There were 25 teams from throughout Louisville on hand when the 2011 Big Brown Truck Pull presented by ResCare hit the street at Fourth Street Live! on Saturday, September 24. And with just one exception, the old guard ruled the day, taking home trophy after trophy.

In the men's division, defending champion Louisville Metro Corrections FOP Lodge 77 was once again the last men's team to pull. Needing to better a time of 4.31 seconds to unseat the P3 Pullers from Harshaw Trane, the Metro Corrections team managed to retain its crown by just .08 seconds, posting a time of 4.23 seconds.

The women's division was a showdown between the past two division champions, with the 2009 champion UPS Fly Girlz facing off against the defending champion Power Puller Gals of Smoothstone. Smoothstone set the pace with a time of 5.13 seconds when they pulled about midway through the event. Pulling late, the Fly Girlz took to the street after a little good-natured smack talk. The Fly Girlz put up a tremendous effort, but their pull of 5.69 seconds didn't allow them to regain the title. The Power Puller Gals had to sweat out one more team after the Fly Girlz, but the Care Wise Pulling Princesses also couldn't beat their time.

The Louisville Metro Corrections team pulls its way to a second consecutive men's division title.

That left one division title open for a new champion and the first-year team from Insight seemed to be ready for the challenge. A late sign-up for the event, not only was Team Insight intent on contending for a division title, but they also raised more than $6,000 in just a couple of weeks. Once it was their time to pull, Team Insight was just as competitive on the rope, posting a time of just 4.45 seconds -- faster than some of the men's division teams. Insight was immediately followed by three-time defending co-ed champion NPAS. The NPAS team made a furious effort, but fell just .08 seconds short of defending their title with a time of 4.53 seconds. None of the remaining co-ed teams managed times under five seconds.

See Photos From This Year's Event

Even the fundraising and spirit prizes went to familiar names. The Top Fundraising Team award went once again to Team ResCare. This year the ResCare bunch raised $11,676.93 in addition to the company's presenting sponsorship contribution. ResCare team member David Miles once again won the Top Individual Fundraiser award as well, raising $5,036.93. Both ResCare's total and Miles' total were nearly $3,000 more than their winning numbers from last year. It was the fourth straight award for both.

Team Insight shows off the co-ed division trophy it won in it's first ever Big Brown Truck Pull appearance.

Finally, the group from Kaleidoscope, Inc. won the Best Team T-Shirt Award, marking their second straight year as the winner. Once again, the team, whose company provides services for individuals with disabilities, wore shirts inspired and produced by their clients. Kaleidoscope also became a new winner of sorts, capturing the Team Spirit Award with a rousing pre-pull cheer. The award had gone to the team from Citi Cards for eight consecutive years.

Our thanks to everyone who continues to make the Big Brown Truck Pull such a great event, including all the participants and volunteers, all the sponsors -- ResCare Fourth Street Live!, UPS, Texas Roadhouse, LINAK, 105.1 FM Talk, WBKI-The CW, CBS Outdoor and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run. We also want to thank all of the companies who allow their employees the time to put together teams to come out to support such a fun, exciting event.

If you or your company is interested in participating in the 2012 Big Brown Truck Pull presented by Res Care, contact Candace Thompson at 502-695-822 or cthompson@soky.org.

2011 Big Brown Truck Pull Champions
Men's Division — Louisville Metro Corrections FOP Lodge 77; 4.23 seconds
Women's Division — Power Puller Gals of Smoothstone; 5.13 seconds
Co-Ed Division — Team Insight; 4.45 seconds

Top Fundraising Team — ResCare; $11,676.93
Top Individual Fundraiser — David Miles, ResCare; $5,036.93

Spirit Award — Kaleidoscope
Best T-Shirt — Kaleidoscope