The Diesel Super Stock points race this year was an epic battle between two distinguished champions, Brian Shramek, the five-time defending champion with the "Young Blood" Agco DT 225 and Esdon Lehn, 11-time Grand National Champion, with the "Red Line Fever" International 1486.

During the early season, several tractors were within a handful of points of the lead. During the first 11 hooks of the season, there were eight different winners. Jody Ross won twice with "Resurrected Red Neck," Steve Burge twice with "Lock-N-Load," Esdon Lehn once each with "RLF" and "RLF Lite" and then a split between those two tractors. Mike Beck's "High Tech Red Neck," Brandon Hunt's "Liv'n A Dream," David Siefert's "Renegade Deere," and Jim Schaendorf's "Radical Red" all took victories early in the season as well.

Following the pull in Ionia, Mich., Lehn took his first lead with "RLF" by one point over "Young Blood." Lehn won in Mount Sterling, Ill. with "RLF Lite" but maintained the points lead with "RLF." Dennis Shramek earned the first win of the year for the "Young Blood" team in Salem, Ill. Lehn won the next hook in Napoleon, Ohio to take a threepoint lead. Brian Shramek swept both hooks in Bowling Green, Ohio to take a one-point lead over "RLF." Lehn came up big when it mattered most by winning both hooks in Jefferson City, Mo. to retake the points lead. He was ahead of Shramek by five points with three hooks left. Shramek finished fourth while Lehn finished seventh aboard "RLF" with Mike Beck taking the victory in Wauseon, Ohio to cut the deficit to two points with two hooks left in Sandwich, Ill.

In Sandwich, Steve Burge took his third win of the season with "Lock-N-Load" in the afternoon session. Shramek finished fourth and Lehn's "RLF" in fifth. Lehn was ahead by one point going into the night and final session of the season. Shramek pulled early and held the lead at 279.5. "RLF" pulled a couple of tractors later and sat in second at 277.2. With two tractors to pull, no one had exceeded 300'. Lehn was able to take over the lead with his second entry, "RLF Lite." He was joined by the final entry in the class, David Siefert's "Renegade Deere." They both experienced issues and were unable to return for a pull-off so they split first place. Shramek's "Young Blood" and Lehn's "RLF" ended the season tied in points. Lehn won the championship based on the first tie breaker -- more wins on the season.

Esdon Lehn earned his 12th title in 2012 and now sits in second on the list of all-time NTPA Grand National Championships. He has now won Grand National titles in four decades along with state titles in a fifth. He said that he built a new chassis for "RLF" for this season and that having "Red Line Fever Lite" in the class may have helped him in the points chase. "RLF Lite" finished third in GN points for the season. Lehn commented, "After a six year lapse, you wonder if there will be another one. Thanks to all the people in the class for getting me where I'm at. The people in the class all get along well. The late nights with Colin Ross helped me win the championship. It's a nice class to pull with because we all make each other better." Esdon wishes to acknowledge his fiancé Kim Dittmar, daughter Emilee Kaupp, grandson Hunter Tillottson, brothers Sherman and Adrian Lehn, cousin Tony Lehn along with Joel Bergstrom, Nick Dahl, Kenny and Chris Rachner, Curt Freez, Terry Benson, Randy Becker, Wayne Thompson and the Rochester Boys. He also wants to thank Atlas Tractor, Lemke Manufacturing, Hypermax, Columbus Diesel, TRB Machine, Doc, Profab and Wulff Pumps. Special recognition goes to the "Lock-N-Load" team for their accommodations all summer long.

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