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PODCAST

Breaking Barriers Podcast

Breaking Barriers Podcast is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the sport of tractor pulling. Hosted by Gary Bontrager, this podcast dives into the stories, legends, and evolution of the sport, capturing its impact on competitors and fans alike. Each episode features in-depth conversations with key figures who have shaped tractor pulling"s past, present, and future. Tune in to celebrate the legacy and innovation that keep this thrilling sport alive!

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All Episodes

01:03:23

Rick Behrendt | The Wampus Cat, Pro Stock Pulling & a...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/10/05

Before he owned a vehicle, Rick Behrendt owned a farm tractor. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Rick joins Gary Bontrager to share how a childhood love of tractors became a pulling career spanning more than 30 years—and the friendships, championships, and hard lessons that came with it.One of the founding members of Nebraska Bush Pullers, Rick reflects on his early days at local farm pulls, the story behind the Wampus Cat, and his move into Pro Stock competition with the Outlaws. From winning

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01:27:36

Gary Kohl | Family Legacy & the Birth of Pro Stock...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/09/21

From farm tractors to three-turbo Super Stocks, Gary Kohl has lived through some of tractor pulling’s biggest changes. On this episode of Breaking Barriers, host Gary Bontrager visits Gary’s shop in Perrysburg, Ohio, to explore a lifetime of pulling alongside his father, Dale, and the ingenuity that kept their International Harvester tractors competitive.Gary shares memories of Dale’s wins at Bowling Green and Louisville, the early days of operating a pulling sled, and the meeting where they helped

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01:15:02

How the NTPA Changed Tractor Pulling | Ed Hart

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/09/07

Before the NTPA, tractor pulling was largely a collection of local events with different rules, different organizations, and no national standard. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with NTPA founder Ed Hart to hear the firsthand story of how a conversation among pullers grew into an organization that would help shape the future of the sport.Ed takes us back to the early meetings, the push for common rules and better safety, the first NTPA office operating out of his

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01:29:46

Brabec Brothers | 7x National Champions, The Country...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Seven national championships. Hall of Fame careers. And a legacy that helped shape the foundation of modern tractor pulling—this is the story of the Brabec Brothers.In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Alan and Dennis Brabec to uncover how two farm kids from Iowa built championship-winning machines like the legendary Country Dude and The Imposter. From their very first pull—winning with a brand new tractor—to dominating national circuits across the country, the Brabecs

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01:27:43

Fred & Kyle Petsch | Seven Championships, Thermal...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/08/10

For Fred and Kyle Petsch, tractor pulling has always been about more than winning—it has been a lifelong family tradition. Together, they share nearly 40 years of experience, seven championships and the evolution from local farm pulls to competing with their twin-turbine modified tractor, Thermal Thunder.Fred looks back on his early fascination with tractors, his career working with John Deere, the creation of the Nebraska Bush Pullers and his many years behind the microphone as an announcer. Kyle

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01:20:34

From Schoolteacher to Big Rig Truck Pulling Pioneer |...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/07/27

Rick Feicht entered the world of tractor pulling with no previous experience in the sport. What began with announcing local events eventually became a remarkable career in promotion, helping transform big rig truck pulling into a recognized and celebrated class.In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Rick joins Gary Bontrager to share the story behind Full Pull Productions, the creation of the Big Rig Pulling Series, and the development of USA East Sled Pulling. He discusses working with fairs and

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01:21:53

Chuck Wheatley | The Turbo Pioneer Who Changed...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/07/13

In this episode of the Breaking Barriers Podcast, Gary Bontrager sits down with Chuck Wheatley, a Grand National Champion, regional champion, and one of the most innovative minds in early modified tractor pulling.Chuck shares stories from the beginning of his pulling career, building tractors with his dad, experimenting with V8s, turbos, intercoolers, fuel injection, alcohol setups, and the mechanical trial-and-error that helped move the sport forward. From dirt-floor garage builds to Louisville,

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01:02:17

Curt Ulmer | 55 Years of Modified Tractor Pulling,...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/06/29

Curt Ulmer has spent more than 55 years in the sport of tractor pulling, building, competing, innovating, and winning with one of the most respected modified tractor programs in the country. From the early days of farm tractors, homemade sleds, and small South Dakota pulls to multiple Outlaw championships and a three-generation family team, Curt’s story is deeply connected to the history and growth of the sport.In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Curt in Meadow, South

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01:14:13

Bill Hirt: The Hall of Fame Story Behind Running...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/06/15

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Hall of Fame tractor puller Bill Hirt for a story-filled conversation about the early days of pulling, the evolution of the sport, and the family legacy built around the legendary Running Bare name.Bill looks back on his first pull in 1970 on the blacktop with a garden tractor, his jump into Allis-Chalmers machines, the D21 days, Louisville memories, alcohol Super Stock evolution, and the countless stories that came from decades on

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01:13:33

Bob & Roger McKim: The Allis 180, Father-Son Pulling...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/06/01

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down in Oskaloosa, Iowa, with Bob and Roger McKim to talk about their championship-winning journey in tractor pulling, their deep Allis-Chalmers roots, and the story behind the Allis 180 that took them from antique pulling to competitive Super Stock pulling.Bob and Roger share how their pulling story started with farm stock and antique tractors, how they eventually bought the old Ghostbusters Allis 180, and what it took to turn an outdated

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00:58:33

Jody Ross: The Long Road to Triple Bypass, Grand...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/05/18

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Jody Ross, a lifelong tractor puller whose story stretches from climbing onto a garden tractor as a kid to building one of the most respected Super Stock programs in the country. Jody shares how his pulling journey began at a local fair, how his family’s implement business shaped his mechanical instincts, and how years of persistence eventually led to major wins with Triple Bypass.From early International Harvester tractors and used

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00:59:05

Vern Huser | From Slater Shaker Dominance to Tractor...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/05/04

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary sits down with longtime puller Vern Huser—a name synonymous with Iowa tractor pulling and the legendary Slater Shaker. With decades of experience, multiple championships, and appearances on the sport’s biggest stages, Vern shares the story behind one of the most respected careers in pulling history.From building his first machine out of scrap to dominating in the 1970s, Vern walks through the evolution of his setups, the innovations that gave him an edge,

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01:19:21

George Everett | From 1954 Circle Track Pulls to 85...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/04/20

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with George Everett—one of the last remaining original-era competitors who helped shape tractor pulling into what it is today. From his first pull at just 14 years old in 1954 to still competing at 85, George’s story is a living timeline of the sport’s evolution.What starts as a conversation about early days on circle tracks quickly turns into a deep dive into innovation, grit, and decades of trial-and-error engineering. George shares

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02:25:59

Ken Veney: Farm Kid to Funny Car Innovator. The...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/04/06

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Ken Veney, a true pioneer in drag racing and Funny Car innovation, for a conversation that captures the raw grit, ingenuity, and relentless work ethic that defined an era of motorsports. From growing up as a farm kid in Ohio to building his first hot rod in a converted manure shed, Veney’s story is a powerful reminder that greatness is often built long before anyone is watching.Ken walks through his early fascination with cars,

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01:05:24

Gary Ulmer | 55 Years of Innovation, Grit & The Educator

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/03/23

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with pulling pioneer Gary Ulmer — a man with over 55 years in the sport, dating back to high school farm stock days in South Dakota. From early Oliver tractors to snowmobile drag racing circuits and eventually dominating the Light Super Stock ranks, Ulmer’s story is one of evolution, relentless experimentation, and hard-earned mechanical wisdom.Gary takes us inside the mindset of a builder who learned the hard way — breaking blocks,

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01:01:39

Ed Hart | Founding the NTPA and Building the...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/03/09

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with one of the true pioneers of organized tractor pulling — Ed Hart. Born on a farm in Republic, Ohio, Ed’s story begins long before national organizations, professional sleds, or major indoor championships. What started as a young farm kid catching the pulling bug at local fairs eventually turned into a lifetime of shaping the sport at its highest levels.Ed walks us through the early days of pulling when tractors were farm machines

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01:19:16

Ron Perry | The Story Behind “Solid Junk” — How One...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/02/23

Some names don’t just compete in a sport — they redefine it. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Gary Bontrager sits down with Ron Perry, the mind behind the legendary “Solid Junk,” a tractor that pushed performance so far ahead of its time the rulebook eventually had to catch up.Ron opens up about the farm-shop creativity that shaped his life — from fixing equipment as a kid to engineering solutions no one else even thought to attempt. What began as curiosity and mechanical instinct slowly became

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01:10:48

Kenny Sanders & Jason Skillen | Innovation,...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/02/09

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, host Gary Bontrager welcomes back Kenny Sanders alongside tractor pulling historian Jason Skillen for a deep dive into the innovation, personalities, and pivotal moments that shaped an unforgettable era of the sport.Kenny shares firsthand stories from his early days in light super stock pulling—breaking down how tractors were built, modified, and refined through trial and error long before modern data and dynos existed. Jason provides historical context

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01:05:55

Breaking Barriers | Craig Schlabaugh: The Master...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/01/26

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, host Gary Bontrager sits down with Craig Schlabaugh, a legendary mechanic whose hands helped shape some of the most dominant machines in tractor pulling history. Known quietly across the sport as one of the sharpest minds in the shop, Craig shares the story behind decades of innovation, problem-solving, and hard-earned lessons learned far from the spotlight.From early days working at John Deere and International dealerships to groundbreaking builds in Modified

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01:18:07

Breaking Barriers | Bob Parks: The Man Who Changed...

Breaking Barriers Podcast ·

2026/01/12

In this episode of Breaking Barriers, host Gary Bontrager sits down with Bob Parks, one of the most influential — and often overlooked — innovators in tractor pulling history. From hand-cutting tires with butcher knives to pioneering double-cut technology and custom pulling tires, Bob’s work quietly reshaped how the sport is run today.Bob walks through his journey from the early days of tractor pulling in the late 1960s and ’70s, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from legendary pulls, groundbreaking

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