Friend Bests Metzger Again
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Silver Lake's Mike Metzger and Hastings, Minnesota's Gary Ries, both Super Semi pullers on the NTPA circuit, claim to be best friends.
And as Metzger, owner of Metzger and Sons Trucking in Silver Lake, put it earlier in the week, Ries enjoys coming and showing Metzger up in front of his home crowd.
And that is exactly what Ries did Friday night at the Kosciusko County Fair.
Driving his Peterbilt nicknamed Stagecoach, Ries, the NTPA points champion in 1991 and '92, topped Metzger's pull-off round distance of 298 feet, 11 inches to take the win.
"We had two good passes," Metzger said. "The truck that won is good. He's a good friend of mine, and he's got a good truck. We've never won on the home track, and I'm not going to retire until I do."
"That was my best run this year," Ries, who also drove the truck Longhorn that finished fourth. "We've just had so many engine problems."
Ries was also quick to point out that he beat Metzger on a recent fishing escapade.
J.R. Collins of Chardon, Ohio, and his 1984 Mack called the Buckeye Bulldog took third with a pull-off round distance of 244 feet.
All three advanced to the pulloff round by easily making their way down the 300-foot dirt surface in the first round.
Metzger has experienced engine trouble of his own lately. Wednesday in Peoria, Ill., he broke the transmission and settled for a fifth-place finish. He previously had won all four points events on the schedule.
"We broke the transmission on Wednesday," Metzger said. "It's still acting up a little bit, it's kind of rattling. There's still some bugs to work out."
Metzger began the evening with a full pull, followed by a full pull from Ries. Weight was then added to the weight transfer sled and Metzger once again put the sled beyond the 300-foot line.
Ries took fourth in the Longhorn with a pull of 296-10.
A show and shine event is planned before today's pulling event at the fair. Trucks will parade around the track at 7 p.m. with the pull show to follow at 7:30 p.m.
In six events this season, Metzger, who has never won the NTPA points title but entered last night's show leading, now has 10 full pulls. [[In-content Ad]]
Silver Lake's Mike Metzger and Hastings, Minnesota's Gary Ries, both Super Semi pullers on the NTPA circuit, claim to be best friends.
And as Metzger, owner of Metzger and Sons Trucking in Silver Lake, put it earlier in the week, Ries enjoys coming and showing Metzger up in front of his home crowd.
And that is exactly what Ries did Friday night at the Kosciusko County Fair.
Driving his Peterbilt nicknamed Stagecoach, Ries, the NTPA points champion in 1991 and '92, topped Metzger's pull-off round distance of 298 feet, 11 inches to take the win.
"We had two good passes," Metzger said. "The truck that won is good. He's a good friend of mine, and he's got a good truck. We've never won on the home track, and I'm not going to retire until I do."
"That was my best run this year," Ries, who also drove the truck Longhorn that finished fourth. "We've just had so many engine problems."
Ries was also quick to point out that he beat Metzger on a recent fishing escapade.
J.R. Collins of Chardon, Ohio, and his 1984 Mack called the Buckeye Bulldog took third with a pull-off round distance of 244 feet.
All three advanced to the pulloff round by easily making their way down the 300-foot dirt surface in the first round.
Metzger has experienced engine trouble of his own lately. Wednesday in Peoria, Ill., he broke the transmission and settled for a fifth-place finish. He previously had won all four points events on the schedule.
"We broke the transmission on Wednesday," Metzger said. "It's still acting up a little bit, it's kind of rattling. There's still some bugs to work out."
Metzger began the evening with a full pull, followed by a full pull from Ries. Weight was then added to the weight transfer sled and Metzger once again put the sled beyond the 300-foot line.
Ries took fourth in the Longhorn with a pull of 296-10.
A show and shine event is planned before today's pulling event at the fair. Trucks will parade around the track at 7 p.m. with the pull show to follow at 7:30 p.m.
In six events this season, Metzger, who has never won the NTPA points title but entered last night's show leading, now has 10 full pulls. [[In-content Ad]]