Keith Sampson named Trucker Talent Search winner at GATS

Keith Sampson performing “The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Wheel” at the Trucker Talent Search finale Aug. 22 at GATS.Keith Sampson performing “The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Wheel” at the Trucker Talent Search finale Aug. 22 at GATS.

Keith Sampson was named winner of the Overdrive-Red Eye Radio’s Trucker Talent Search Aug. 22 by judges at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. 

After singing “The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Wheel” before an audience of show attendees, a four-judge panel named Sampson the winner of the competition, which was sponsored by Delo.

Sampson performing at the Trucker Talent SearchSampson performing at the Trucker Talent Search

Recording artist and professional driver Tony Justice served as emcee, performed after the three finalists and presented Sampson with his/her award. 

“I’m just excited to be here doing something like this,” Sampson said in his victory speech.

Voting by Overdrive readers determined three finalists: Brad James, Keith Sampson, Jennie Simpson 

Sampson received a $1,000 prize from Overdrive and a Cobra GPS and CB from Red Eye Radio. Red Eye Radio also awarded each finalist a pair of Justin boots. He’ll will be featured in Overdrive in October.

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Sampson, 50, drives team with his wife, Vickie, as owner-operators leased to Landstar Ranger. They haul sensitive freight with their 2014 Volvo.

Sampson, of Rhome, Texas, is originally from West Virginia. He says his uncle gave him his first guitar and taught him a basic three chords when he was 8 years old. “I’ve been hooked ever since then,” he says, and he now plays songs by ear.

In addition to playing the guitar and singing, Sampson also plays banjo and keyboard, writes jingles, and records in his home studio.

Finalists Brad James (left) and Jennie Simpson show off their hardware at Talent Search finale.Finalists Brad James (left) and Jennie Simpson show off their hardware at Talent Search finale.

Sampson and his wife, Vickie, once collaborated on a promotional jingle for Speedco, which 
they took to the lube and tire service company’s booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2012. Speedco liked it, asked the couple to record the tune and uploaded it to YouTube in August 2012.

“You’ll find lubricants, tires, yeah, we do inspections, too, at Speedco,” Keith sings on the track, while Vicki speaks at the end about the rewards program and other store details. 

Red Eye Radio’s Eric Harley recently interviewed Sampson.  Click here to listen to the podcast of their conversation. 

Judges Mike Ryan, Lindsay Lawler, Eric Harley and Edgar Hansen chose the winner of the contest after each contestant gave a live performance.Judges Mike Ryan, Lindsay Lawler, Eric Harley and Edgar Hansen chose the winner of the contest after each contestant gave a live performance.
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