T.J. Tjoelker’s “Runnin’ in the Red” throws off plenty of heat at Saturday’s Truck and Tractor Pulls.
TONASKET – Noise, smoke and dirt filled the air at the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, July 14, as the Tonasket Comancheros hosted their Third Annual Truck and Tractor Pulls.
Actually, it was a two-day event, with local amateurs making a go at it on Friday. Saturday had its fill of local talent as well, but most of the anticipation was for the professionals of the Moonlighter Pulling Team of Spokane and their modified diesel trucks, smoker tractors and multi-engine tractors.
On hand to announce the three-hour event was Good Morning Northwest anchor Mark Peterson of KXLY Channel 4 of Spokane, who originally helped to bring the Truck and Tractor Pulls to Tonasket and whose promotion of Tonasket on his show helped ensure a full house.
Peterson was honored with a proclamation by Tonasket mayor Patrick Plumb, and a “key to the city” from the Comancheros, presented by Bud “Budley the Clown” McSpadden.
Tonasket boasted a pair of winners in amateur pulls, including Robert Willis in Light Stock and Rob Anderson in Stock Diesel.
Other winners included Josh Amoth in Heavy Stock; Dan Garvin in Mod Diesel; Jason Burton in Unlimited Diesel; Butch Phelps, driving “Backseat Driver” in Pro Mod; Brent VanDalen, driving “WA-2-Cee” in Smoker Tractors; Brad Campbell, driving “Bad to the Bone” in Two-wheel Drive; and Jack Wheatly, driving “Major Woodie” in Multi-Engine Tractors.
Following the event, fans were invited into the arena to visit with drivers and crew and get a close-up look at the over-sized engines.
Top Three Finishers (each class):
Lightstock
1st – Robert Willis
2nd – Kevin Fletcher
3rd – Chuck Cone
Heavystock
1st – Josh Amoth
2nd – John Harriso
3rd – Chris Jack
Stock Diesel
1st – Rob Anderson
2nd – Brian Whitney
3rd – Clayton Jones
Mod Diesel
1st – Dan Garvin
2nd – Brandie Calloway
3rd – Cody Paton
Umlimited Diesel
1st – Jason Burton
2nd – Garrett Parlette
3rd – D.J. Calloway
Smoker Tracktors
1st – Brent VanDalen – WA-2-Cee
2nd – Mick VanDalen – Big Green Tractor
3rd – Ty Tjoelker – Runnin’ in the Red
Pro Mod
1st – Butch Phelps – Back Seat Driver
2nd – Jenny Bocook – Moonlighter
3rd – Steve Henjum – Limited Edition
2-wheel Drive
Brad Campbell – Bad to the Bone
Multi-Engine Tractor
1st – Jack Wheatly – Major Woodie
2nd – Russ Hodges – General Chaos
