HeyJaredBreaking Barriers Podcast
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.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 5
- Latest publication
- Sep 7, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 13, 2026
Latest episodes
How the NTPA Changed Tractor Pulling | Ed Hart (opens the original)
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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
Brabec Brothers | 7x National Champions, The Country Dude & Tractor Pulling Legends (opens the original)
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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 Br
Fred & Kyle Petsch | Seven Championships, Thermal Thunder & a Family Pulling Legacy (opens the original)
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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. K
From Schoolteacher to Big Rig Truck Pulling Pioneer | Rick Feicht (opens the original)
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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 an
Chuck Wheatley | The Turbo Pioneer Who Changed Tractor Pulling (opens the original)
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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 Louisvi
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