More than 10,000 persons attended the 25th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition, which took place June 21-23 in Joplin, MO, at the Joplin Petro Stopping Center. This year, owner-operators from the U.S. and Canada entered 118 actively working trucks into the contest. A total of 25 prizes were awarded during the three-day event.
Curtis Christians, owner-operator from Rockford, MO, captured “Best of Show” honors for his 2005 Peterbilt tractor and 2005 Great Dane trailer combination. He was awarded $10,000.
Bob and Geri Martin of Layfayette, IN, won a $50,000 truck makeover for their 1995 Peterbilt 379. Partners for the makeover include Bridgestone, Alcoa and Pana-Pacific. S&J Truck Sales of Fort Wayne, IN, will do the makeover of the truck, which will be unveiled at the Great American Truck Show in Dallas in August.
Other awards were given in categories that included “Best Chrome,” “Best Theme,” “Best Mural,” “Best Lights,” “Best Interior,” “Best Engine” and “People’s Choice.” The People’s Choice award was voted on throughout the event by all contestants and spectators. Bob and Shelly Brinker, Grayling, MI, won with their 2000 Freightliner Classic XL.
In addition, 13 contestants won bragging rights to appear beside their trucks in the 2008 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar.
