Breaking Barriers Podcast is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the sport of tractor pulling. Hosted by Gary Bontrager, this podcast dives into the stories, legends, and evolution of the sport, capturing its impact on competitors and fans alike. Each episode features in-depth conversations with key figures who have shaped tractor pulling's past, present, and future. Tune in to celebrate the legacy and innovation that keep this thrilling sport alive!
Rick Behrendt | The Wampus Cat, Pro Stock Pulling & a Lifetime of Stories
Before he owned a vehicle, Rick Behrendt owned a farm tractor. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Rick joins Gary Bontrager to share how a childhood love of tractors became a pulling career spanning more than 30 years—and the friendships, championships, and hard lessons that came with it.
One of the founding members of Nebraska Bush Pullers, Rick reflects on his early days at local farm pulls, the story behind the Wampus Cat, and his move into Pro Stock competition with the Outlaws. From winning at the Iowa State Fair to blowing an engine on the starting line in Louisville, he shares the highs and lows of chasing competition while keeping the farm running back home.
Rick also talks about the fellow pullers who helped keep his tractor on the track, the rising cost of staying competitive, and knowing when to make room for the next generation. He shares the work that goes into putting on the pull in Ravenna, Nebraska, and why giving back to the community remains an important part of his life.
Subscribe to Breaking Barriers for more stories from the people who helped shape tractor pulling.
#BreakingBarriersPodcast #RickBehrendt #TractorPulling #WampusCat #ProStock
21 Sept 2026
Gary Kohl | Family Legacy & the Birth of Pro Stock Tractor Pulling
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
7 Sept 2026
How the NTPA Changed Tractor Pulling | Ed Hart
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
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
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