HOYT’S ‘NUT CASE’ IS ’09 “SMOKER SERIES” CHAMP
Photos by: Chuck Shaffer – dartanya.com and Bonnie – Eastern Extreme
It has been quite a season for Kris Hoyt in 2009. The culmination of the season came at Bloomsburg in early October when Hoyt piloted his “Nut Case” tractor to a hard-fought championship in the prestigious USA-EAST “Smoker Series”. Hoyt narrowly defeated two arch rivals in the series with a mere four points separating the top two tractors. But there is much more to the story of Hoyt’s championship that must be reported. It is a story of perserverence, team work and a strong commitment to accomplish a set goal despite an incredible set of circumstances that threatened to disrupt the acheivement of those goals.
The 2009 season started well for the “Nut Case” Team which is sponsored by Hoyt Oil Company from near Berwick, Pennsylvania. Kris, the president of his own company, piloted the Case 970 to a solid third place finish at Mercer Raceway Park on Memorial Day but finished behind the former champion Ray Link with his John Deere named “Gone Mokin’”. The next event at New Lexington, Ohio proved to be a pivotal pull on the schedule as Hoyt took the measure of all his adversaries including the five time national champion in the process. Hoyt’s win at the Perry County Pull-off served notice that the “Nut Case” was going to be very formidible in 2009. The next day the Hoyt Team travelled to Dansville, New York where their tractor was the runner-up behind Henry Everman’s “Final Decision”, the eventual Empire State Champion. This was a super week-end for the “Nut Case” and for Kris Hoyt.
With the next “Smoker Series” pull just ten days away disaster struck Kris Hoyt!! A serious accident on the job sent Kris to the hospital in critical condition. His legs had been crushed by a retaining wall that had collapsed while under construction. Eventually Kris lost one of his legs below the knee. The other leg was saved by his doctors and Kris vowed to be back in the seat by Bloomsburg. The tractor did not make the Ohio event on the 4th of July. However his closest rival in the “Smoker Series”, Ray Link, also missed this pull with mechanical issues allowing other pullers to move up in the point race. Hoyt’s recovery began in earnest and his team mates rallied around their fallen captain. Jamie Johnson the crew chief assembled the team to assure that the tractor would be ready if and when Kris wanted to go pulling. Dean Hack, an employee at Hoyt Oil, had some experience driving and with assistance from Art Woolever he was prepped for a possible stint behind the wheel of the “Nut Case”. Woolever and his son Tyler were campaigning their “Just In Case” Limited Pro Stock tractor with USA-EAST at the same time but pitched in to help with the process.
At Clearfield in early August Hack was slated as the driver for the tractor It was truly remarkable to see Kris Hoyt in his golf cart moving along the side of the track and offering support to the very nervous man on the seat. Only five weeks after his terrible accident Hoyt exuded the utmost of confidence in his team and again was quick to point out that he would indeed be back behind the wheel befored the end of the season. Hack finished third at Clearfield as Ray Link regained the point lead with another victory.
The next night at the Columbiana County Fair in Lisbon, Ohio Art Woolever was the driver of the “Nut Case” and drove the big white machine to a respectable third place finish as the tractor was now poised in third place in the point race in the “Smoker Series”. At Lisbon, Link fell out of the point lead with “Gone Mokin’” when the tractor suffered bearing problems and Aaron Bradish took over the lead with his IH MX 270 named “Recycled Red”. All the while the “JD Express” and Russell Hildenbrand continued to lurk just off the pace in the point race.
Another strange twist in the 2009 point chase occurred in mid-August when Ray Link, the former champion and the point leader early in the season was himself felled by a farm-related agricultural accident that removed the ‘Gone Mokin’ John Deere from the remainder of the season. Link’s slow recovery is ongoing as he now recuperates at his home in Patton, Pennsylvania.
To the surprise of almost everyone – with the exception of his team mates – Kris Hoyt was back in the driver’s seat by the end of August. His doctors had given him the ‘OK’ to return to pulling and his very strong constitution had pulled him through his medical issues. He guided the “Nut Case” to a second place finish at the Crawford County Fair in Meadville and ended up tied for the top spot (with Carlton Cope’s “WarPath”) at Burton, Ohio on Labor Day. And after that event in Ohio, Hoyt and the “Nut Case” could boast a one point lead in the “Smoker Series” point chase for 2009. And then on to Bloomsburg where Hoyt was able to put 2 ½ feet on Hildenbrand’s John Deere to ‘seal the deal’ and claim the crown in front of his hometown throng of fans. Hildenbrand’s “JD Express” ended as the runner-up with Bradish’s “Recycled Red” in third place.
Hoyt’s family is also a major factor in his recovery from an accident that might have ended his motorsport career. They have supported him throughout his ordeal and helped to pave the way for his very quick return to pulling. His wife, Tammy, and their three sons – Ryan (15), Cory (13) and Logan (6) have all been inspiring forces in Kris’ very timely recovery.
2009 has been a very unique year for Kris Hoyt and his team. Perserverence, team work and a strong commitment to goals has set Kris Hoyt and the “Nut Case” team apart during this season. These compititors have all been an inspiration to others in the tractor pulling family.
Congratulations to Kris Hoyt and the “Nut Case” – the USA-EAST “Smoker Series” champion for 2009.
Kris Hoyt receives his trophy at the USA-East Finals held at Bloomsburg Fair in Pennsylvania
