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Truck Pull

You are here: Home / Archives for Truck Pull

Driver Feature: Lisa Tatum – Full Throttle

August 30, 2016 //  by Mackenzie LaRue

When I was growing up there were few young female drivers in the sport of truck and tractor pulling.  It was therefore quite challenging to see myself driving a pulling truck one day.  However there was one young female driver that competed with my father, and nothing would make me happier than when she had a successful pull.  That driver was Lisa Tatum, who still competes in the two wheel drive class and continues to be one of my tractor pulling inspirations. 

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Lisa Tatum – Full Throttle

Lisa Tatum was born a puller.  With her father being a competitor, her mother attended truck and tractor pulls right up until the week Lisa was born.  She spent her childhood watching her father compete and when her older brother became old enough to drive she cheered him on as well.  Tractor pulling was something she loved her whole life and therefore she feels that it was destiny that she would one day drive her own pulling truck.

When Lisa was old enough to drive, it was a natural transition from crew member to driver.  She began to drive a vehicle that her father purchased called ‘Hot Shot’ and became the third driver of her father’s vehicle ‘Foolish Pleasure’.  Eventually, Lisa began driving her own vehicle and competing directly against her brother T.J.  She now competes in a bright yellow chevy called Full Throttle, which features a 526 Keith Black Hemi with Veney head14163931_10210263753574083_372327869_os and a Mike Janis blower.  Her father Tony and brother T.J. do all the assembly on their engines and their parts come from Sassy Racing Engines. 

Like many other pulling teams, Lisa Tatum and her father compete directly against one another on the track.  Her father gave up his driving rights for many years so Lisa could have the opportunity to compete with her brother.  When her brother began his family he stepped out of the drivers seat and her father Tony began to drive again.  Lisa truly believes that it is a gift to compete with her father.  They both want to win but they also want one another to win as well. 

“As much as I don’t want to admit it, parents don’t live forever, and I’m making priceless memories with mine each weekend at the track.”

Living away from her family has made tractor pulling quite difficult for Lisa.  She does not get to work on their trucks as much as she would like, but she makes up for that with the pulls.  She does everything she can to contribute to the care of their vehicles, but focuses most of her attention as a driver. 

Lisa believes that best part of truck and tractor pulling is equally the competition and the people.  She loves the thrill of tractor pulling but also contributes the love of pulling to many of the people she has met through it.  Lisa has found her best friends through truck and tractor pulling, including her fiancé, Tyler Slagh who competes with a mini rod tractor. 

“I LOVE the thrill of pulling.  I LIVE for that 300 plus feet ride.  It’s in my blood, my heart, and my soul.  I crave another trip down the track as soon as I finish the last ride.  BUT, I don’t think the time and miles away from home would be worth it if I didn’t have people I truly loved out on the circuit.”

Lisa Tatum has experienced many successes since she began her driving career in 1997.  She was the first two wheel drive points champion as well as the first female in the Professional Pulling League in its inaugural season.  She was also the first female to win the finals at the National Farm Machinery Show.  She also won the Jeff McPherson Memorial pull the year after he passed.  He was a puller from Ohio and one of Lisa’s favourite trophies is from that event. 14138549_10210263731373528_1747854073_n

Being a female has had a big impact on Lisa’s driving career. When she began pulling it was not rare for her to be the only female amongst all the classes at a tractor pull.  She did encounter her share of individuals who doubted her abilities but proved that she belonged in the drivers seat, all thanks to her families support.  Lisa claims that it was quite intimidating to be the only female, but she used this to her advantage and received a great deal of support due to her gender. 

“Nothing like having every female in the crowd hinge their hopes on me doing well! I’m sure I gained more attention, newspaper articles, interviews, and tv time than I deserve thanks to my gender, but I’m always grateful and try to do whatever I can to present the sport in a positive light.”

Motorsports is definitely a more welcoming atmosphere to women than it was 20 years ago.  There are so many women competing all across the board today.  Lisa believes that just like any dream every girl should know that they can do anything they put their minds to, but it definitely helps to have a solid foundation like she has from her family. 

In the future, Lisa hopes to continuing pulling as long as she is able.  She w14203066_10210263729253475_1573018867_oould love to try out the mini rod class which is the class her fiancé competes in.  He and his father campaign three tractors on the Lucas Oil circuit which makes it difficult for them to be at one another events.  But as for right now her heart is still in the two wheel drive class!

“I guess I expect to just keep doing what I’m doing as long as I’m able.  If I can keep the team owners happy and keep my seat, I’ll happily fill it.”

Lisa Tatum is an excellent role model for all women competing in truck and tractor pulling.  She has excellent sportsmanship and also enjoys promoting the sport.  Recently at the National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green Ohio Lisa was a representative for the Miles Beyond 300 Road Show, where she interviewed several tractor pulling legends. 

Good luck with the rest of your season Lisa!

Category: Driver FeaturesTag: Lisa Tatum, Truck Pull, Women in Motorsports, Women Racing

Morgan Bartley – Blade Gone Sweet

February 12, 2016 //  by Mackenzie LaRue

Morgan Bartley in her Blade Gone Sweet truckThe sport of truck and tractor pulling is just about as “grass-roots” as motorsports gets.  Its easy to imagine men taking their horses (and later tractors) out into their back field, and competing to see who had the strongest team.  I can only imagine what the woman’s role was in the early years of this sport, probably preparing lunch for the men to have after a full morning of competition.  Fast forward to 2016 and the role of women in truck and tractor pulling has dramatically changed.  It is quickly growing into a more popular form of motorsports, and with that there has been a dramatic increase in female drivers. Women like Rodalyn Knox, the driver of the Sassy Massey, were the trailblazers in the sport, leading the way for the dozens of female drivers today.  In fact, it is becoming so popular that last year at the National Tractor Pulling Championship in Bowling Green, Ohio, in the super modified two wheel drive class of 53 competitors, 11 were female drivers.

Morgan Bartley | Blade Gone Sweet Truck Pull

One of those drivers is seventeen year old Morgan Bartley from Saluda, South Carolina.  Morgan is the driver of a super modified two wheel drive truck that she calls Blade Gone Sweet.  Her truck features a 1923 Ford T-Bucket body and a 526 Keith Black Hemi.  She competes at a Grand National level with the National Truck and Tractor Pullers Association throughout her summers.  2015-2016 may have been her rookie year driving, but she is no rookie to the sport of truck pulling.  Morgan’s family have deep roots in the sport of truck and tractor pulling, with her dad being a 25 year veteran of the sport.  It was only natural for Morgan to follow in the footsteps of her father and brother and become a driver when her time came.

My dad has been pulling 25 years, and I’ve been involved with the sport my entire life. Ever since I knew what pulling was I knew that I wanted to be in the drivers seat one day too!”

Blade Gone Sweet Morgan BartleyMorgan’s rookie year began with the development of a new truck for her to drive.  Naturally, when a new combination is being tested out many gremlins show their nasty head.  This resulted in Morgan having a more challenging rookie year than most, not only fighting her nerves that result as a new driver, but also being faced with mechanical failure.  Despite the many challenges she has faced, Morgan has come out on top, proving to the community that she belongs in the drivers seat.  Recently, Morgan has shown the sport of truck and tractor pulling that she has what it takes to be a champion.  At the end of January at the C Bar C NTPA Winter Nationals, Morgan experienced the excitement of a second place finish when she piloted her truck to a pull off against one of the best drivers in truck and tractor pulling.

The sport of truck and tractor pulling has given Morgan many unique opportunities and experiences.  Her team consists of two trucks, with her dad driving one and Morgan driving the other.  This gives Morgan the unique opportunity to compete directly against her father.  He is not only her crew chief, but he is also her competition.  She has also experienced many summers spent in their hauler, travelling all across the United States.  Truck and tractor pulling has given Morgan and her family the opportunity to meet many different people, and develop close relationships with them.

Getting to travel all over the U.S. competing with my family, and even more exciting getting to compete against my dad. Getting to travel and meet people who become like family is special also!”

Truck Pulling driver Morgan BartleyMorgan has experienced a great amount of support throughout her rookie year as a female driver.  However that does not mean she has not experienced her share of challenges during her short driving career.  Being born and raised in the sport of truck and tractor pulling gave many people very high expectations for Morgan’s driving career.  That can be incredibly intimidating and was something Morgan had to face.

Living up to my friends and families high expectations they had set for me. All of the “first time driving jitters” and the nervousness of having so much power sitting in front of me in an eight second ride.”

Despite her first year being challenging, Morgan is confident in her abilities and cannot wait to continue her career as a driver.  She has a firm belief in setting goals and she is driven to complete those she has set for herself.  Her rookie year has shown a great deal of resilience, which is inspiring to many female drivers.

Don’t give up. Set your mind to your goals you have made and go out and get them!”

With her rookie year coming to a close, Morgan is looking forward to the future of her driving career.  She plans on coming out strong next year in the race for a Grand National points championship with her truck Blade Gone Sweet.

I plan to be a top contender for my upcoming 2016 season and stand a chance at winning a Grand National title.”

Morgan’s natural affinity for driving and her passion for the sport has already taken her so far! We wish her all the best and cannot wait to see what the 2016 season has in store for Morgan Bartley!

Good luck Morgan and congratulations on all of your achievements this year!

Category: Driver FeaturesTag: Morgan Bartley, Truck Pull, Women Racing

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