‘85 Pete 359 wins Shell Rotella SuperRigs contest

Updated Aug 4, 2017
Nelson’s 1985 Peterbilt 359Nelson’s 1985 Peterbilt 359

A 1985 Peterbilt 359 shown by Kiegan Nelson of Richfield, Wis., won Best of Show this weekend at the 33rd annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs working show truck competition.

Nelson, part of longtime show truck competitor Vinnie Diorio’s Rollin’ Transport, won $10,000 from Shell Rotella and $5,000 from Mac trailer for his victory. Nelson’s truck also won first place in the People’s Choice category.

Phil Miller of Amargosa Valley, Nev., took Best of Show, first runner-up, winning $4,000 from Shell Rotella and $3,000 from Mac trailer. Miller shows a 2010 Peterbilt 389 and a Wilson livestock trailer.

Phil Miller’s 2010 Pete 389Phil Miller’s 2010 Pete 389

Placing third in the event — Best of Show, second runner-up — was Marciano Esparza Sandoval out of Salinas, Calif., who showed a 1988 Peterbilt 379 and matching flatbed.

Sandoval’s truck is part of Lil’ Ray’s Transport, a small grain hauling fleet that works the West Coast and shows three purple Peterbilts on the show circuit. Ray Rodriguez, a perennial competitor on the show circuit, owns and runs the fleet. Sandoval won $2,000 from Shell and $2,000 from Mac trailer for the third-place win.

Lil’ Ray’s Transport’s 1988 Peterbilt 379, shown by Marciano Esparza Sandoval.Lil’ Ray’s Transport’s 1988 Peterbilt 379, shown by Marciano Esparza Sandoval.

Shell will announce the trucks that will be included in its 2016 calendar — chosen from SuperRigs competitors — later this year.

Click here to see a full list of winners from SuperRigs on Overdrive sister site Truckers News.

Here’s a quick video from the lot at SuperRigs: