LSGTPA 2015 SEASON RECAP

The LSGTPA 2015 tractor pulling season featured ten events throughout Texas, and provided pulling fans and competitors with a load of excitement.  Each team competing for the 2015 Championship points, battled a variety of pulling track surfaces and weather conditions throughout the season.  We take a look back at some of the events, and outstanding performances along the way.

The first event of 2015, would be the Inaugural Delta County Fair LSGTPA Tractor Pull, presented by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce.  The event featured a dedicated pulling track, designed and prepared by Rocky Young of RY Construction, and located at the City Park in Cooper, Texas.  Claude Lewis would use the first event, to score a victory in Stock Class, and would build on the lead to dominate the field and take the 2015 Championship in Stock Class.  Lewis would manage a string of nine victories, during a great performance for 2015.

Claude Lewis takes a win at the Johnson County Antique Tractor Pull event in Alvarado.

The Hunt County Fair in Greenville, Texas, was scheduled to be a double header event.  Rain delayed the event, and shortened the event to a single pull, with Paul Smith doubling down and scoring victories in both Big Bike Class and Outlaw Class.  Smith would carry his lead throughout the season in both classes, and would double up on the 2015 Championships.  Smith would ride his 'Texan' tractor, a crowd favorite, to a total of fourteen event titles during 2015. 

Paul Smith aboard his 'Texan' tractor, scores a win at the Help-A-Child Benefit in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

The Bonham Heritage Day celebration featured the LSGTPA pullers, with John Aufdenkamp celebrating a win in both Big Stock and Stock Altered Classes.  Aufdenkamp would continue the season with strong performances, resulting in Championship titles in both classes.   Scoring eleven event titles between the two classes, Aufdenkamp placed his Outlaw Pulling Team entries on top for 2015.

John Aufdenkamp pulls to a victory during the Bonham Heritage Day event.

Rain would delay the Rolling Oaks VFD pull, but no weather delay would deter the Bonham Service Center Team performance, as Ken Langham, Sr. pulled to a victory at the event.  The Longhorn Express pulling team would leave with the Super Rod Class victory, and build on a points lead to take the Super Rod Class title for 2015.  Scoring eight victories throughout the season, Langham and crew would dominate the field with their high horsepower Chevrolet powered machine. 

Ken Langham Sr., scores a victory during the Rolling Oaks VFD event.

The Bill Halter Memorial Pull in Blue Ridge, Texas, is contested each August.  The pulling action is as hot as the Texas summer, and Jerry Toland stoked his Championship points lead aboard his 'Shinin Time' tractor, to take the win and mount an unsurmountable points lead in the Mini Rod Class.  Scoring five victories on the year with consistent performances, Toland's four cylinder tractor would take the top spot in the class. 

Jerry Toland wheels 'Shinin Time' to a victory in Blue Ridge, Texas.

As the teams rolled into Bartlett, Texas for the Old Town Festival event, the season points action for each class was heating up.  John Aufdenkamp turned up the heat in the Hot Stock Class, with a victory in Bartlett, and a points lead that would hold up for the 2015 Championship.  One of three 2015 Championship Titles earned by the Outlaw Pulling Team, Aufdenkamp secured the seasons top spot with six event titles. 

John Aufdenkamp takes his 'Rusteze' entry to victory lane in Alvarado.

As the temperatures cooled down in October, the pulling action remained hot.  As the teams rolled into Farmersville, Texas for the Old Time Saturday event, several classes remained to be contested for the Championship titles.  Mason Hovind piloted his 'Yes Deere' machine to a victory in the Youth Class, to take the lead down the stretch and score a Youth Class Championship for the Mean Green Pulling Team.  Strong performances and two event wins, would place Hovind in the top spot in Youth Class for 2015.

Mason Hovind pilots his 'Yes Deere' tractor a win in Farmersville, Texas.

The Rockdale Fair & Rodeo event would be the 2015 LSGTPA Season Final, held at the historical Rockdale Fair Horse Racing Track.  Ken Langham, Jr. would jockey his Stock Diesel entry to score a field leading victory on the historic track surface, closing the season with a win and the Stock Diesel Class title.  Langham's season finale victory, would be one of six event titles for the team in 2015. 

Ken Langham, Jr. wheels his Longhorn Express Pulling Team entry to victory in Rockdale, Texas.

As we file the 2015 season highlights in the record books, the 2016 LSGTPA season is now fast approaching !  Stay tuned for the 2016 LSGTPA pulling schedule, and check out an event near you !