The 35th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs beauty contest, a free show which was hosted in downtown Tulsa Oklahoma on May 18-20 at the Exchange Center at Expo Square. The SuperRigs show is considered one of the most prestigious truck shows for working semi-trucks. Owner/operator truckers across the country and even Canada show up and show out with the hopes of winning various classes.
Twelve of these lucky individuals had the opportunity to have their Super Rig showcased in the upcoming Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar. There are even cash and prizes worth nearly twenty-five thousand dollars awarded to the top trucks; Sam’s Club also donated several free year memberships, which were given to the to the hardest working trucker, the Best of Show, the Tractor and Classic, and the People’s Choice champions. As well as, the winner and runner-up of the Tractor/Trailer class.
The three-day weekend included multiple concerts; one was country musician Tony Justice. Tony performed Thursday evening and, just so happens to be a truck driver himself. The SuperRigs show even offered a light show in the face of poor weather Friday evening. There was food, games, and other various events throughout the weekend of the show.
Bill Rethwisch of Tomah, Wisconsin won Best of Show overall for the third time with his custom white and yellow 2016, Peterbilt 389 at this year’s SuperRigs competition. He received ten thousand dollars in prize money from Shell Rotella and another five thousand from MAC trailers. Bill also won first place in the Best Interior and Best Engine classes.
Bill was even quoted saying “My heart was coming out of my chest; I didn’t think we had it. This is the third time in four years and four times in the (SuperRigs) calendar out of four tries. I’m ecstatic right now. I’m so proud; I don’t even know which way to think.”
Best of Show first runner-up was awarded to J.R. Schleuger of Britt, Iowa, he received four thousand dollars from Shell Rotella as well as three thousand from MAC Trailers for his white and gray 1980 Kenworth W900. He also won for Best Chrome. Kenneth Fisher of Muscoda, Wisconsin Won the second runner up Best of Show which got him, two thousand from Shell Rotella and an additional two thousand from MAC Trailers for his 1997 Peterbilt 379.
Brad Garetson from Lake Mills, Wisconsin won first place in the Tractor/Trailer class with his 2016 Peterbilt 389 with a black, purple and green 2017 MAC flatbed Conestoga trailer in tow, and a cash prize of fifteen hundred dollars; while the runner-up Kiegan Nelson out of Onalaska, Wisconsin was awarded a one-thousand-dollar cash prize for his 2013 Peterbilt 389 pulling a 2016 Reitenour Big Bubba Curtain Side Flat Bed.
The sole tractor class, which also came with a cash prize of fifteen hundred dollars for first place, was won by Ray & Suzie Rodriquez of Salinas, California with their extended hood 1999 Peterbilt 379 with a blue flame paint job, alongside the runner-up, Robby Robinson hailing from Lake City, Florida with his 2015 Kenworth T660 who also received a cash prize of one thousand dollars.
The Classic division and cash prize of fifteen hundred dollars was awarded to Jayme and Whitney Snow of Berryville, Arkansas in their blue 1999 Freightliner Classic XL. The runner up was Terry Aslinger out of Marquand, Missouri with his 1996 Peterbilt 379 EXD and 2013 Shipshewana trailer who received a one-thousand-dollar prize
The Most Hard-Working Trucker class was awarded to Hills Construction of Hempstead, Texas and their 2007 Freightliner Coronado, along with a cash prize of five hundred dollars. Grant Alderman from Union Grove, Wisconsin received the People’s Choice award and a cash prize of two hundred and fifty dollars for his white and blue 2008 Peterbilt 389 nicknamed the “milk monkey.”
This show was definitely one for the books. Make sure you don’t miss out on the next annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck show!