The dirt track was being prepped, and the stands steadily filled for the West Coast National Truck and Tractor Pulling competition recently at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton.
The event featured 15 to 20 classes, ranging from gas-powered pickups to modified tractors, each competing to see who could pull a weighted sled the furthest.
Among the competitors was Manuel Vierra of Oakdale, hauling his 8,000-pound truck.
“I’m a farmer, so I see this kind of like a stem off of farming with the tractors,” Vierra said. “There are older guys and younger guys, and it’s pretty awesome to see women out here too.”
While the roar of engines and raw horsepower drew cheers, some competitors leaned on strategy as much as strength. A father-and-son duo, Chad and Eric, entered with their truck “Crushin’ It,” focusing on precision setup to make their runs count.
“Our biggest thing has been the torque converter setup and the pulling engine,” Eric said. “Depending on your motor and cam setup, your peak power is at a certain RPM. The more you dial that in, the better the truck can get down the track.”
For car enthusiasts in the stands, the message was simple: Sometimes the real fun isn’t burning rubber — it’s dragging iron.
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