| National Tractor Pullers Association NTPA |
|
| Sport | Tractor pulling |
| Category | Motorsports |
| Area of jurisdiction | United States, Canada |
| Formation date | 1969 |
| Headquarters | 6155-B Huntley Road
Columbus, OH 43229 |
| President | Keith Theobald |
| Secretary | Jimmy Thigpen, |
| Other key staff | Jesse Petro, Director Buddy Godwin, Director |
| Official website | |
| www.ntpapull.com | |
The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) is a national tractor pulling sanctioning body in the United States. It was born of a need to unify the rules and classes in the sport of truck and tractor pulling.
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The NTPA was founded in 1969 by representatives of eight states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) to establish uniform rules and provide structure to the sport of truck and tractor pulling. Throughout the years, the NTPA has been instrumental in implementation of safety standards in the sport, and is the governing body from which most other truck and tractor pulling organizations, foreign or domestic, copy their rules. Since 1987, the NTPA has been managed by the World Pulling International, Inc, whom also is a marketing department and publications department of the NTPA.[1]
Several times per year, large events are held in key locations for certain classes. These events are televised on RFD-TV.
The NTPA's Grand National Division comprises varying classes ranging from Farm Stock to the Diesel Four Wheel Drives. It is a touring series, and holds events throughout the US and Canada.
Th NTPA's Regional National classes are the ones most often seen at local events, and county and/or state fairs.
These are the pulling tractors that look like their stock counterparts, and MUST retain stock sheet metal, as per NTPA rules. Although John Deere and International tractors are the most prevalent, most other big-name makes are represented throughout the stock classes. While most of these classes mandate the use of diesel fuel only, the Super Stock Open tractors are allowed to use alcohol as a fuel source.
Stock Classes
The modified tractor classes are the pulling classes that are least like their stock counterparts. Most all modified tractors sport multiple engines. The number and type of engines vary from tractor to tractor. Engines used in these classes come from automotive, aviation, agricultural, or transportation sources. Popular engines are Chevrolet automotive engines, V-12 Allison aircraft engines, Lycoming jet engines, farm tractor engines (such as John Deere or IH), or Detroit Diesel truck engines. The modified class has a limit on types and numbers of engines that can be used on each tractor. The Unlimited Class has no such limit, but instead limits the number of engines that can be used via a strict maximum weight limit.
Modified Classes
These unique vehicles look a bit like the modified tractors, but sport smaller tires, and only a single automotive-type engine.
Mini Rod Class
Nicknamed "Funny cars" by competitors, these high powered pulling machines do tend to look a bit like Funny Car dragsters. They feature elongated bodies, and oversized rear tires. Most also have "blowers" sticking through their hoods. In the late 1990s, the NTPA outlawed the use of T-Bucket roadsters in the TWD class. Recent years have seen the return of these popular open cockpit pulling trucks.
TWD Class
Looking the closest to their stock counterparts in the truck classes, the FWD, or Four Wheel Drive class actually is a highly modified class. FDW is the only class that has steerable drive wheels (The Semi classes have 4 driving wheels, but all 4 axles are straight). Although the 4x4 Super Stock Diesel Trucks run on diesel fuel, the other FWD classes have the choice of using either methanol or gasoline, with most competitors choosing methanol.
FWD Classes
The semi classes are the closest to stock form of all of the NTPA classes. Looking like, using stock engine blocks, and stock frames, these are also the heaviest of all of the classes, with a maximum weight of 20,000 pounds.
Semi Classes
In 2005, the NTPA and satellite/cable network RFD-TV inked a multi-year deal to air National Tractor Pulling on its network.[3] All Super National events, a select few Grand National events, and the Enderly Pull-off events are aired. 26 new episodes will be aired each year, with the entire series being repeated again later in the year. The new show airs on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm, with re-airs on Wednesday Mornings at 3:30 am and 10:30 am, and Saturday at 3:pm. All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).[4]
Various tractors from the NTPA have appeared on the History Channel's program Modern Marvels 12th season episode "World's Strongest".[5][6]
NTPA tractors have also appeared on Discovery Network's Travel Channel show "Kings of the Road" episode "Tractor Pull Showdown."[7]