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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 establish the original Pro Stock rules. He also recalls burning through 50 pistons in one season, battling transmission failures, and finding solutions with help from fellow pullers. Along the way, they discuss rising costs, the evolution of safety, and the friendships that made the hard work worthwhile. It’s a firsthand look at the people, perseverance, and homemade engineering that helped shape tractor pulling. Subscribe to Breaking Barriers for more stories from the people who built the sport, and leave a comment with your favorite memory of Gary and Dale Kohl! #BreakingBarriersPodcast #TractorPulling #GaryKohl #ProStock #InternationalHarvester

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 basement, and the people who helped get the organization off the ground. He shares stories of promoting pulls across the country, raising the money needed to keep the organization running, expanding tractor pulling into new states, and even developing technology that was ahead of its time. Gary and Ed also dig into the tougher parts of NTPA history, including politics, sanctioning, competing organizations, the growing number of classes, and lessons Ed believes the sport can still learn from today. This is more than the history of an organization. It’s the story of the people who helped turn tractor pulling from scattered local events into the national sport generations of fans and competitors know today. Subscribe to Breaking Barriers for more firsthand stories from the men and women who built the history of tractor pulling. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #EdHart #NTPA #TractorPulling #PullingHistory

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 share the grit, innovation, and relentless drive that made them icons in the sport. What started with six tubes of grease as a prize turned into a career defined by ingenuity—building their own parts, experimenting with multi-turbo setups, and outworking the competition at every level. They open up about the evolution of tractor pulling, the risks they took, and the moments that defined their journey, including unforgettable wins at Louisville, Bowling Green, and across the national stage. This conversation is a deep dive into the golden era of tractor pulling—where creativity beat budgets, and passion fueled performance. If you want to understand what it truly took to become champions in one of motorsports’ most demanding arenas, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Watch now and hear the stories behind the machines, the championships, and the legacy that still impacts the sport today.

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 shares what it was like growing up in the shop, driving tractors for several legendary pulling teams, helping build Thermal Thunder and eventually taking on a leadership role with the Outlaws. They also discuss an incredible 2010 season, the challenges of developing a new tractor, watching the next generation climb into the driver’s seat and why the future of tractor pulling depends on organizations working together. Through every victory, breakdown and change in the sport, the Petsch family’s greatest accomplishment remains the relationships and memories they have built across three generations. Subscribe to the Breaking Barriers Podcast for more conversations celebrating the people, machines and stories that built the sport of tractor pulling. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #TractorPulling #ThermalThunder

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 sanctioning organizations, attracting sponsors, improving safety standards, and producing events that gave fans more than an ordinary tractor pull—they delivered a complete show. Rick also reflects on the relationships he built throughout the sport, the lessons he carried from teaching into event promotion, and why the most important person at any tractor pull will always be the fan sitting in the stands. Like, subscribe, and share this episode with another tractor-pulling fan as Breaking Barriers continues preserving the people and stories that built the sport.

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, Indy, Iowa pulls, and national competition, Chuck’s story captures a time when tractor pulling was changing fast—and he was one of the people pushing it ahead. This conversation also dives into the friendships, rivalries, safety changes, memorable wins, hard lessons, and personal challenges that shaped Chuck’s life in and around the sport. If you love tractor pulling history, modified tractors, turbocharged engines, and the legends who helped build the sport, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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 Dakota, to talk about the Ulmer family’s early pulling days, building their own equipment, the evolution of modified tractors, the importance of tires, horsepower, sleds, and the people who helped shape the sport along the way. Curt also shares what tractor pulling has meant to his family, what it takes to stay competitive for decades, and why there still needs to be room in the sport for the smaller teams, county fairs, and grassroots events that helped build tractor pulling in the first place. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #TractorPulling #ModifiedTractor #OutlawPulling #PullingTractors #Motorsports #TractorPullingHistory

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 the road. From hauling tractors with questionable setups to working with names like Max Simpson, Bryan Conners, Ron Perry, and others who helped shape the sport, Bill’s story is packed with history, humor, and hard-earned perspective. But this episode goes far beyond horsepower. Bill opens up about family, faith, being inducted into the Hall of Fame, surviving serious heart procedures as a child, and why he still believes the best advice is simple: enjoy what you’re doing and be grateful for the life you’ve been given. If you love tractor pulling history, Allis-Chalmers stories, old-school Super Stock pulling, and the people who helped build the sport, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #TractorPulling #BillHirt #RunningBare #AllisChalmers #SuperStockPulling #PullingHistory #OSTPA #TractorPullingHistory

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 pulling tractor into a competitive machine. From rebuilding the engine, changing turbo setups, fighting clutch and rear-end issues, experimenting with intercoolers and tires, and learning how to make the tractor live, this episode is packed with the kind of hands-on innovation that defines old-school tractor pulling. But at the heart of the conversation is the father-son bond. Bob and Roger talk about working side by side in the dealership, building and repairing the tractor together, winning championships, pulling at the Iowa State Fair, and the friendships built through years of competition. It’s a story about horsepower, problem-solving, family, and the kind of determination it takes to keep showing up, even when the tractor keeps coming home broken. If you love Allis-Chalmers pulling history, father-son tractor pulling stories, and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into building a competitive machine, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #TractorPulling #BobMcKim #RogerMcKim #AllisChalmers #Allis180 #SuperStockPulling #PullingHistory #TractorPullingHistory #IowaTractorPulling

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 parts to Grand National competition, Louisville wins, Bowling Green memories, and the evolution of the Super Stock class, Jody walks through the highs, setbacks, lessons, and people who helped shape his career. He also opens up about the importance of family, the crew behind the tractor, the value of good tires, and why success in pulling often comes down to patience, work ethic, and refusing to give up. This conversation is a look inside the mindset of a competitor who didn’t find overnight success—but stayed with it long enough to build a legacy in tractor pulling. Follow along for more stories from the legends, builders, drivers, and families who continue to shape the sport of tractor pulling.

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, and the rivalries that pushed the sport forward. He reflects on the transition from carburetors to blowers, the importance of tires and track feel, and what it really took to win during one of pulling’s most competitive eras. But this conversation goes far beyond the track. Vern opens up about the hardships that nearly ended it all—from financial collapse during the 1980s farm crisis to personal setbacks—and how he rebuilt his life, business, and passion for pulling from the ground up. Now back behind the wheel, Vern offers a raw and honest perspective on how the sport has changed, what it takes to stay competitive today, and why the relationships built along the way matter more than anything else. This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and a lifelong love for tractor pulling. Subscribe for more stories from the legends who built the sport—and those still pushing it forward.

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 how pulling tractors straight off the farm turned into building alcohol-burning machines, experimenting with fuel systems, and competing during the formation of the National Tractor Pullers Association. This episode is packed with stories you won’t hear anywhere else—from breaking tractors in half and surviving wild rides, to building his own turbos and running a machine that’s evolved for nearly 50 years. It’s a raw look at what it meant to compete when there were no shortcuts—just hard work, instinct, and a willingness to push the limits. If you want to understand where tractor pulling came from—and what it takes to still be doing it at the highest level decades later—this is one you don’t want to miss. 🎧 New episodes of Breaking Barriers drop weekly—subscribe and follow along for more stories from the legends who built the sport.

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, buying his first vehicle as a teenager, teaching himself how to weld, and working multiple jobs just to fuel his passion for racing. What began as street racing in small-town America quickly evolved into a deeper pursuit—one that took him to California, into competitive drag racing, and eventually into the high-stakes world of Funny Cars. Along the way, he shares stories of early engine builds, racing on limited budgets, and the mindset required to outwork and outthink the competition at every turn. This episode dives into more than just racing history—it explores the mentality behind success. Veney opens up about the importance of putting in extra hours, taking risks, and constantly experimenting to gain an edge. His journey highlights the evolution of drag racing, from grassroots beginnings to highly competitive circuits, while also showcasing the role of creativity and hands-on problem-solving in pushing the sport forward. Whether you’re a die-hard motorsports fan, a tractor pulling enthusiast, or someone chasing your own version of success, this episode delivers timeless lessons on discipline, innovation, and persistence. Ken Veney’s story proves that you don’t need perfect circumstances—you just need the drive to keep building, improving, and chasing what’s next. 🎧 Subscribe for more episodes of Breaking Barriers, featuring the legends, innovators, and stories that shaped the world of motorsports. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #KenVeney #DragRacing #FunnyCar #Motorsports #RacingHistory #NHRA #HotRods #CarCulture #EntrepreneurMindset #WorkEthic #Innovation #Storytelling #GaryBontrager

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, blowing head gaskets, redesigning valvetrain stability, and machining his own solutions when parts didn’t exist. From helping build sleds in the 70s to campaigning one of the top Light Supers in the region, he shares what it meant to be at the top of the class… and why politics ultimately pushed him to transition into a component chassis. This is not just a horsepower story. It’s about the constant pursuit of reliability, the chess match of tire selection and fuel systems, and the reality that in today’s pulling world, you can make all the horsepower you want — but if you can’t put weight on the nose and hook it to the track, it doesn’t matter. Ulmer also reflects on what’s changed most over five decades: RPM increases, boost levels, chassis development, and the rise of specialization in everything from cutting tires to building heads. Yet for all the technological advances, he makes it clear the most valuable part of tractor pulling isn’t the trophies — it’s the relationships built over a lifetime in the pits. From farm stock beginnings to chasing points with the Outlaws, this conversation captures the full arc of a competitor who has seen the sport evolve from brush pulls to precision-built component machines. If you care about tractor pulling history, mechanical innovation, or the mindset required to stay competitive across generations of change, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. Subscribe to Breaking Barriers for more deep conversations with the builders, drivers, and innovators who shaped the sport.

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 first and competition vehicles second. From campaigning an Allis-Chalmers D21 across county fairs and national events to innovating with turbochargers and tire modifications, he shares firsthand accounts of what it took to compete when there were few rules and even fewer guardrails. These were the years when competitors hauled tractors on grain trucks, cut tires by hand, and figured out performance gains through experimentation and grit. But Ed’s legacy extends far beyond driving. After witnessing inconsistencies in rules and safety across states, he became part of the small group that met in the bleachers and decided the sport needed structure. That decision helped form what would become the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), laying groundwork for standardized rules, safety measures, and organized national competition. He also played a major role in early mechanical sled development, navigating patent battles, engineering innovations, and the transition from step-on sleds to weight-transfer machines that transformed the sport entirely. The conversation also dives into the business side of pulling. Ed and his partners promoted major events across the country, including early national-level competitions and the growth of Bowling Green into one of the sport’s most iconic venues. He shares the financial risks, the politics, and the hard lessons learned from betting on weather, attendance, and promoter control long before the sport had the stability it enjoys today. This episode is more than a history lesson — it’s a firsthand account from a man who helped build the structure modern pulling stands on. If you care about the origins of organized tractor pulling, the evolution of sled technology, and the personalities who shaped the sport, this is essential listening. 🎧 Subscribe to Breaking Barriers for more long-form conversations with the legends who built the sport. #BreakingBarriersPodcast #EdHart #TPAHistory #TractorPulling #BowlingGreenPull #PullingLegends #MotorsportsHistory