REPORT: USA-EAST AT BROOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
PHOTOS BY HAROLD CARD PHOTOGRAPHY of NEW YORK
Despite a very threatening weather situation, the 11th annual Keystone State Nationals Tractor and Truck pull at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds near Brookville, Pennsylvania was another huge success. The area was placed under a severe thunderstorm warning midway through the first pulling class but mother-nature afforded just enough of a window in order to get 99% of the USA-EAST sanctioned classes completed. Another outstanding crowd packed the huge covered grandstand for the annual pull sponsored by Dave Leadbetter Towing and Auto Body of Corsica, Pennsylvania. Full Pull Productions was the producer of this USA-EAST sanctioned pull.
BIG RIGS SEMI TRUCKS
The Sander’s Team from Ravenna, Ohio ended first and second on this night. Four trucks made full pulls to open the program at the Keystone State Nationals however an engine problem with “Killer” forced the Bonner Team’s 2007 champion Mack to withdraw from the pull-off. That left the winner from Mercer Raceway – “Mr. Nasty” and Don Snyder – to take on the Sander’s Mack trucks. “Mr. Nasty” went out to 268 to open the pull-off but was immediately surpassed by “Silver Bullet I” driven by Richard Scott of Diamond, Ohio at 293.44. ‘SB I’ has a 998 Mack V-8 for power that was built by Francis Engineering in Leroy, Ohio. And when Fred Sanders and “Silver Bullet II” with the Cummins engine could only muster a run of 286.75, the win went to Scott’s “SB I”.
LIMITED PRO – SUPER FARM TRACTORS
Seven tractors made it to the pull-off in this stellar field of sixteen Limited Pro and Super Farm Tractors. But only three of the pull-off qualifiers actually got to pull as the clouds opened during this pull-off. Henry Everman snared the win with “Mr. Determination”, an International from Dansville, New York. Second went to “Just In Case”, a Case 970 driven by Art Woolever from Montoursville, Pennsylvania. And Ted Giovanelli from Fredericktown, Pennsylvania was 3rd with his “Shazzam” IH1066. The other four pull-off qualifiers that ended tied for fourth place were: “Runnin’ Red Warrior” with Ross Martin from Enon Valley, Pennsylvania; Ron Higgins from Madison, Pennsylvania with “Red Rush”; “Buck Fever” and Dan Hildenbrand from Ruffsdale, Pennsylvania; and Clayton Christ’s IH 1066 “Just For Fun” from Holley New York.
MODIFIED 4x4 TRUCKS (‘Run What Ya Brung’ Series)
Fred Virgili returned from a near-disaster accident at Dayton just two weeks ago to capture his first-ever win on the USA-EAST schedule. Virgili, from Mather, Pennsylvania, pushed his beautifully prepared “Never Satisfied II” Ford to a resounding victory in a six-way pull-off at Brookville. His mark of 313 feet in the pull-off was nearly eight feet ahead of Jack Kiehl’s “Size Matter’s” Chevrolet from Cabot, Pennsylvania. Mark Tatalovich from Guys Mills, Pennsylvania was third with the high-powered 1995 Dodge “Mighty Mouse”. Calvin Miller was 4th and had the top diesel-fueled modified 4x4 “On Borrowed Time” from Washington County, Pennsylvania. Ed Zedreck rounded out the top group of five that were in the pull-off with “Little Irish II” from Chicora, Pennsylvania.
STREET LICENSED DIESEL 4x4 TRUCKS (2.6 class)
Eighteen trucks were in the pit area and ready to hook to the sled when the darkening skies opened up and forced the cancellation of the class. All registered competitors will receive a credit coupon that will allow a ‘free entry’ at some later event in the 2008 season.
The Pennsylvania Fair season begins next Saturday (June 28) at the Big Butler Fair in Prospect, Pennsylvania. Full Pull Productions and USA-EAST will be the opening act in the grandstand. The second annual Big Rigs Trucker’s Day will bring a “Show and Shine” contest in the afternoon along with semi and tri-axle drag racing at 5:00pm. The event will conclude with semi truck pulling and the world-famous Big Rigs Series at 7:30pm.
