After two months and four rounds of voting by readers, Overdrive’s Custom Rigs Showdown came to a close Wednesday, Feb. 4, with Arizona-based Shawn Wright and his 1968 Peterbilt 358A crowned as champ.
Wright's classic was chosen by Overdrive readers as the top Custom Rigs video of 2025 over fellow finalist Todd Scruggs with his 1982 Peterbilt 359.
The Custom Rigs Showdown pitted the top 12 Custom Rigs videos of 2025, based on views on Overdrive’s YouTube channel through Nov. 25, in a College Football Playoff-style bracket challenge. The videos were seeded based on view count.
Wright’s Pete started out as the No. 6 seed and survived all four rounds of voting to come out on top.
[Related: Retired owner-op's 1968 Peterbilt 358A build makes triumphant run with last-minute help]
“I’m truly at a loss for words over the response that my truck has gotten from your viewers,” Wright said. “If someone would have told me when I started on that old truck the adventures I would have with it, I would have said they were crazy.”
Shawn Wright and his grandson, Kolter, showed the unit at the invitation-only 2024 Peterbilt Pride & Class event in Denton, Texas.
Wright said just being invited to the 2024 Peterbilt Pride & Class event and parade in Denton, Texas, “was unbelievable,” but he didn’t expect the support following the event.
As he kept up with the Showdown from one round to the next, “I realized maybe there are guys out there that still appreciate the built, borrowed and begged-for parts it takes to build something like that.”
As noted in Overdrive’s story about the truck, Wright didn’t even buy the unit -- he traded for it, also the story for many parts and pieces he added to it during his build, most of which he either made himself, or borrowed or traded for.
Since the Peterbilt show in 2024, Wright said he has built an air ride for the front end of the rig “to try and smooth out the ride, so the cab isn’t breaking apart so bad.” His next project? Add a roof-mount air conditioner.
With the new air ride, the truck certainly sits lower on the front end than when first featured.
“I love driving with windows down listening to that Big Cam, but July in Arizona, you can't get going fast enough to cool down,” he added.
Wright thanked Overdrive’s audience for showing appreciation for the work he’s done to the rig. He also gave a special shout-out to his “ride or die grandson, Kolter,” who’s also featured in the original story on the truck.
For custom-equipment features and videos delivered to your email inbox, subscribe to Overdrive's weekly Custom Rigs newsletter via this link and access all videos in Overdrive's Custom Rigs Youtube playlist below.
