The NTPC is promoted by the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association (NWOTPA), the veritable backbone of the championships. The NWOTPA was chartered as the Wood County Tractor Pullers in the spring of 1962. There were approximately 20 members, all residents of Wood County, Ohio. In August of 1962 the first speed pull was introduced at the Wood County Fairgrounds. A special long flat bottom sled was built that was designed for men to step on as it went by. Men were lined up on both sides of the track and stepped on the sled as it went by. The tractor that pulled the farthest was declared the winner. Many problems occurred with this type of pulling, specifically men leaving the track during the event and the tractors going too fast for men to step on.