FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009

Got to Be NC Festival features draft horse pull, tractor pull, lawnmower racing in grandstand

RALEIGH — The Got to Be NC Festival will showcase unique forms of horsepower in the grandstand Friday through Sunday, May 29-31, at the State Fairgrounds.

Draft horses will test their might against a weighted sled on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Ten lightweight and 10 heavyweight draft horse teams will compete to see who can pull a weighted load the farthest. Each class will vie for prize money ranging from $550 for first place to $50 for 10th place.

From noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, antique tractors will replace draft horses in a pulling competition. Tractor owners will compete throughout the day to earn trophies and points toward the Carolina Antique Tractor Pulling Association grand championship. Larger and louder tractors will battle on Saturday night.

On Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., members of the American Racing Mower Association will steer souped-up lawnmowers around an oval track at speeds up to 60 miles-per-hour. Teams from along the East Coast will participate in junior and adult racing classes to earn trophies and points toward a national championship.

“Racers compete on identically prepared machines that use real lawnmower engines and chassis,” said Aaron Crowl, ARMA national race director. “But make no mistake, these lawnmowers are modified to be loud, fast and powerful, and are a lot of fun to watch.”

Grandstand events are sponsored by Quality Equipment LLC. Tickets for each event are $5 per person, and may be purchased on the day of the event at the Sam Rand Grandstand box office.

The Got to Be NC Festival is presented by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Kerr Drug. It will feature 1,000 pieces of antique farm equipment, a carnival, a food and wine expo, live music and children’s activities each day, plus a classic car showcase on Friday and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle parade on Saturday. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking for the festival are free. For more information, go online to www.ncagfest.com.

-nja-1