About 3,000 watch 13th annual Truck & Tractor Pull at fairgrounds

INVERNESS — The crowd cheered as beefed-up engines roared while pulling weighted sleds and struggling to make it to the full-pull line Sunday during the 13th annual Truck & Tractor Pull at the Citrus County Fairgrounds in Inverness.

CATHY KAPULKA/Chronicle

Stewart Mitchell drives his 1963 Cub Cadet in the 1,250-pound garden tractor class. He placed second in the competition Sunday during the 13th annual Truck & Tractor Pull at the Citrus County Fairgrounds in Inverness.

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CATHY KAPULKA/Chronicle

Roger Jay pulls for 169.036 feet driving his Farmall 460 tractor named Tazmanian Devil.

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CATHY KAPULKA/Chronicle

Garry Sanderson of Ontario, Canada, pulls for 143.816 feet as he drives his 1959 Farmall 560 tractor in the Super Antique Tractor class.

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The event, which is sponsored by the Citrus County Fair Association, uses its proceeds to add additional scholarships for youths who participate in competitive county fair exhibits and its livestock program, said Hal Porter, the association’s manager.

About 3,000 people attend the two-day event, he said. Drivers who represented 20 states and Canada pulled weighted sleds 593 times, giving the spectators what they came for, fun and excitement.

Garry Sanderson, of Ontario Canada, brought his 1959 Farmall 560 tractor to the Citrus competition for the past five years.

“Citrus County, we love it,” Sanderson said. “It’s good people, and it’s a great venue. The best thing about tractor pulling is the people you meet.”

Sanderson finished fifth in the Super Antique Tractor class competition.

Stewart Mitchell, also of Ontario, brings his 1963 Cub Cadet garden tractor to Citrus County each year. He said he has been driving the same tractor for the past 35 years, competing throughout North America.

“The camaraderie is the best thing about tractor pulling,” Mitchell said. “If you’re in Canada or the USA, it’s all the same. And their fun to drive.”

Mitchell placed second in the in the 1,250-pound garden tractor class.

Porter was pleased with the turnout of both competitors and spectators.

“It’s a tremendous economic boost for our area,” he said. “All of these people had to stay and eat somewhere.”

He said he wanted to thank the spectators, drivers, sponsors and volunteers that make the event possible.

“The Citrus County Fair Association is really blessed to have such dedicated volunteers who helped produce this event, about 75,” Porter said. “It takes a lot of work.”

He added after this weekend the association goes into high gear to get ready for the Citrus County Fair which is March 26 through March 31.

“Starting Monday, I’m putting this (the truck and tractor pull) to bed and start working on the Citrus County Fair,” Porter said. “Come see us.”

Chronicle reporter Cathy Kapulka can be reached at 352-564-2922 or ckapulka@chronicleonline.com.