Illinoise Boyz Headed South for the Winter!

If you grow up as we have in the sport of Truck and Tractor Pulling, whether you are a driver, a owner, or a crew member, There is one place in all of pulling that serves as the "hallowed ground", the "Field of Dreams" of our sport. A place where legends are made, and only the best pullers in the world are allowed to participate.

The World Famous and highly prestigious National Farm Machinery Show Championship Tractor Pull will be contested February 15th through the 18th 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky at Freedom Hall. This years list of pullers, just as in previous years is a veritable whos who of the best in our sport from each of the various sanctioning bodies, as well as around the world, with pullers being invited from as far away as the Netherlands.

Midnight Motorsports is Proud to Announce that All 5 of the Illinois 2 wheelers have been accepted and will be given the chance to solidify their status as invitees of this event as they take their crack at the famed sandpile and hopefully the Saturday night finals.

This year on Thursday Night, Feb 16, 2011, PPL Champion Jeremy Nelson will pilot his famed Sidney,Illinois based Midnight Gambler 41 dodge. Last year the Midnight Gambler finished a solid 4th in making the saturday night finals where he finished 6th. Jeremy hopes to continue the momentum he built with a stellar 2011 summer season and continue that into the Louisville Pull.

Altamont, Illinois Jared Nelson, who wowed the crowd with his full pull last year and over came the adversity of a broken front wheel to make the Saturday night finals will no doubt be ready to wheel the Midnight Revenger to the beach yet again. Jared is ready to settle the score with that ole sandpile and will work to make the finals and improve on his 8th place finish from last year.

Friday Night February 17, 2011 marks the date that the rest of the illinois crew will have their chance at the Freedom Hall Dirt, and hopefully a coveted spot in the finals.
John Mumma and his Philo, Illinois based "After Midnight" Chevy SSR will be trying to repeat as a individual session winner, only this year he'll do it on Friday night instead of Thursday. Ashmore, Illinois Mark Austin and his "Gamblin After Dark" has been asked to come back this year and will have a chance to back up his unbelievable performance from last year. Austins new Hemi Power took him to the pulloff last year and in a heartbreaker, he finished 5th, just out of the finals.

Lastly, but certainly not the least in the familiar Orange and White ford out of Brownstown Illinois, Jordan Nelson and the Midnight Madness machine will round out the Illinois contingent. Jordan hopes to take the skull and crossbones to Saturday night this year.

Midnight Motorsports would like to thank the Kentucky State Fair Board as well as the tractor pull committee for inviting us back to the Hallowed Ground of Freedom Hall. We are excited and honored to be asked. Midnight Motorsports would also like to thank our fans. We look forward to seeing everyone in Broadbent Arena during farm show week.

Stay tuned to the blog for updates as we prepare the trucks for February!

A Night to Remember

The 2011 season was truly a fair tale for Jeremy Nelson and the Midnight Motorsports team. After losing a valued team member in the winter time it became the focus to remember our fallen friend in every event we attended. The Hammer Down Tour was coined as the title of our season and the momentum all began at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

After three Midnight Motorsports trucks made the finals at the prestigious event, the entire team felt ecstatic with the start for 2011. That start continued to be hot when we traveled to Saluda, South Carolina for the Champions Tour Season kickoff. In Saluda, Jeremy captured the win on Friday night while Jared ran very consistently to a 2nd and 3rd on the weekend. After Jeremy's win he commented "It is great to have my win out of the way already, I hope we can get a few more." I don't think what Jeremy meant by a few was six more but that is exactly what he did. All of the wins put the 1941 Dodge Midnight Gambler on top of the Champions Tour points standings at season's end and thus gave Jeremy his first title.

So on this October night with all of his friends and family gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jeremy took to the mic decked out in tuxedo and "candy green" vest to address the crowd and discuss his season. One by one the Gambler thanked all of the folks that had helped him complete the greatest season of his pulling career. With his classmates lining the stage behind him, Jeremy expressed his deep appreciation for the sponsors that support the league and valued partners that have helped to grow Midnight Motorsports. Jeremy received the Champions basket which featured, a cutout of his truck and tons of Lucas Oil Products. He also received his points check and officially claimed the title of Champion!

With all of the success in 2011, the guys from Midnight Motorsports are excited for the 2012 Season. Some changes will be made for the team and we look forward to reaching out to our fans in the near future with some new and exciting things. We appreciate all of your support over the season, we congratulate all of the champions and thank our classmates for motivating the "Illi-noise Boyz" to work as hard as they have to, to win a championship!

The Diamond of Dirt Tracks

In 1989, a younger Kevin Costner portrayed an Iowa corn farmer that continually heard voices in his. The voices he heard, encouraged him to plow a section of his corn down to create a baseball field. In doing so the young Iowa corn farmer Ray Kinsella, witnessed something he couldn't imagine when the ghosts of baseballs past arrived at the field for a game. In the end the phrase "If you build he will come" remained in all of our minds as Ray Kinsella got to have a catch with his father, John. People from around the world took notice to the amazing field that was built in the center of a corn field and made the voyage to Iowa to first hand see the unique environment.


In Hickory County Missouri sits a small little town named Wheatland. Much like Ray Kinsella, Forest Lucas made his dream a reality when he built the Diamond of Dirt Tracks in the middle of a field. The community of Wheatland is no larger than 500, but tomorrow night the bright lights of Hollywood will arrive in full force to capture the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League's competition in front of a standing room only crowd. Sitting in the wings waiting for their moment in the spotlight will be Midnight Motorsports and the three potent pulling machines that accompany them.

Jeremy Nelson and the Midnight Gambler have written quite the storybook over the course of the summer, but if you ask the Gambler he will tell you there is still room for a chapter or two. "I hope we can finish what we have started this season. This has been a dream year for our team. The Illi-noise Boyz made it our goal at the beginning of the season to bring a championship back with us and we have fought hard together to be in the position we are in" stated Jeremy. The current points see Jeremy Nelson sitting in first on the Champion's Tour, while Mark Austin, Jordan Nelson and Jared Nelson find themselves sitting in 3rd, 4th, and 6th in the tally.

Over the years the boys of Midnight have developed a strong love for the facility at Wheatland,not only for the grounds but the great ammenities the track has to offer. Tonight the competition will be on a small asphalt oval when the Lucas Oil Champions Tour competitors face off in go-carts. "We love it out here, Forest and the speedway staff make us feel right at home each year. It is great to kickback and relax with some go-carting and visiting, before bringing our focus to the track for competition" stated Rockstar Makita driver Jared Nelson. The go-cart track was just an additional touch in the master plan of one brilliant gentleman, Mr. Lucas.

His vision continues today in the form of a motorsports park on the grounds at Wheatland. What started with the dirt track, has grown with the welcomed addition of the newly debuted Lucas Oil Speedway Drag Boat Track, the first of it's kind in the world. A fully function water speedway built for one reason, to house the fastest boats water can find. Future plans will see a drag strip and many more venues developed for the motorsports enthusiast. We can't be sure if Mr. Lucas heard the same voice Ray Kinsella did but we are certain he heard "If you build it they will come!"

Jefferson City, Missouri Friday

The Rockstar Makita Chevy made the trip to Jefferson City, Missouri for competition with the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association. The trip was a small break from the ITPA and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League circuits that Midnight Motorsports has been running throughout the summer. Jared Nelson finished in the six position last night with a early hook in the class of more than twenty. The event that is co-sanctioned with the NTPA featured Grand National pulling action and four classes of Outlaw competition. We will be back in action tonight with Bethany Nelson slated to the take the wheel of the Rockstar Makita Chevy!

Results1) Country Heat 320.8
2) Missouri Gambler 320.6
3) Lil Whip 318.6
4) Notorious 317.4
5) Midnight Madness 317.2
6) Rockstar Makita 315.6
7) Texas Two Step 314.9
8) Parts City 312.1
9) Spare Change 311.9
10) Bad Company 307.8
11) Gunsmoke 306.9
12) Wild Horse 306
13) Texas Stampede 303.5
14) Grim Reaper 301.1
15) Super Mule 301
16) Full Throttle 296.4
17) Up n Gone 296.2
18) Untouchable 296.1
19) Broke n Busted 288.4
20) Showtime 250.7
21) Buffalo Chips DQ
22) Straight Forward DQ

The other side of the River!

On an off weekend for Midnight Motorsports from the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Schedule and the ITPA Circuit, the team has still decided to venture out to spend some time enjoying their favorite passed time. Jared Nelson and the Rockstar Makita Chevy have ventured to the other side of the river for pulling competition against the Outlaws! The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association typically runs throughout the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa, while venturing to some of the surrounding states. It is a rare trip for the Midnight Motorsports Teams to actually head west and thus when the opportunity arose to go and compete in the state capital of Missouri, Jefferson City, Jared jumped at the chance.

While the black team is in Missouri chasing down Outlaws, the green team will venture to Indiana in a support capacity. Midnight Motorsports has had a face lift of sorts over the the last few weeks, in the likes of a Pro Stock Tractor. John Mumma's daughter and Jeremy Nelson's sister in law Kristin is to be married in January to Miles Stratton. Miles driver and owner of the Youngbuck John Deere is a competitor on the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour in his respective class and will be competing this evening in Terre Haute. The short jog to Terre Haute from Sidney and Philo was enough to convince John and Jeremy they needed to take the families south to support their future in law!

A full recap of the competition in Jefferson City will be posted, as well as highlights from the evenings event in Terre Haute, Indiana!

Thanks for your support of Midnight Motorsports!