Truck pull draws large crowd to Gainesville Saddle Club grounds
Gainesville resident Carlton Bennett is pictured here pulling in the hometown class with his 1978 Chevy truck. He pulled a distance of 218.87 with a speed of 9.2. photos courtesy of Kelsey Long
There were two tractor classes during last weekend’s truck pull, an 11000 altered stock tractor class and p pump combo tractors.
Jason Janes of Couch drove this 1985 Chevy, called “Spirit of the Wild II,” in the 6200 DOT 2WD class during last weekend’s truck pull in Gainesville.
The roar of the annual truck pull could be heard in Gainesville Saturday night as competitors from near and far lined their trucks and tractors up against the “intimidator sled.”
Gainesville Saddle Club President Monty Hambelton said that this year’s event drew a crowd of about 350 paid admission adults, along with another 50 or more children.
The event, put on annually by WW Promotions, had 37 vehicles participate in various categories including hot stock trucks, hot street, stock 2WD, small block super stock, 6200 DOT 2WD, p pump combo tractors, Pro stock 4WD, 11000 altered stock tractors, pro street trucks and pro stock 2WD.
The event also featured two hometown classes in which local residents could participate. In the hometown gas class, there were four participants: Adam Ledbetter from West Plains with his truck “Goat,” a 1979 Ford F250 that pulled a distance of 272.5 at a speed of 17; Tony Morrison from Paragould, Arkansas, with his truck “Spot,” a 1998 Dodge that pulled a distance of 268.52 at a speed of 16.9; Jake Thornton of Marshfield with his truck “Brick Nose Billy,” a 1988 Ford F-250 that pulled a distance of 248.31 at a speed of 12.6; and Carlton Bennett of Gainesville with his unnamed 1978 Chevy that pulled a distance 218.87 at a speed of 9.2. In the hometown diesel class, two Gainesville residents entered the contest, Creeden Campbell with his 2004 Dodge Ram that pulled a distance of 252.82 at a speed of 17.3; and Joe Richer driving a 1992 Dodge that pulled a distance of 238.82 at a speed of 14.7. Other regional drivers who entered the hometown diesel category was Wesley Bauman of Lebanon driving “Rusty Red,” a 2002 Ford F-350, that pulled a distance of 261.91 at a speed of 18.6.
Hambelton says that the saddle club is happy to host the truck pull and other events at the Saddle Club Grounds as a way to bring the community together and for local residents to have fun attractions close to home.
The events do raise a little money for the saddle club too, he says. At present, saddle club members are raising funds for a new set of bleachers, which will cost about $40,000 in materials with club members providing all of the labor free of charge.
In that effort, the saddle club is currently raffling off a gun (Rossi R92 .45 Colt). Tickets are $50 each, and only 100 tickets will be sold. The gun has an MSRP of $887.
To purchase raffle tickets or to donate directly to the saddle club’s bleacher fund, contact Monty Hambelton or brothers Michael or Manuel Hambelton by calling MLH & Sons Sand and Gravel at 417-679-4102.