Delmarva Tractor Pullers Association, Inc.
Rules and Regulations
GENERAL RULES: Adopted 1/4/23
Amended 1/3/24
1. Wheelie bars are REQUIRED, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Wheelie bars should not be attached to the drawbar in any way. Minimim requirements for the wheelie bars are as follows:
A. Maximum of 12" above ground.
B. The back of wheelie bar is to extend 5" beyond the tire radius
C. Pads are 25 square inches (5" x 5")
D. Wheelie bars MUST be able to support the weight of tractor in heaviest class.
E. Jacking up the tractor by the wheelie bars pads is a means of testing their strength and may be done at any time at the discretion of DTPA officials.
2. All competitors are REQUIRED to be members of the Delmarva Tractor Pullers Association.
3. The use of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances is strictly prohibited at any time before or during the event. Anyone found in violation will be barred from membership for 400 days from date of infraction, with all fees forfeited.
4. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated! Offenders will be asked to leave the event immediately without refund. This is not negotiable.
5. The flagman and event director have control of the pull at all times; their decision is final.
6. Onsite conditions can override some rules, on any given day at the discretion of the rules committee, event director, or promoter. Safety rules can’t be overridden.
7. Owners, operators, crewmembers, and tractors enter at their own risk and must sign liability waiver.
8. Drawbars must be stationary in all directions, with a maximum drawbar pull height of 20” and a minimum drawbar pull point length of 18” from centerline of rear axle to pulling point.
9. All tractors must have their own 3 3/4" long x 3" wide hole plate, 3/4" thick minimum. The drawbar loop hook surface must be horizontal (it is recommended to be bolted with a grade 8 bolt and nut of correct diameter).
10. All tractors must have working brakes.
11. Speed disqualifications will be determined by the sign boards at the end of the track. If at the end of the pull the sign board displays a speed above .2 over the division speed limit (i.e. 3.7 mph legal, 3.8 mph or above disqualified in 3.5 mph class), it will result in disqualification. If the sled is reset the whole class will re-hook.
12, Shifting of Torque Amplifier or similar device is permitted.
13. All engines must be naturally aspirated, unless tractor came from the factory otherwise equipped in Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
14. It is MANDATORY for operators to make eye contact and/or voice contact with the hook-man, with hands in the air, transmission in neutral, and brakes applied.
15. No portion of the tractor shall interfere with the sled, hitch, or pull chain during the pull. The hook-man, sled operator, or track official, reserves the right to refuse to hook sled to tractor if he feels it will place him or others in danger.
16. All competitors must be 18 years of age, 16 with parental consent, or 14 with parental consent and tractor operator’s certificate or up to the event coordinator.
17. Tractors are allowed 100lbs over class weight for scale error.
18. Weights must not extend rearward beyond the rearmost portion of the rear tires. For those tractors with factory components such as platforms or fuel tanks that prohibit the placement of the weights on the rear of the tractor, weights may be attached that extend past the rear tires, but must be forward of wheelie bar bumpers (bumpers are required for this rule in any division)
19. Any part falling off the tractor after being hooked and until the tractor is unhooked will result in disqualification.
20. Gasoline, diesel, or LP fuels only, NO nitrous oxide is to be used.
21. There will be a gear change cone at 50 feet in all divisions, if the competitor stops before the cone, they will be allowed to restart their hook. This adjustment area is for gear change only.
22. If the horn on the sled sounds the competitor must stop immediately.
23. Protest may be filed against a puller, but only by other pullers in the same class. The protest must be filed with the event director before the protested tractor exits the pull area. The protestor or protestors must also submit their tractor for inspection as well. A $100 protest fee will be submitted with protest to event director. The protest fee will be returned to protestor if contested tractor is found to be in violation, however, if contested tractor is found not in violation, contested tractor will receive the protest fee. However, if BOTH tractors are found in violation, the protest fee will be donated to the association and BOTH tractors are disqualified.
24. If any part of pulling tractor goes out of bounds the pull is disqualified.
25. Driver must stay seated, hands on steering wheel and throttle and eyes on flagman at all times.
26. No passengers allowed on tractors at any time, 5 mph speed limit on the grounds at all times.
27. Tractors must be secured at all times while on the transport vehicle. Do not leave tractors on the transport vehicle unsecured! When you unchain, you must unload.
28. One hook per tractor per class or event director’s choice.
29. No part can extend more than 11’ forward from centerline of rear axle.
30. Proper attire required (no open toe shoes, and shirts required etc.)
31. Cut tires are allowed except in Division 1 & Division 2
32. Recommended for Division 1-4 REQUIRED for Division 5-7 (Recommended for Div 5 in 2023) Engines must have a kill switch. this switch must break or ground ignition and any electric fuel pumps. Diesel engines must utilize an air shut off device. Kill switches must be easily accessible to the hook person.
33. These rules will be in effect for two years from 1/4/23.
34. Any turbochargers not under the hood must becompletely shielded with .060” steel.
35. Tractor must meet all rules of the class they are pulling in.
36. Have fun!
Division 1 Stock Antique 3.0 MPH No Cut Tires:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000
2. 6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500, 11500, 12500, 13500, 14500
3. All tractors must be manufactured 1960 and prior.
4. 3.0 speed limit
5. Shifting of Torque Amplifier or similar device is permitted.
6. Engine stock block stock head, manifolds are to be cast stock or replacements, stock carburetor, factory air cleaner, and stock engine rpm.
7. Factory draw bar only.
8. Bolt on factory weights only.
9. No cut tires. Factory tire size or one size over. Pressed steel wheels are allowed only if factory option. Rubber tires only.
Division 2 Antique 3.5 MPH No Cut Tires:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000
6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500, 11500, 12500, 13500, 14500
2. All tractors must be manufactured 1964 and prior.
3. 3.5 mph speed limit
4. No cut tires. 18.4 maximum tire width 6500 and below.
5. RPMs are allowed to exceed NATPA rpm chart by maximum of 20%.
6. No fabricated intake or exhaust manifolds or headers, cast iron only.
Division 3 Antique 3.5 MPH Small Cut Tires:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7500
2. All tractors must be manufactured 1964 and prior.
3. 3.5 mph speed limit.
4. 16.9 x 34 or 15.5 x 38 maximum tire size.
5. RPMs are allowed to exceed NATPA rpm chart by maximum of 20%.
Division 4 6.0 MPH Any Year Any Tire:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500, 11500, 12500, 13500, 14500
2. Any year, any tire.
3. 6.0 mph speed limit.
4. 3000 rpm limit.
Division 5 8.0 MPH Any Year Any Tire:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500, 11500, 12500, 13500, 14500
2. 8.0 mph speed limit.
3. Kill switch - required for 2024 (See General Rule #33).
4. All exhaust must exit vertically. Exhaust must be at least 15” above the hood. No curved pipes or rain caps. Exhaust pipe on turbocharged tractors must be cross bolted with two sets of 3/8” grade 5 bolts within 1” of each other.
5. 3000 rpm limit.
Division 6 12.0 MPH 1972 and Prior Any Tire:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500, 11500, 12500, 13500, 14500
2. 12.0 MPH speed limit.
3. Wheelie bar bumpers are required.
4. Fenders are required.
5. Kill switch required. (See General Rule #33).
6. All exhaust must exit vertically. Exhaust must be at least 15” above the hood. No curved pipes or rain caps. Exhaust pipe on turbocharged tractors must be cross bolted with two sets of 3/8” grade 5 bolts within 1” of each other.
7. 3000 rpm limit.
Division 7 17.0 MPH:
1. Weight Classes: 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7500, 8500, 9500, 10500
2. Wheelie bar bumpers are required.
3. Fenders are required.
4. Kill switch required (See General Rule #33).
5. Engines must have OEM cylinder head-no recast, no aluminum, no overhead cams allowed, and no onboard computers.
6. Turbochargers are allowed.
7. Water injection or intercoolers are allowed.
8. Fuel system may consist of one carburetor of any size, or one diesel injection pump with one plunger per cylinder.
9. All exhaust must exit vertically. Exhaust must be at least 15” above the hood. No curved pipes or rain caps. Exhaust pipe on turbocharged tractors must be cross bolted with two sets of 3/8” grade 5 bolts within 1” of each other.
10. Engines must be properly shielded with .060” metal, shield must cover entire area from bottom of hood to top of frame, if no frame rails, then shield must extend to 6” below center of crankshaft (side shields). Any turbochargers not under the hood must be completely shielded with .060” steel.
11. Engines must have a shield surrounding the flywheel area 360 degrees. Shield must be ¼” thick steel 8” wide or Kevlar scatter blanket. Engines must have a steel or aluminum flywheel and clutch assembly with no cast iron parts. SFI approved harmonic balancer or solid one piece front pulley, or proper shielding to contain harmonic balancer.
12. A dead-man throttle is also required with a forward open and back idle spring loaded to return to idle.
13. All tractors must have a neutral starter interlock that will only permit starter engagement when transmission is in neutral, or when clutch is fully disengaged with a neutral indicator light.
14. Tractors are REQUIRED to have seats with minimum of 4” side rails and a minimum of 8” back support and fenders. Seatbelt is required with rollover protection. A factory built and/or certified is preferred.
15. Snell 90 or better helmet, fire suit, gloves and good leather shoes are all required.
16. A 5 lb. ABC fire extinguisher is required on tractor within reach of the operator.