarley finished third, with Claude Lewis just inches behind in the fourth place spot.  Kolby Langham pulled to a top five finish, while Claude Lewis placed sixth aboard the 'Skeeter' tractor.  In Stock Diesel, Ken Langham Jr. pulled to victory, with Steve Hovind pulling to the runnerup.    In Big Stock, Alex Jesko piloted the 'Overtime' tractor to the win, with Shawn Aufdenkamp pulling to the runnerup.  Jerry Toland drove the 'Triple Deuce' machine to a third place finish, with Kolby Langham and 'Texas Thunder' pulling to fourth. 

Steve Pierce pilots 'Buzzards Roost' to victory at the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull in Blue Ridge.

The Stock Altered tractors were led by Ken Langham Sr. taking the top spot, with Alex Jesko pulling to the second place position aboard the 'Outlaw' tractor.  John Aufdenkamp finished in the third position, with Shawn Aufdenkamp pulling to fourth.  The Motorcycle Class category was won by Steve Pierce, aboard his 'Buzzards Roost' machine, with Paul Smith taking the runnerup position aboard his 'Texan' tractor.  Paul Smith returned to the track with the 'Texan' tractor, to take the Outlaw Class title. 

Paul Smith aboard his 'Texan' tractor, takes the Outlaw Class title in Blue Ridge.

The Mini Rod tractors put on a great show, with Jerry Toland taking the win aboard his 'Shinin Time' tractor.  Sarah Moody turned in a runnerup performance, aboard her '99% Moody' turbocharged diesel entry.  Colby Crowe piloted his 'Weekend Warrior' tractor to a third place finish on the podium.  David Houchen pulled to a fourth place finish, on an engine wounding run aboard his 'Back In The Day' tractor. 

Colby Crowe hangs onto his 'Weekend Warrior machine', during a wild ride at the Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull.

The Super Rod tractors closed the show, with Randall Moody using some home field advantage to put the 'Ridge Runner' in the winners circle.  Ken Langham Sr. finished in the runnerup spot, with Donny Mayo placing his 'Blackfoot Squaw' machine on the podium in third.  John Kiemele drove his 'Dodge This' machine, to the fourth place finish, in a very tough field of Super Rod Class tractors. 

Randall Moody steers the 'Ridge Runner' to the winners circle in Blue Ridge, Texas.  

The Bill Halter Memorial Tractor Pull was presented by area sponsors, including Cattleman's Cafe, Brockman Farms, Blue Ridge Country Store, Bo Elders Hay, Chilson Natural Hoof Care, Fortner & Son Backhoe, and the great folks at Ag Power of McKinney.  Local favorite Sarah Moody, turned in a great performance as event organizer!  Blue Ridge Cemetery is the resting place for Billy Jake Halter, a long time tractor puller for whom the event is named in honor of. 

The LSGTPA pulling teams will prepare for a five in a row, back to back series of pulls, to finish the 2014 season.  Visit the LSGTPA website, for event schedule and details.

De Leon Peach and Melon Festival LSGTPA Tractor Pull Results

De Leon, Texas was established in 1881, as the Texas Central Railroad pulled into the region.  The town and surrounding farming communities are rich with agricultural history.  In 1914, the area settlers organized a Peach and Melon Festival, as a local celebration for the farming community.  This event grew to be a regional happening, and in 1970, tractor pulling became a featured event during the festivities.  By 2007,  De Leon had constructed a dedicated tractor pulling arena, which featured dual pulling tracks.  During the 2014, 100th Annual Peach and Melon Festival event, a third track was added for the LSGTPA tractor pulling teams.

Opening ceremonies featured an outstanding National Anthem presentation, performed by the duet of Payton and Paige Williams.  Payton Williams was crowned the 100th Annual DeLeon Peach and Melon Festival Queen, prior to the start of the event, and performed sporting her newly acquired crown and sash! 

100th Annual DeLeon Peach and Melon Festival Queen Payton Williams, delivered the Natioanl Anthem during opening ceremonies of the LSGTPA tractor pull.

The LSGTPA Youth Class tractors opened the show, with Kody Langham taking the victory.  Jared Stephan pulled double duty on two tractors, placing his entries in the second and third positions.  Lane Duncan, aboard his 'Texas T-Rex' entry, scored a fourth place finish.  Megan Baird pulled to a top five finish, while Mason Hovind rounded out the field aboard his 'Yes Deere' entry. 

Kolby Langham wheels 'Texas Thunder' at the DeLeon Peach and Melon Festival tractor pull.

Stock Class tractors were paced by Aidan Hovind, with Claude Lewis scoring a second and third place finish aboard his two entries.  Claude scored the runnerup aboard his 'Skeeter' tractor, which was previously campaigned by Skeet Degner, a long time tractor puller who had passed away in March.  Kolby Langham pulled to a fourth place finish, while Aidan Hovind was limited by breakage on the 'Yes Deere' tractor.  The Stock Diesel title left with Ken Langham, Jr, while Steve Hovind pulled to the runnerup position on a run which ended in transmission damage.  In Big Stock, John Aufdenkamp used a Full Pull to take the win, over the runnerup tractor of Alton Degner.  Cameron Paschall scored a third place finish aboard 'High Cotton' and Alex Jesko used a second round Full Pull to finish fourth aboard his 'Overtime' tractor.  Kolby Langham also recorded a second round Full Pull aboard 'Texas Thunder', to finish inches ahead of Jerry Toland and his 'Triple Deuce' tractor.  Seth Markey took his tractor out of bounds on a wild ride, which resulted in a DQ and a seventh place finish aboard the 'High Cotton' tractor.

Claude Lewis takes 'Skeeter' downtrack at the DeLeon Peach and Melon Festival.  

Alex Jesko pilots 'Outlaw' downtrack at DeLeon.

Stock Altered resulted in two great pulls by Alex Jesko aboard the 'Outlaw', for the win.  John Aufdenkamp pulled to the runnerup spot, with Michael Mayberry and 'Pulling for Peanuts' scoring third.  Ken Langham scored a FullPull, but a first round DQ on a wild ride out of bounds, limited his entry to a fourth place finish.  The Motorcycle Class title was taken by Paul Smith, aboard the 'Texan' tractor, while Steve Pierce scored the runnerup aboard his 'Buzzards Roost' machine.  In Outlaw, Paul Smith and his 'Texan' tractor again scored the victory, with  the 'Three of a Kind' tractor of John Aufdenkamp placing second, while incurring some drivetrain damages.

Paul Smith works his way to a win aboard his 'Texan' machine at DeLeon.

Ken Langham holds on during a wild ride at the Deleon LSGTPA tractor pull.

The Mini Rod tractors put on a great show, with Jerry Toland taking the win aboard 'Shinin Time'.  David Houchen placed his 'Back in the Day' tractor in the runnerup position, with Sarah Moody placing third aboard her '99% Moody' turbo diesel tractor.  Colby Crowe and the 'Weekend Warrior' machine pulled to a fourth place finish.    The wild Super Rod tractors closed the show, with Thomas Kimmons taking the win aboard his newly acquired 'Fired Up' tractor.  Ken Langham scored the runnerup, with Donny Mayo and his 'Blackfoot Squaw' tractor placing third.  Randall Moody drove the 'Ridge Runner' to fourth place, with John Kiemele and the 'Dodge This' taking home a top five finish in a close field of Super Rods.

Thomas Kimmons scores a victory during his debut of 'Fired Up' at DeLeon.

To learn more about the history of De Leon, checkout out DeLeon History.com

 The next LSGTPA event will be the Bill Halter Memorial Pull, in Blue Ridge, Texas.  Visit the www.lsgtpa.com webpage, for the complete 2014 schedule of remaining events.