10-4 Magazine / December 2025 61 Tractor Pull starting at 6:00 PM. I enjoy the truck pulls and have attended all of them at every one of the GBATS truck shows I’ve attended. It was difficult finding a spot to park my golf cart because both events were sold out, with over 1,000 spectators in attendance. All that remained was standing room only. Bryan and his crew in the KW cabover booth did a great job of playing music throughout both events and engaging the huge crowd with sing-alongs to popular songs like Sweet Caroline. I had the privilege of taking photos track-side as the trucks and tractors made their runs down the pulling course. I had an up-close and personal experience with one of the very powerful and loud tractors during a run. Right off the line, one of the tractors began pulling to the left, toward the barriers, as it proceeded down the track. The front-end was off the ground, so the driver couldn’t stop it from swerving left. He finally shut down the tractor two-thirds the way down the track, right in front of me, and several other people. By the time he stopped, we were mere inches from the tractor! It was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time!! Friday night ended on a great note with a concert by a ZZ Top tribute band on the Petro Stage and then an amazing firework display lit-up the Joplin night sky. Saturday, the final day of GBATS, began with another beautiful late summer morning. For a second day in a row, it was a challenge exiting I-44 on to Highway 43 and getting into the vendor parking lot at 4 State. Saturday proved to be the busiest day of the truck show weekend. Morning activities included a second round of Big Rig Burnouts, Kid Zone activities, a Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull, a charity raffle drawing, a charity auction for convoy spots, a driver’s meeting for everyone participating in the Special Olympics Convoy later that day, and finally the truck show awards and driver recognition ceremony, which was held on the Petro stage. Even though GBATS is not known as a big awards truck show, a few awards were handed out to a few well-deserving trucks. The Best Antique went to Bob Harley, People’s Choice went to Shawn Gibson, the Best of Show Bobtail went to Cody McCandles, and the Best of Show Combo was given to Jerry Mies. MHC Kenworth picked their own winner, and that award went to Casey Conrey. The Sweepstakes winner was Jerry Harris,
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