Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 117, No. 25	June 24, 2009

Pullin’ for a dream

Record-setting crowd cheers on pullers during Matt Pike Memorial Pull at fairgrounds

Heat and humidity welcomed a significant number of pullers and spectators to the Meade County Fairgrounds Saturday night at the second annual Matt Pike Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull.

Photo by Larry See Jr.
One of many diesel trucks and tractors which entertained the crowd at the Meade County Fairgrounds Saturday during the second annual Matt Pike Memorial Truck and Tractor Pull. The event was sanctioned by the Battle of the Bluegrass pulling series. Also included at the event was a silent auction, food and a live auction. The pull memorializes the memory of a local farmer who died tragically.

Entitled “Pullin’ For A Dream,” the event was held to continue raising funds for construction of a gym at a local church, according to co-organizer Neal Allen.

Co-organizer Jason Allen said attendance was pegged at 4,500, an increase of 1,000 from the 2008 figures.

“A lot of people came out a bit later,” he said, adding the grassy area with the shade seemed to be the favorite choice for attendees.

Exact figures weren’t available at presstime, but he said the event looks to have taken in over $50,000, again a significant increase over the previous year.

Even the number of pullers participating increased, Jason said, with at least 62 registering for the event.

“The purse we had was one of the best ones around,” he said. “And that brought out the best of the pullers.”

Local pullers participating included Jerry Sipes of Flaherty, who pulled 302.08 feet with a broken arm, winning his class, and Jeremy Mattingly of Brandenburg, the winner of the first annual event, who pulled 289 feet.

“He was a hometown boy so it was good to see a hometown boy win his class,” Jason said.

Other pullers included Larry Phillips who turned in a pull of 284.23 feet and Ray Heath with a measurement of 276.47.

The live auction raised $3,315, with the highest priced item, a John Deere cornhole game, garnering $1,000. The bidder was Jacobi Sales, who also donated several tractors used during the event.

Magistrate Randall Hardesty took home a Case/International Harvester pedal tractor for $425 to a lucky person, while Theresa Peters spent $375 for a John Deere pedal tractor.

Other items across the auction block included a football autographed by University of Kentucky football coach Rick Brooks ($100); a basketball signed by UK coach John Calipari ($450) ;and a guitar autographed by country singer Montgomery Gentry ($375).

According to the Battle of the Bluegrass pulling series Web site four winners walked away with $1,000.
The promoters paid a raised purse of $1,000 to the winner in each of the four sanctioned classes.

“There is no better way to grow our pull than to help the pullers, and our raised purse will do just that.” said Jason. “We’ve been doing this pull for a few years and it keeps getting bigger, and we expect this year to set records for pullers attending, as well as fans.” he said.

Brandenburg is known for being one of the best pulling facilities in America. The way the arena is set up, it looks like you’re pulling at an indoor event. For pullers who have never been here, it is a real treat. The track is also known for taking all the power that vehicles give to the dirt, according to the Web site.

“All in all it went well. It was a good show,” he said. “We had a few more people and that was a big plus.”

Providing emergency services on the scene were members of the Meade County EMS and the Payneville Fire Department.

Classes ran included the Pro Street Diesel Trucks (2.6), Light Limited Super Stock Tractors, Pro Stock 2WD (non-sanctioned), Pro Stock 4WD Trucks and the Pro Farm Tractors.

Final attendance and financial figures, as well as the class results will be printed in next week’s issue of the Messenger.

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