Driven

COLERIDGE — Dalie Paulsen may only be 16 but she finds herself pulling her own weight, and pulling away from the pack, in an activity she loves – tractor pulling.

She’s currently second in the Outlaw Associations limited pro stock division out of 16 individuals competing. Paulsen goes head-to-head against other competitors in her division – each pulling their sled (about 47,000 pounds) and additional weight (about 14,000 pounds) and whoever can pull it the farthest, wins.

Tractor pulling makes up a large part of her family life, as she’s been watching her father, Loren, compete since she was 7. A few years ago, he bought a tractor and asked if she’d like to refurbish it and potentially start pulling herself.

“I just thought that would be the coolest thing ever,” the Coleridge teen said.

She was especially curious about the adrenaline other pullers talked about, post pull.

When it came to her first race, though, she was a nervous mess, Paulsen admits. But with the help of family and friends, she was able to pull herself together.

“So many people were like, ‘You’ll do awesome. We have faith in you,’ “she said.

Paulsen said her family and friends on and off the tractor pull dirt track are the driving force behind her success.

Her father still competes himself – in a different division. Her mother, Desiree, and brother, Lane, support her, travel with her across the Midwest to compete and cheer her on, too.

Her sister, Sadie, is a former tractor puller and has now moved to Chicago.

The 4430 John Deere tractor she uses to compete with is dedicated to her grandmother Dorothy Paulsen, with a sticker prominently displayed in her honor.

“My grandma passed away a few years ago and she was one of my biggest supporters when she was here,” Paulsen said

And then there’s all the people she meets out on the track – fans and fellow pullers – who have grown to be like family to Paulsen.

This summer, she’s met people from Texas, Missouri, all over the Midwest.

Since her father also competes, sometimes she’s left alone to get herself and her tractor ready to pull. But, inevitably, there’s always someone that offers to help.

“Even if I’m pulling against them, they’ll be there for me and help me. It’s exactly like a big family. It’s the best feeling. Everybody is there for you no matter what,” she said.

Another pulling family will invite the Paulsens over for dinner. The Outlaw announcer puts on a concert during a rain delay. Those are just some of the special memories that Paulsen cherishes.

Along the way, she’s gained points and confidence.

“Everyone around me is like, ‘Dalie are you nervous?’ And I’m like, ‘No, but I’m excited.’ I’m not scared anymore,” Paulsen said. “I feel like I know what I’m doing a little more.”

At the end-of-the-season banquet, the Outlaw Association will award trophies for winners in each division, one for Rookie of the Year and one for the Best Appearing Vehicle.

Even if she doesn’t win a trophy, Paulsen said she feels like she’s won the best prize of all – friendship.

“It’s just awesome to be around all of the people – they make it worthwhile,” she said.

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