Strongmen Compete for Fastest Time Pulling Tractor

Thirty of the world’s strongest men challenged 19,000 pounds of pure Mack power during the recent MET-Rx World’s Strongest Man 2012 competition. Pulling a MACK Pinnacle Axle Back model tractor was one of the qualifying events during the 35^th annual competition conducted at the Commerce Casino and other locations throughoutLos Angeles,Calif.

The World’s Strongest Man competition, which aired on ESPN on Dec. 30, pitted men from 17 countries against each other, testing the limits of human strength and endurance through a series of extreme events.

Competitors in the truck pull qualifier wore a harness connected to a rope and were required to pull the Pinnacle tractor more than 30 meters (32.8 yards) in the shortest amount of time. Hafpór Björnsson, ofIceland, won the qualifying round for the second year in a row, finishing in 26.93 seconds. Terry Hollands and Zydrunas Savikas finished the competition second and third place, respectively. All advanced to the next phase of the competition.

The Pinnacle model is designed for durable over-the-road hauling with a MACK Advantage chassis to optimize payload. Equipped with the MACK MP8 engine offering 1,760 lb-ft of torque and 505 hp, the fuel-efficient Pinnacle delivers near-zero emissions through the combination of the MP8 engine and MACK ClearTech SCR technology.

“The Mack Pinnacle is a very versatile model and can be spec’d to efficiently handle any application, from local and regional hauls, to demanding long hauls,” said John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing. “While one very strong man can pull this truck 100 feet in under a minute, the Pinnacle’s 505 horses pull a full load over the steepest mountains effortlessly. Mack Pinnacles have a lot in common with the men who participate in this competition because they are built to handle maximum payload without stopping or slowing down.”