-- The roar of engines echoed across the Elkhart County Fairgrounds Thursday as truck and tractor pullers took center stage for the second of three grandstand pulling sessions, continuing a tradition that has been a staple of county fairs for nearly a century. The sport traces its roots to the late 1920s, when farmers began informally competing to see whose tractor was the strongest. Today, truck and tractor pulling has evolved into a highly regulated motorsport featuring specialized vehicles capable of producing thousands of horsepower while towing sleds that can exceed 70,000 pounds. Thursday’s program featured 20 classes of trucks and tractors, ranging from farm stock tractors to diesel pickup trucks. “You hook to the sled one time and you’re either hooked or you’re not — and most of the time you’re hooked.”