Readyville native, Bruce Baird rode his tractor, “Ghost Rider," to a fifth place finish in the 6,500-pound Limited LSS Tractor Class. TMP/D. Hunter

Various trucks and tractors were all tricked out as they tried to pull a large amount of weight across a dirt track in a straight line. The crowd came from all around the nation, but they braved the cold weather to attend one of the few indoor tractor pulls in the Southeast.

Action took place both Friday and Saturday, which included a near sellout during Saturday evening’s card. Many drivers from across the Midwest brought their vehicles in attempt of reaching a full pull and hitting the sandpit at the end of the arena floor, which measured a little more than 260 feet.

Some local drivers looked to win in front of their friends and family. One of those was a driver that has been in the sport for more than 30 years along with his brothers. On this night, he would borrow his sibling’s tractor and almost put it in victory lane.

Smyrna’s Dave Gambill runs a sawmill and has one of the only large farms left in the city, which measures over 200 acres.

The farm has been in his family for more than 50 years.

Last Saturday night, Gambill’s is running in the 9,300-pound Super Farm Tractor class with a tractor called “Santas Express” that is usually run by his brother, Harold. The reason for the name is Harold’s beard looks like Santa Claus.

Dave’s tractor, the Money Grabber, blew up during a previous competition.

The number represents the weight of the vehicle. Gambill had competed in all six editions of this event, but his best finish in the event coming into Saturday’s night contest was fourth.

His class included eight other tractors from many different models that get one run down the track. Gambill would be the last to go.

The fourth driver, Allen LeGrand from Madisonville, Ky., reached the full pull mark of 260 feet, in which he hit the six feet high, five feet deep sand pit at the end of the track. Gambill went last and also went the full-pull distance and brought the crowd to their feet when he nailed the sandpit.

Rules dictate that a run-off takes place if more than one vehicle reaches the full pull.

However, the catch is more weight is added to the pulling sled that is hooked up to the vehicle of choice. In the pull-off, LeGrand won it with a pull of 258.57 feet, while Gambill finished with a pull of 256.55 feet.

“I was happy with the run,” Gambill said. “I have nothing to complain about. I ran well for my brother.”

Another exciting class was the 12,000 lb Hot Farm Tractor class, which started off Saturday’s afternoon session.  It featured 13 tractors, including two MTSU students, and a Tennessee Tech student from Bradyville. By the way, three tractors would face off in a pull-off after hitting the sand during their first run. Owensboro, KY’s Brandon Glenn won the event in his “Buckwild” with a pull of 256.90 in the pull-off.

The best local finisher was Christopher Bowman, from Bradyville and a Tennessee Tech student. He finished fifth in the “Calculated Guesswork”. He hopes after college to work for an energy company.

Justin Duncan was ninth in the “Superfly”, which his dad named it while driving down the road one day. The Hillsboro native also plays rugby at MTSU.

Another MTSU student, Bradley Coppinger was 12^th in his John Deere that was nameless. He lives in Woodbury enjoyed pulling in front of his friends and family.

“It’s a good feeling. It feels like a bowl game,” Coppinger said. “It is like a bowl game for tractor pulling.”

Just like most motor sports, the vehicles are known for their unique paint jobs. An example is Readyville native, Bruce Baird whose tractor is called “Ghost Rider”.

The name came about after the orange paint job. One of his friends said it looked like a ghost and the name stuck. When he pulls down his helmet visor before a run, it does look like a ghost.

“It’s a ride of its own,” he said.

Baird finished fifth in the 6,500-pound Limited LSS Tractor Class.

Final Results

Friday night

7000 Diesel/6500 Alcohol- Al Koch (Indianapolis, IN- Entertainer)-231.75

9500 Hot Farm Tractors- Byron Amburgey (Mt.Sterling, KY-Bad for Business) - 256.16

9300 Super Farm Tractors- Jed Pettus (Lawrenceburg, TN-Dixie Deere) - 260.57

6500 Limited LSS Tractor Class- Jerry Sipes (Ekron, KY-Family Driven) - 260.90

3. Bill Bowman (Woodbury, TN- Deer Gone Wild) - 255.38

6200 Pro Stock Trucks- Neal Allen (Brandenburg, KY- Red Rock) - 254.92

Saturday Midday

12000 Hot Farm Tractors- Brandon Glenn (Owensboro, KY-Buckwild)-256. 90-pull off

9300 Super Farm Tractors- Michael Fanning (Franklin, KY-Raging Bull) - 260.78

7000 Diesel/6500 Alcohol- Rex Kuhn (Morristown, IN- Git-R-Done) - 247.44

6200 Pro Stock Trucks- Tim Beaty (Jamestown, TN- Sawmill Express) - 259.04

Saturday Night

6500 Limited LSS Tractor Class- Aaron Prewitt (Shelbyville, KY- Can’t Get Right) - 247.11

9300 Super Farm Tractors-Allen LeGrand (Madisonville, KY- Flirtin’ with Deeresaster)-258.57-pull off

8000 Pro Stock Diesel Trucks- Patricia Justison (Hillsboro, IL-Legacy)-251.37

7000 Diesel/6500 Alcohol Tractors- Mike Wilhite (Bardstown, KY-Blue Blazes)-264.69

9500 Hot Farm Tractors-Jeff Tackett (Warsaw, KY-Logans Run)-261.93