Making smoky memories

The smoke has cleared, but ears may be still be ringing a bit as the Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull, hosted by the Monroe County Agricultural Society, wrapped up Saturday night at Tomah's Recreation Park.

"This is Tomah's biggest tourism event of the year," Tomah's Chamber Director Tina Thompson said at the start of the three-day-pull. "People share stories of their memories here," she said. "We're so proud to share those stories and to keep people coming back."

One of the people sharing those memories is 70th Assembly Representative Nancy Vander Meer, whose family has been one of the many sponsors of the event over the past 46 years.

"My dad built Indy cars," she said. "I have a great appreciation for the teams that put together these wonderful pieces of equipment." 

One of those fan favorite pieces of equipment is the "Bone Twister," an International Super Stock diesel pulling tractor driven by Travis Schlabach. 

"The black smoke is what the fans love," he said. Schlabach, the 2021 National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) points winner of the Grand National Championship series, said he "gets a lot of compliments" on his tractor's paint job. 

A Sept. 11 fireman scene decorates the back of the tractor, which has been a part of the Tomah event for the past decade. 

Clay Chastain, a second-generation driver for UD Motorsports, was the NTPA 2021 Grand National Truck Champion with his Super Modified Two-Wheel Truck "Fistful of Dollars."

He said this was his fifth year at the Tomah event. 

"We ran this set-up the last two or three years," he said. "We got a new blower this year."

Prior to the pull, Gregg Randall, executive director of the NTPA, thanked local organizers and the teams.

"Look at all these guys and ladies right over here," he said. "One of the things that I think is pretty cool in the last couple of years, we talked about family. We have got people that have made friendships that are here."

Randall also recognized that pull fans come from all over.

"We’ve got international travelers, will have folks from Canada here," he said. "But, one of the coolest things, I think probably, is the number of people that are behind the pulling organization and a pulling team."

To find out more and livestream all of the pulls from the Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull at Tomah, go to tomahtractorpull.com.