NC State Secures Another National Title with Their Tractor Team, But It’s Likely You Haven’t Heard About It…
If you pass by Patterson Hall at NC State, you’ll notice “The Intimidator,” a striking red and black tractor, proudly displayed just inside the building’s entrance. This isn’t just any tractor; it’s a symbol of success for the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where Dean Garey Fox insisted it be placed near his office. Inspired by Dale Earnhardt, “The Intimidator” is a champion on the international stage. It played a pivotal role in the Pack Pullers, an engineering group from NC State, securing the overall title at the 2024 International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition in Peoria, Illinois.
This annual competition, held from late May to early June, offers students hands-on engineering experience by challenging them to design, build, and test small-scale tractors. Competing against 20 or more schools, mostly from the Midwest, the Pack Pullers have been a consistent participant for around 20 years, though they had never previously finished higher than third place.
But this year felt different. The phrase “Why not us?” echoed among the team, much like the recent successes of NC State’s basketball teams. The competition is a rigorous test of each team’s tractor design, requiring long days and nights as students justify their engineering choices and demonstrate their tractor’s operational efficiency, durability, and overall effectiveness.
The competition begins with a detailed inspection process, where judges meticulously check each tractor against a 25-page rulebook. It’s an exacting procedure, with rules so strict they might seem almost absurd. The tractor must meet ground clearance standards, and the materials used — from steel to aluminum — must comply with specific thickness requirements. Even the slightest air gap in the clutch can lead to disqualification. The tractor must also weigh under 900 pounds, which Ellington humorously referred to as a “diet” for the machine.
Despite the intense scrutiny, the Pack Pullers pride themselves on their preparation. With construction taking place at the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, the team builds their tractor entirely in-house, supported by the BAE Research Shop. Throughout the year, team members dedicate 15-20 hours each week to the project, with this commitment ramping up to nearly 10 hours a day as the competition approaches.
Graduate student adviser Max Hooks highlighted the dedication required, noting that he and teammate Thomas Bartholomew had worked over 24 hours straight on the tractor at times. The team’s previous entry, “Ole Red,” had earned them third place, but this year, under Ellington’s guidance, they focused heavily on improving their soft skills — a component that makes up 55% of the competition’s scoring. These skills are evaluated through team presentations and interviews, where participants must answer challenging questions from industry professionals.
One unexpected question they faced was about market cannibalization — whether their new model would diminish the market for their previous designs. Despite a setback during the durability event, where the tractor’s belt snapped, the team’s emphasis on soft skills paid off. To their surprise, the Pack Pullers were named overall champions and also won first place for the best team presentation.
Though their victory didn’t garner the fanfare of lighting up the Memorial Belltower or a campus-wide celebration, the team was warmly welcomed back by Dean Fox after their 14-hour drive to Raleigh. Even without the widespread recognition, the Pack Pullers are eager to continue their success and bring more accolades to NC State.
