The NTPC is promoted by the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association (NWOTPA), the veritable backbone of the championships. The NWOTPA was chartered as the Wood County Tractor Pullers in the spring of 1962. There were approximately 20 members, all residents of Wood County. In August of 1962 the first speed pull was introduced at the Wood County Fairgrounds. A special long flat bottom sled was built that was designed for men to step on as it went by. Men were lined up on both sides of the track and stepped on the sled as it went by. The tractor that pulled the farthest was declared the winner. Many problems occurred with this type of pulling, specifically men leaving the track during the event and the tractors going too fast for men to step on.
In 1964, the club grew in membership as men from other counties wished to join. It was this year that the name changed to the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers, and new officers were elected.
The year 1967 marked the first year for the National Tractor Pull in Bowling Green. It offered three divisions -- 5,000, 9,500, and 14,000 pound mixed, which meant that there were stock and modified tractors running in the division and the only stipulation at the time was the weight.
In 1969, the 18,000 pound free for all division was added. It would be something similar to the unlimited modified division of today. The year 1970 saw the classes further breakdown into stock and modified divisions in their respective weight classes.
In the fall of 1967, the NWOTPA hired a local man, Merle Grimm, to build a weight exchanger or sled. Thus, Heartbreaker I was born; a motorized mechanical weight exchanger designed specifically for tractor pulling. It was soon to be copied by other tractor pulling groups across the nation.
Weight classes for pulling from 1967-1974 were 5,000, 7,000, 9,000, and 12, 000 pound. The year 1975 found the first 12,000 pound open class.
As tractor pulling technology and power evolved in the early 1970s, it was determined that Heartbreaker I was too small and too light to provide the resistance for the newer and more powerful machines. So in 1974, another local man, Chuck Ziss, was hired by the NWOTPA to build Heartbreaker II which would be recognizable to many of you because it was used by the organization until 1995. It was during the mid 70s that the NWOTPA grew to around 135 members.
The year 1977 saw many changes in the competition at Bowling Green. The stock classes of tractors were replaced by the super stock classes. That year also saw the introduction of the 1,550 pound mini-rod (now 1,850 pounds), and also the first four wheel drive trucks.
The year 1978 saw the debut of the monsters of the midway -- the unlimited modifieds. The 1980's event introduced the pro-stock class and in 1984 the two wheel drive class was born.
The late 1970s, the 1980s and early 1990s provided some unique problems for the NWOTPA. Interest in the club as well as the event itself caused the organization to make some important decisions. Membership in the club increased as a correlation to the manpower needed to present an annual national event. As more and more divisions were introduced, there was more prize money to be given away as well as numbers of vehicles, drivers and fans. The organization then decided to seek sponsorship, which proved to increase the awareness of the event and themselves. Some past presenting sponsors included Budweiser and Busch beers, Wrangler Jeans and Pioneer Seeds. Another unique feature of the club included the desire to involve other organizations in Bowling Green and the area in the event. Today Otsego FFA helps with parking, the BG Exchange Club had been involved and we are members of the BG Chamber of Commerce.
As vehicles became more sophisticated, so did rules and safety regulations. The NTPC have aligned themselves with The National Tractor Pullers Association, TNT Motorsports and the United States Hot Rod Association as different sanctioning bodies. These organizations not only provide a fair competition for drivers, but safety regulations to protect driver and fan.
Today, with an estimated crowd of 60,000 for the weekend event, and over $150,000 in purse money and contingency prizes, the NWOTPA boasts a membership limited to 200 led by nine directors. The membership is totally responsible for all facets of the annual event including lighting and electrical, track building and maintenance, sponsorship procurement, advertising, food service, media relations, security, ticket sales and the list goes on. We are from the country, we are from the city, we are from all walks of life with only one thing in common and that is to bring you the best show we know how.
Weekend Happenings
A variety of events are scheduled for the weekend:
Fan Appreciation Night with "Haywire"
Come join us for "Fan Appreciation Night," Thursday, Aug. 20, for "Dancin in the Dirt" featuring "Haywire." The gates open at 4 p.m. and the concert starts at 8 p.m. and goes until midnight. This will be a free concert, general admission. Come early and check out the open pits. Get up close and personal with some of North America's best and most powerful pulling machines before they roar down the pulling tracks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then dance on those very pulling tracks with the competitors, "Blue Shirts" and fellow fans.
Kiddie Pedal Pull
The state qualifier for the National Kiddie Tractor Pedal Pull is back. The competition is open to children, three to 10 years old and takes place Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Come cheer on our future competitors.
Scale Pullers
If you enjoy watching the "Big Boys" pull, you will definitely want to check out the Scale Tractor Pullers Association. They will "compete" with their remote-controlled scale pulling vehicles on their very own dirt track with a scale-size sled/weight transfer machine on Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and again on Saturday, at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Watch the excitement, but on a smaller scale.
Toy Show
Check out the Toy Show while you are at the National Tractor Pulling Championships. Toy dealers from all over the United States display old and new toys, so plan on stopping in. You just might find that special toy you have been looking for to add to your collection. The Toy Show is open on Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Retired Tractor Museum
The Retired Tractor Museum is a favorite of the young and old alike. Pulling vehicles from days gone by are on display. And the old time pullers spin their yarns about tractor pulling in the earlier days during the "Rusty Tailgate Party" on Saturday at 10 a.m. Come check out how tractor pulling has changed and grown.
SCHEDULE
Session I, 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21
* SS Open
* Super Farm Tractors
* 2 WD Trucks
* Light Super Stocks
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $40.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $44.
Session I and II (Friday all day).
Session II, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21
* Modifieds
* Super Semis
* SS Diesel
* 4 WD Trucks
* Modified Minis
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $20.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $22.
Session II only (Friday evening).
Session III, Noon, Saturday, Aug. 22
* Modifieds
* Super Farm Tractors
* 4 WD Trucks
* SS Diesel
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $40.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $44.
Session III and IV (Saturday all day).
Session IV, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22
* Pro Stocks
* Unlimited Mods
* 2 WD Trucks
* SS Open
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $20.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $22.
Session IV only (Saturday evening).
Session V, Noon, Sunday, Aug. 23
* Pro Stocks
* Modified Minis
* Super Semis
* Unlimited Mods
* Light Super Stocks
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $20.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $22.
Session V (Sunday).
Three Day Pass
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $100.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $110.
Reserved Seating*
*per seat, per session
Advance tickets -- $4. Gate tickets -- $4.
Camping Package**
**includes two adult three-day passes
Advance tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $280.
Gate tickets -- Kids 10 and under free, adults $300.
