Stopping by SuperRigs

So I got a chance to stop by the 32nd annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs contest last week, held at the zMAX Dragway outside Concord, NC, which is just a stone’s throw away from the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Sean Kilcarr 1

May 20, 2014

2 min read

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So I got a chance to stop by the 32^nd annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs contest last week, held at the zMAX Dragway outside Concord, NC, which is just a stone’s throw away from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. [To view more photos of this annual event, click here, here, and here.]

All sorts of interesting trucks were on display, providing a veritable feast for the eyes of chrome and dazzling paint schemes. [A particular favorite is “The Goose,” owned and operated by Daniel and Phyllis Snow. To see photos of this one-of-a-kind highway tractor, just click here.]

Yet no one perhaps seemed surprised that Bill Rethwisch of Tomah, WI, captured “Best of Show” honors with his green and white 2013 Peterbilt 389 (above on the left) this year – the second time in a row one of his magnificent creations claimed top billing at SuperRigs.

First place earned Rethwisch $10,000 from Shell and another $5,000 from Mac Trailer, one of the SuperRig contest sponsors, while he also ended up capturing first place in the “Best Engine” and “Best Interior” categories as well for his green-and-white tanker.

[Ram Trucks is also a sponsor and you can view photos of their display at the 2014 event by clicking here.]

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Austin Ashley from Raleigh, MI, won second place in the “Best of Show” category with his purple-and-white 2007 Peterbilt 379 (seen at right), taking home $4,000 from Shell and $3,000 from Mac Trailer. Ashely also won for Best Chrome and Best Theme.

Paul Rissler of California, MO, took home third place in the “Best of Show” group show, winning $2,000 from Shell and $2,000 from MAC Trailer for his 1996 Peterbilt 379.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about SuperRigs is that most of the competition is made up of “working trucks,” meaning that when they are not trying to win trophies, their owners have them out of the highways hauling freight in the same rough conditions faced by every other trucker in America.

For some it would seem crazy to put such works of art through such tough work, but for their owners, it’s just part of life in the trucking world. Hats off to them all.