At 18,000 pounds, this beauty carries it well.
At the 40th Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck beauty contest, the Best of Show winner was a 1985 Peterbilt 359 with a 2016 East trailer owned by Theresa DeSantis of Apache Junction, Arizona.
The SuperRigs competition was held June 9-11, 2022, at Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri, where DeSantis was awarded $10,000 from Shell Rotella. Shell Rotella is the brand name of a line of heavy-duty engine lubrication products produced by Royal Dutch Shell, that includes engine oils, gear oils and coolants.
This was DeSantis’ second win for Best of Show, having also taken the grand prize in 2019.
But not done yet, at this year’s event DeSantis also captured the Steve Sturgess Best Theme award for her “The Witches Inn” theme.
Truett Novosad from College Station, Texas won the Best of Show first runner-up prize and $4,000 from Shell Rotella for his 2007 Peterbilt 379 EXHD, Doc Holliday.
Dean DeSantis of Apache Junction, Arizona was awarded Best of Show second runner-up for his 2018 Peterbilt 389, Career Gambler.
Highlights of the 40th anniversary event included the truck lights contest and fireworks, contestant dinner and the truck parade through Branson Landing, along with the plethora of entertainment and events during the three-days.
Other first place truck beauty contest winners include:
- Todd Gribble from Somerset, Pennsylvania in the Tractor/Trailer Division for his 2012 Peterbilt 389;
- Kaleb Hammett of Dodd City, Texas. in the Tractor Division with a 2019 Peterbilt 389;
- David Foster from Joplin, Missouri won in the Classic Division with his 2005 Kenworth W900L;
- Daniel and Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Arkansas won the People’s Choice Award for their 1996 Freightliner Classic XL. The winning team for this category was selected virtually with voting taking place online.
Other award winners:
Tractor/Trailer Division
- 2nd Place: Truett Novosad, College Station, Texas, 2005 Peterbilt 379 EHD;
- 3rd Place: Ben Overton, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 2020 Kenworth W900B;
- 4th Place: Jeron Whittmore, Wesley, Arkansas, 2018 Peterbilt 389;
- 5th Place: Mike Davidson, Pocahontas, Iowa, 2019 Peterbilt 389.
Tractor Division
- 2nd Place: Kyle Cousins, Carthage, Missouri, 2021 Kenworth W900;
- 3rd Place: Kyle Cousins, Carthage, Missouri, 2016 Kenworth W900;
- 4th Place: Clayton Driskell, Spring, Texas, 2018 Kenworth W900L;
- 5th Place: Tyler Van Der Zwaag, Hull, Iowa, 1995 Peterbilt 379.
Classic Division
- 2nd Place: JR Schleuger, Britt, Iowa, 1985 Kenworth K100C;
- 3rd Place: Trevor Timblin, West Bend, Wisconsin, 1982 Peterbilt 362;
- 4th Place: Gary Tharp, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, 1984 Peterbilt 362;
- 5th Place: Terry Aslinger, Marquand, Missouri, 1996 Peterbilt 379EXHD.
Working Truck – Limited Mileage
- 1st Place: Robert Hallahan, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 2022 Peterbilt 389;
- 2nd Place: Bubba Branch, Lakeland, Florida, 1996 Kenworth W900;
- 3rd Place: Steve Huff, Collinsville, Oklahoma, 2022 Kenworth W900L;
- 4th Place: Randy Victory, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 1986 Peterbilt 359;
- 5th Place: Jeremy Thomas, Rocky Comfort, Missouri, 2005 Peterbilt 379.
Show Truck
- Brandon Avant, Hampton, Arkansas, 2010 Peterbilt 389;
- Kary Bryce, Sibley, Louisiana, 1959 Peterbilt 351;
- Don Emmons, Chesterfield, Illinois, 1999 Peterbilt 379;
- Jeron Whittmore, Wesley, Arkansas, 1991 Peterbilt 379;
- Troy Bolin, Urbana, Missouri, 1979 Peterbilt 359.
Best Interior
- Truett Novosad, College Station, Texas, 2007 Peterbilt 379 EXHD
Best Lights
- Randy Victory, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 1986 Peterbilt 359
Best Chrome
- Bubba Branch, Lakeland, Florida, 1996 Kenworth W900
Best Engine
- Bubba Branch, Lakeland, Florida, 1996 Kenworth W900
The Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition is the premier truck beauty contest for actively working trucks.
Owner/operator truckers from across the US and Canada competed for cash and prizes valued at approximately $25,000. Twelve drivers were also selected to have their truck featured in the 2023 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar.
All of the winning trucks from Shell Rotella SuperRigs will be posted on Shell Rotella Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the week. For more news and photos from the competition or to join the conversation use the hashtag #SuperRigs and #SuperRigs40.