Theo Nash
Tractor pulling is a sport that emerged in the late 1970s. It involves modified tractors pulling a weight transfer sled down a 300-foot track. The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) is the largest tractor-pulling organization in the US and sanctions about 250 events per year. While diesel classes make up most of the tractor-pulling market, there are some gas and alcohol-powered tractor classes. Alcohol-powered tractors are limited to the light and heavy Super Stock class. These tractors can have multiple turbochargers, and their engines can displace up to 680 cubic inches, producing over 3,000 horsepower. While there is no specific information about the max RPM on multi-turbo alcoholic pulling tractors, Pro Stock tractors carry anywhere from 4,500 to 5,500 RPM going down the track, and some are wound up as tight as 7,000 RPM before they leave the starting line.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| RPM range of Pro Stock tractors | 4,500-5,500 rpm |
| RPM range of Pro Stock tractors before leaving the starting line | 7,000 rpm |
| Maximum RPM of top diesel classes | 6,000-7,000 rpm |
| Maximum RPM of stock diesel tractors | 2,200 rpm |
| Maximum RPM of Kubota tractors | 2,400-2,500 rpm |
| Maximum rated RPM of Kubota tractors | 3,200 rpm |
| RPM of Kubota tractors for maximum torque | 1,600 rpm |
| RPM of Kubota tractors for rated PTO | 2,300 rpm |
| RPM of Kubota tractors for rated mower PTO speed | 400 rpm |
| Maximum RPM of turbos in Pro Stock tractors | 100,000 rpm |
| Maximum weight of Modified tractors | 3,600 kg (8,000 lb) |
| Maximum horsepower of Pro Stock engines | 3,000 hp |
| Maximum horsepower of Super Stock Open tractors | 6,000 PS |
| Maximum horsepower of Diesel Pro Stock tractors | 3,700 PS |
| Maximum horsepower of Limited Pro Stock tractors | 9,500 lb |
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What You'll Learn
Tractor pulling history
Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition in which antique or modified tractors pull a heavy drag or sled along a 100-metre-long track. The winner is the tractor that pulls the drag the farthest. The sport is believed to have originated from pre-Industrial Era horse-pulling competitions where farmers would compete to see whose teams of horses could pull the heaviest load.
The first known competitions using motorized tractors were held in 1929 in Missouri and Kentucky. In the 1950s and 1960s, tractor pulling became popular in rural areas across the Midwestern and Southern United States. The sport gradually spread internationally, reaching Europe in 1976 when a group of Dutchmen visited an agricultural show in Minnesota and decided to introduce tractor pulling to the Netherlands.
In 1969, representatives from eight states in the US came together to create a uniform book of rules and establish the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA). The NTPA's early years featured competitions between stock tractors (commercially available tractors produced by manufacturers) and modified tractors (basic tractor chassis with a non-tractor engine mounted on it). Tractors remained single-engined until the 1970s when the crossbox was introduced, allowing multiple engines to be attached to a single driveshaft.
Over time, the sport evolved with modified tractors featuring four or more engines, and stock tractors adding multiple large turbochargers and intercoolers while retaining the appearance of a tractor. By the 1980s, some tractors had lost their tractor appearance and resembled high-spec dragsters. Today, tractor pulling continues to be a popular sport, with various classes and regulations governing engine specifications, fuel types, and tractor weights.
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Tractor pulling organisations
Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition where antique or modified tractors pull a heavy drag or sled along a standardised track. The winner is the tractor that pulls the drag the farthest.
The sport is known as the world's most powerful motorsport due to the multi-engined modified tractor pullers. The tractors are categorised into classes based on overall maximum weight, engine modifications, fuels and physical size.
Organisations
The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), founded in 1969, is a national tractor pulling sanctioning body in the United States. It was formed to unify the rules and classes in tractor pulling, focusing on professionalism, safety, and a family-friendly environment. The NTPA has been instrumental in implementing safety standards and is the governing body that most other tractor-pulling organisations follow for their rules.
The Australian Tractor Pullers Association (ATPA ), is a non-profit organisation that governs tractor pulling in Australia. Their events are held in conjunction with a promoter, often a local club, and are used as fundraisers. The tractors are divided into classes that comply with either "Limited" or "Open" rules.
In Australia, the Western Australian Tractor Pullers Association (WATPA ), runs events and is affiliated with the ATPA.
The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League is another organisation that governs tractor pulling, as they have a rulebook that competitors must follow.
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Tractor pulling engine types
Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition in which antique or modified tractors pull a heavy drag or sled along a 100-metre-long track. The winner is the tractor that pulls the drag the farthest. The sport is known as the world's most powerful motorsport, due to the multi-engined modified tractor pullers.
Tractors remained single-engined until the 1970s, when two Ohio brothers, Carl and Paul Bosse, introduced the crossbox, which could allow multiple engines to be attached to a single driveshaft. Modified tractors with four engines soon became common, while stock tractors tried to compete by adding multiple large turbochargers and intercoolers.
Today, tractor pulling engines can be broadly categorised into stock and modified engines. Stock tractors must use factory sheet metal externally, and examples include John Deere and International tractors. Modified tractors, on the other hand, can have multiple engine configurations and have been known to use three, four, five, or even more engines. These engines are usually "bought" engines, or assembled from parts and pieces by professional engine builders.
Pro Stock tractors are a type of modified tractor that sport 130mm turbochargers and produce triple-digit boost. They are propelled by 680 cubic inch engines that belt out more than 3,000hp. Pro Stock engines can displace up to 680 ci, and competitors typically opt for a John Deere inline-six as their foundation. A maximum of eight cylinders can be run, and the engines can achieve up to 7,000 rpm.
Other engine types used in tractor pulling include drag racing automotive type, jet turbines, aircraft, and industrial engines in various configurations.
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Tractor pulling fuel types
The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) recognises several classes of tractor, with different specifications and fuel types. The Super Stock class, for example, includes diesel or alcohol-powered tractors with multiple turbochargers. Grand National Open tractors run on either alcohol or diesel fuel, while Two Wheel Drive Trucks are fuelled by alcohol.
Outside of tractor pulling competitions, there are several types of fuel used in tractors. The most common include:
- Gasoline: the oldest type of tractor fuel, first introduced by John Froelich in 1892. Gasoline was widely used during World War II and remained the primary fuel for tractors until the 1960s when it was replaced by diesel. Today, gasoline is rarely used in large farms and is typically reserved for lawn tractors and other small equipment.
- Diesel: this fuel was introduced in the 1930s but did not become commercially viable until the 1950s due to difficulties with starting the engines. By the 1960s, diesel engines had improved significantly and began to replace gasoline as the primary fuel source for tractors. By the 1970s, nearly all farm tractors used diesel engines.
- Kerosene: this was commonly used as a tractor fuel in the early 20th century, particularly in "all fuel" engines after the engine had warmed up sufficiently. The onset of cheaper gasoline and diesel engines after World War II caused kerosene to fall out of use.
- Liquified propane (LP) gas: this was commonly used in the 1950s and 1960s, with farmers converting their gasoline engines to LP gas to take advantage of its low cost. LP gas engines were eventually discontinued as diesel became the primary fuel source for tractors.
- Tractor-fuel/distillate/TVO: this low-grade fuel was produced during the traditional distillation of crude oil and was commonly used in farm tractors until World War II.
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Tractor pulling engine modifications
Tractor pulling is a motorsport competition in which modified tractors pull a heavy sled along a 100-metre track. The winner is the tractor that pulls the sled the farthest. The sport is known as the world's most powerful motorsport due to the multi-engined modified tractor pullers. The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) organises tractor-pulling competitions in the US. Various classes have been developed for tractors based on limitations in the rules. Modified tractor limits are based mostly on weight.
The engines used in these classes are mostly modified versions of John Deere and International diesel engines. The Super Farm class starts off with a 640 cubic inch engine and is limited to using a single 3x3-inch turbocharger. The top vehicle weight allowed is 9,300 pounds. Horsepower is around 1,300. There are three Pro Stock classes: Pro Stock, Light Pro Stock and Limited Pro Stock. Pro Stock tractors weigh 10,000 pounds and have a 680 cubic inch engine with a single turbo. Water injection is allowed. Limited Pro Stock is a restricted class. There must be OEM heads with no overhead cam and only two valves per cylinder with a 4.1-inch turbo. The Light PS Class has a 540 cubic inch engine and the vehicle weighs 8,500 pounds.
The latest addition to Pro Stocks is the Light Pro Stock Class, which typically pulls 3,800–3,900 kilograms (8,300–8,600 pounds). These tractors are limited to 8,800 cm3 (540 cubic inches) engines but can run any size turbo. They cannot run intercoolers, but they make an average of 1,800–2,100 kilowatts (2,500–2,800 PS). The mini-modified class is a highly specialised and custom-built tractor to be fitted with a naturally aspirated engine, at a minimum. NTPA Minis are limited to 9,420 cm3 (575 cubic inches) and use up to a 14-71 hi-helix supercharger. With the driver, they weigh only 930 kilograms (2,050 pounds).
The Modified class started out with single-engine configurations but found that more power could be made with the use of multiple blown alcohol engines joined together. Modified tractors will weigh 2,700, 3,400 and 3,600 kilograms (6,000, 7,500 and 8,000 pounds), utilising the same engine as a Mini but with multiple powerplants per custom-built tractor chassis. A maximum of five engines will make the 3,600-kilogram (8,000-pound) weight limit.
Super Stock tractors can be fuelled with either diesel or alcohol and use multiple turbos. Heavy Super Stock tractors at the Regional level must weigh 8,000 pounds for diesel and 8,300 for alcohol. Light Super Stock tractors at the RN level run component tractors at 6,200 pounds and agricultural rear-end tractors at 6,500 pounds. Grand National Open SS tractors have an 8,000-pound weight limit.
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Frequently asked questions
Multi turbo alcoholic pulling tractors are tractors that use alcohol as fuel and have multiple turbochargers. Alcoholic tractors are only seen in the light and heavy Super Stock class as alcohol cannot be run in the Super Farm, Pro Stock or Diesel Super Stock classes.
The max RPM on multi turbo alcoholic pulling tractors is not publicly available. However, Pro Stock tractors can carry anywhere from 4,500 to 5,500 rpm going down the track, and some are wound up as tight as 7,000 rpm before they leave the starting line. The top diesel classes run between 6,000 and 7,000 rpm.
Super Stock tractors can be diesel or alcohol-powered and have multiple turbochargers. Pro Stock tractors are limited to one turbocharger and diesel fuel.
The NTPA is the largest tractor-pulling organization in the US, sanctioning about 250 events per year, 75-100 of which are National events. The NTPA Grand National Pulling Championship is considered the top rung in tractor pulling and has about 1,400 licensed competitors.
