Yet another PKY Truck Beauty Championship is in the books after the annual Saturday morning awards ceremony at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
More than 175 trucks competed in the event with dozens of awards up for grabs. Among the biggest: The annual Big Rig Build-Off prize went to Randy Menkel with Never Satisfied Builds/J&L Contracting with his 1985 Peterbilt 359.
The Build-Off pitted three of the country's top custom truck builders in a competition to build the best show truck in a limited time period. In addition to Menkel, competitors included defending champion Luke Rethwisch with Rethwisch Transport and James Stegall with Stegall's Truck Shop.
Menkel said the big win "proves how good a great, dedicated team is. And we've got a pretty strong group." He added that his team's "attention to detail" is what he believes set the truck apart from its competition.
2026 PKY Truck Beauty Championship full results
Big Rig Build-Off Champion
Randy Menkel, 1985 Peterbilt 359
People’s Choice
Jason Flores, 2018 Peterbilt 389 and 2018 XL double flats
Working Truck -- Bobtail
Best of Show: Phillip Couch, 1999 Freightliner Classic XL
2nd: Austin Badders, 1983 Peterbilt 359
3rd: Ashton Kaley, 1995 Kenworth W900
Working Truck -- Combo
Best of Show: Blake Ray, 2020 Peterbilt 389 and 2026 Mac
2nd: Tucker Jacob, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Eby
3rd: John Treadway, 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 2017 Great Dane
Limited Mileage -- Bobtail with Miles
Best of Show: Darryl Beger, 2019 Peterbilt 389
2nd: Bryant Mann, 1998 Peterbilt 379
3rd: Josh and Jayson Loyer, 1989 Mack Superliner
Limited Mileage -- Bobtail with No Miles
Best of Show: CJ Nairn, 2025 Kenworth W900L
2nd: Jared Nelson, 2022 Peterbilt 389
3rd: Eddie Homfeld, 2024 Peterbilt 389
Limited Mileage -- Combo
Best of Show: Chad and Brad Sand, 2016 Peterbilt 389 and 2018 Mac
2nd: Jason Flores, 2018 Peterbilt 389 and 2018 XL doubles
3rd: Jerry Mies, 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2022 Walker
New Truck
1st: Douglas Prier, 2026 Kenworth W900
First Show -- Bobtail
1st: Park Mastre, 2020 Peterbilt 389
2nd: David Duncan, 1984 Peterbilt 359
3rd: Nathan Van Tilburg, 2001 Peterbilt 379
First Show -- Combo
1st: Jeff Dills, 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2001 Utility 3000R
2nd: Milan Duncan, 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 2020 Reitnouer Big Bubba
3rd: Lance Galpin, 1987 Kenworth W900B and 1981 Western Alloy
Antique Original -- Bobtail
1st: Ethan Tipton, 1972 Brockway 457
2nd: Thomas Menges, 1986 Mack RW 613 Superliner
3rd: Earl Chapman, 1966 Peterbilt 352
Antique Custom -- Bobtail
1st: Jaden Warner, 1988 Peterbilt 362
2nd: Brian Sweet, 1979 Kenworth W900A
3rd: Casey Field, 1969 Peterbilt 359
Antique Original -- Combo
1st: Bruce Jones, 2000 Peterbilt 379 and 2025 Mac
2nd: Jason Sanders, 1994 Kenworth W900 and 2014 Great Dane
Antique -- Engine
1st: Brant Arnold, 1970 Peterbilt 289M
Antique -- Paint
1st: Wayne Smith, 1968 Kenworth W925A
Antique -- Interior
1st: Brian Sweet, 1979 Kenworth W900A
Working Truck Bobtail -- Company Owned
1st: David Dyck, 2025 Peterbilt 589
Working Truck Combo -- Company Owned
1st: Rob Baesel, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2025 Mac
Working Truck -- Engine
1st: Blake Ray, 2020 Peterbilt 389 and 2026 Mac
2nd: Tucker Jacob, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Eby
3rd: Rob Baesel, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2025 Mac
Working Truck -- Bobtail, Paint & Graphics
1st: Phillip Couch, 1999 Freightliner Classic XL
2nd: Ashton Kaley, 1995 Kenworth W900
3rd: Douglas Prier, 2026 Kenworth W900
Working Truck -- Combo, Paint & Graphics
1st: Rob Baesel, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2025 Mac
2nd: Mark Aragon, 2003 Peterbilt 379EXHD and 2020 Wilson
3rd: John Treadway, 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 2017 Great Dane
Working Truck -- Bobtail, Lights
1st: Richie Foster, 2022 Peterbilt 389
2nd: Nicholas Deal, 2007 International 9900I
3rd: David Dyck, 2025 Peterbilt 589
Working Truck -- Combo, Lights
1st: Jeff Dills, 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2001 Utility 3000R
2nd: Blake Ray, 2020 Peterbilt 389 and 2026 Mac
3rd: John Treadway, 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 2017 Great Dane
Working Truck -- Interior, Cab Only
1st: Mark Aragon, 2003 Peterbilt 379EXHD and 2020 Wilson
3rd: Ashton Kaley, 1995 Kenworth W900
Working Truck -- Interior, OEM Sleeper
1st: Blake Ray, 2020 Peterbilt 389 and 2026 Mac
2nd: John Treadway, 1998 Peterbilt 379 and 2017 Great Dane
3rd: Tucker Jacob, 2924 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Eby
Working Truck -- Interior, Aftermarket Sleeper
1st: Dean Cross, 2000 Peterbilt 379 and 2022 Utility 3000R
Limited Mileage -- Interior
1st: Jerry Mies, 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 202 Walker
Limited Mileage -- Engine
1st: Eddie Homfeld, 2024 Peterbilt 389
Limited Mileage -- Bobtail Paint
1st: Jared Nelson, 2022 Peterbilt 389
Limited Mileage -- Combo Paint
1st: Jason Flores, 2018 Peterbilt 379 and 2018 XL doubles
Limited Mileage -- Bobtail, Lights
1st: Eddie Homfeld, 2024 Peterbilt 389
2nd: Bryant Mann, 1998 Peterbilt 379
3rd: Jared Nelson, 2022 Peterbilt 389
Limited Mileage -- Combo, Lights
1st: Chad and Brad Sand, 2016 Peterbilt 389 and 2018 Mac
2nd: Jason Flores, 2018 Peterbilt 389 and 2018 XL doubles
3rd: Jerry Mies, 2007 Peterbilt 379 and 2022 Walker
Wrecker
1st: Jacob Ripley, 2025 Kenworth W900B
Troy “The Legend” Huddleston Award, presented by RoadWorks
1st: Tyler LaMontagne, 1983 Peterbilt 359
The TTLH award is in honor of Troy Huddleston, an OTR legend and builder memorialized after his passing as a "man who constantly raised the bar higher."
Rockwood Running Late Award (latest arrival)
1st: Paul Brookhart, 2001 Peterbilt 379
Bette Garber Memorial Award
1st: Austin Badders, 1983 Peterbilt 359
Bennett Louisville Invite Winner
1st: Tucker Jacob, 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Eby
[Related: Early scenes at MATS: Custom trucks put on a show]
