Lexington Plane Pull Sees New Teams Dominate

The 2007 edition of the Lexington Plane Pull Challenge reached new heights both in the number of participants and total dollars raised. This year 16 teams turned out on a beautiful day at The Aviation Museum of Kentucky — up two teams from 2006 — to put their weight behind Special Olympics.

The Insight Pedal Pushers Team pulls hard during their Co-Ed Division-winning effort.

One of the new participants turned in a dominating performance at this year's Plane Pull. Insight Communications, which fielded two teams in its first year participating in the event captured both of the timed divisions— Co-Ed and Men's. The Co-Ed team pulled the 180,000-pound Fed Ex 727 12 feet in 7.604 seconds edging the team from American Airlines and Fed Ex Co-Ed, which both pulled in 7.941 seconds. The Men's Division was even closer with the Insight team winning by just six hundredths of a second. Insight's second pull of 7.076 seconds topped the Nurses Registry team's 7.132 and held up through defending men's champion Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement's late effort of 7.605 seconds.

One team was able to defend its title from 2006. Team G-Force from Morehead, led by Special Olympics parents James and Delrita Wells, repeated as the top fundraising team in 2007 with a total raised of more than $5,400. The Wellses could not hold onto the title of top individual fundraiser's this year, however. That honor and the round-trip tickets on American Airlines that go with it went to Debbi Taylor of the Kentucky elite team who raised $1,820 for the Plane Pull and Special Olympics.

The Insight Pedal Pushers Team pulls hard during their Co-Ed Division-winning effort.

We would like to thank this year's sponsors — American Eagle, which provided round-trip tickets for the top fundraiser; Mix 94.5, and especially Dale O'Brian and Traci Edwards of the Mix 94.5 Breakfast Club for their support in promoting the event; Action News 36; The Aviation Museum of Kentucky and Blue Grass Airport were gracious enough to host the event for the third year; Lamar Outdoor Advertising which will post billboards featuring the division winners; and new-on-line promotional partner Lexington Mojo.

Click Here to see more photos!

For more information about sponsorships or about how you or your company can participate in the 2008 Plane Pull Challenge, contact Courtney Sullivan-Staples at 800-633-7403 or 502-695-8222, ext. 106. For sponsorship information concerning next year's event, please contact Kelly Hutchinson, senior marketing director at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at khutchinson@soky.org.