The youngsters in the diesel 4x4 truck division received a very important lesson in 2009 as senior citizen Dale Bennett from Salem, Ohio claimed the USA-EAST point championship with his very dependable Chevrolet 4x4 that he calls ‘Social Security’.  Bennett and his wife are the owners of Bennett’s Trailer Sales in Salem, however he admits to being a business part-timer tending to put most of the work load on his son Pat and daugher-in-law Lisa.  This is only his third year of pulling and is his first major seasonal championship.  Bennett got the pulling ‘bug’ at the Canfield Fair in 2005 when he saw a lone Duramax from Michigan take on and defeat a stellar field of 16 Dodges and Fords.  He purchased the current pulling truck shortly after the Canfield pull and began to make plans for the 2006 season.  Bennett’s wife, Lynn, has never been to a pull, but is a firm supporter and the primary sponsor of “Social Security”.

Bennett’s 2004 Chevrolet is powered by the ever popular Duramax V-8 engine.  The engine and transmission work was completed mostly at PowerMax Performance in Columbiana County, Ohio and Dale credits Matt Weingart and his high performance team for saving his championship in 2009.  The engine suffered a serious melt down at a non-points pull the Big Knob Fair just prior to one of the final point events on the USA-EAST circuit.  Bennett had to get ‘Social Security’ back on the track with only four days notice when he called on PowerMax Performance.  That team of dedicated engine builders were able to get the truck back and running in time for Bennett to compete and solidify is 2009 championship. 

At the start of the 2009 season it was evident that the ’04 Chevrolet would be very competitive in this pulling division.  Dale won six straight events including the NW Ohio Championships at Burton, Ohio and the Keystone Nationals at Brookville, Pennsylvania.  But his close competitors were also finishing 2nd or 3rd and Bennett could not open up a sizeable point lead.  It was after his late night win at the rain-delayed Lawrence County Fair in New Castle, Pennsylvania in mid-August that Dale felt confident on his championship – and then came the unfortunate incident at Big Knob mentioned above.

Bennett is affectionately known as ‘Pops’ among his competitors in the 2.6 diesel 4x4 class.  Bennett and his son, Pat who is a full partner in the pulling operation, are seen at almost all of the pulling events in the region and in most cases they also take and post YouTube videos of most the of the events.  Dale will quickly tell you that two of his biggest fans are his grand daughters – Maddy and Katie.  In addition to the USA-EAST pulls, “Social Security” is also seen at various regional pulls on the NADM circuit and at local pulls with the NW PA Pullers Association as well as his hometown ‘Bunker Hill Shoot-Out’.   He also had non-point wins this year at Dover, Ohio and at London, Ohio on the COTPA circuit.

As for what is next?  Bennett does not see himself moving up to the Pro Stock Diesel class in the near future.  He is waiting to see what happens with the 2010 rules with USA-EAST before plotting his next move.  And most of the other pullers in the 8000 pound Street Licensed Diesel 2.6 class will surely have to contend with Dale and Pat Bennett and the ‘Social Security’ Chevrolet again next season.

Dan Perry from USA-EAST congratulates Dale Bennett after one of his 2009 season victories at Brookville, Pennsylvania