Vinnie Diorio’s 2013 Peterbilt 389 and matching Mac trailer won Overdrive’s Pride & Polish National Championship for the second straight year.Small fleet owners Bill Rethwisch and Vinnie Dirorio will be taking home Overdrive’s Pride & Polish National Championship trophies for the second straight year, along with two other perennial Pride & Polish competitors and owner-operators Bob Brinker and Austin Ashley.
The winners were named Aug. 23 at The Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. A special round of judging took place at the show to pick the annual winners, culminating the year-long series.
Bill Rethwisch’s Blood, Sweat and Gass.Diorio won for the second straight year in the Limited-Mileage Combo category with his 2013 Peterbilt 389 and matching Mac trailer. He’s dubbed the truck “Trendsettin'”, and it’s picked up more than half a dozen Pride & Polish Best of Show victories in in the last two years, along with the two national championships.
Rethwisch won in the same category (Working Combo) for the second consecutive year, but he did it with a new rig: A 2013 Peterbilt 389 and matching Polar tanker, dubbed “Blood, Sweat and Gass”. His 2012 Peterbilt 389 and Polar tanker, “Dreamsicle”, won last year.
Bob and Shelly Brinker’s 2000 Freightliner ClassicIn the bobtail categories, Ashley’s 2007 Peterbilt 379 (“Double Take”) won the national championship in the Limited-Mileage Bobtail category, and Brinker won in the Working Bobtail category with his pirate-themed 2000 Freightliner Classic.
Ashley’s rig also was named the winner of the Truckers’ Choice National Championship, in which online voters selected their favorites of the 20 trucks that qualified to compete in the competition.
Austin Ashley’s 2007 Peterbilt 379 won both the national championship in the Limited-Mileage Bobtail category and the Truckers’ Choice title.Four Best of Show winners were also named in the show’s general Pride & Polish competition, and they’re now qualified to compete in the 2015 Pride & Polish National Championship, which culminates at next year’s Great American Trucking Show in Dallas in August.
Pride & Polish vet Ray Rodriguez picked up Best of Show honors iin the Limited-Mileage Combo category with his new custom job, “Wicked”, a 2015 Peterbilt 378 and matching Western stepdeck.
Greenville, Texas, resident Dustin Pope won Best of Show in the Working Combo category with his 2003 Kenworth W900L and matching 2010 Utility reefer, while Mustang, Okla., resident Mike Lemley’s 2000 Peterbilt 379 won in the Working Bobtail category.
Small fleet owner Jerry Kissinger won Best of Show in the Limited-Mileage Bobtail category with his 1978 Mack Superliner, which he heavily customized and restored.
Here are the four Best of Show winners:
Ray Rodriguez’ Wicked
Mike Lemley’s 2000 Pete 379
Jerry Kissinger’s ’78 Mack Superliner
Dustin Pope’s 2003 Kenworth W900L and Utility trailerHere’s a full list of winners from the show:
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL
Best of Show: Jerry Kissinger, Stoughton, WI; 1978 Black Cherry Mack Superliner – “Puff”
Runner Up – Dustin Allen/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 1984 Black Peterbilt 359
3rd Place – Rusty Whitson, Elk City, OK; 2013 Teal & Silver Peterbilt 389 Glider – “All Hers”
LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO
Best of Show: Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 378/2015 Western Step Deck – “Wicked”
WORKING COMBO
Best of Show: Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX; 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L/2010 Utility Reefer – “Cash On The Barrelhead”
BEST OF SHOW WORKING BOBTAIL
Best of Show: Mike Lemley, Mustang, OK; 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
ANTIQUE BOBTAIL:
1st Place – Geo Cuellar/David Schnautz, Pasadena, TX; 1985 Blue Kenworth K100E
2nd Place – David Schnautz Pasadena, TX; 1981 Blue Kenworth W900A – “A Dream Come True”
3rd Place – Wade Wardlaw, Woodville, TX; 1975 White & Copper Peterbilt 359 –“ Wade’s Pride & Joy”
ANTIQUE COMBO
1st Place – Doug Scholten/Rabbit River Transport, Holland, MI; 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359/2001 Utility Reefer – “Gold Digger”
WORKING BOBTAIL – FIRST SHOW
1st Place – Carlos Acevedo/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2005 White & Red Peterbilt 379 – “Mi Orgullo”
2nd Place – Diesel Truck/Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE; 2015 Blue Freightliner Cascadia
3rd Place – Alan Harmer/American Moving, Leesville, LA; 2014 White Kenworth T370
WORKING BOBTAIL – COMPANY TRUCK
1st Place – David Kosar, Jr, Dallas, TX; 2004 Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Just Passin’ Thru”
2nd Place – David Kosar, Sr, Dallas, TX; 2008 White, Red & Gold Peterbilt 389 – “Touch of Class”
3rd Place – Robert Freeman/Brad Parson, Tulsa, OK; 1996 Grey/Orange/Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Up In Smoke”
WORKING BOBTAIL –2000 & Older
1st Place – Mike Lemley, Mustang, OK; 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
2nd Place – Caleb Eilers, Odessa, TX; 2000 Green & Black Peterbilt 379 – “Blood Sweat & Tears”
3rd Place – Voris Steward, Pearland, TX; 1994 Black Kenworth W900L – “Redeemer”
WORKING BOBTAIL –2001 – 2004
1st Place – Albert Aguero/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2003 White & Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Cotulla Blue”
2nd Place – Billy Wheeler, Lowell, IN; 2004 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379
3rd Place – Shane Boullion, Carencro, LA; 2001 Dark Rose Grey Peterbilt 379
WORKING BOBTAIL – 2005 & Newer
1st Place – Mitch Broderson, E Peoria, IL; 2007 White & Black Western Star Lowmax 4900ex – “Live to Ride”
2nd Place – Tom Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, Owensville, IN; 2013 White & Orange Peterbilt 389
3rd Place – David Foster, Joplin, MO; 2005 Red & Silver Kenworth W900L
WORKING COMBO – FIRST SHOW
1st Place – Ladarren Jones/Stevens Transport, Inc., Dallas, TX; 2015 White Mack; 2015 Southern Vac Tanker
2nd Place – Charles Bassett/Stevens Transport, Inc., Dallas, TX; 2015 Black Kenworth T680/2015 Utility Reefer
3rd Place – Steve Shackelford/Denton Sand & Gravel, Sanger, TX; 2015 Red Kenworth T880 /2015 Rogue Custom Pup Trailer
WORKING COMBO –COMPANY TRUCK
1st Place – Dave Conkling/Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE; 2013 Blue Freightliner Cascadia/2014 Wabash Van
2nd Place – Pablo Cuellar/Clark Freight Lines, Pasadena, TX; 2014 Black Kenworth T660/1995 Utility Curtainside – “Pato Negro”
WORKING COMBO – 2000 & Older
1st Place – Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379/2003 Fruehauf Flatbed – “Hardway”
2nd Place – Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2000 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379/2006 Transcraft Flatbed – “El Patron”
3rd Place – Gilbert Velasquez/GoTex Trucking, Dallas, TX; 2000 White Peterbilt 379/2013 Great Dane Van
WORKING COMBO -2001 – 2007
1st Place – Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX; 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L/2010 Utility Reefer – “Cash On The Barrelhead”
2nd Place – Dean Jay, Ucon, ID; 2007 Off White & Buckskin Peterbilt 379/2013 MAC Flatbed – “Cream Puff”
3rd Place – Billy Enoch, Slidell, AR; 2007 Blue & Black Peterbilt 379/2013 MAC Pneumatic Tank – “Blue Bell”
WORKING COMBO – 2014 & Newer
1st Place – Michael Hernandez/Lindamood Demolition, Irving, TX; 2014 Baby Blue Peterbilt 389/2014 Clements Round Belly End Dump – “It’s A Boy”
2nd Place – Henry Lopez, San Antonio, TX; 2014 Green Peterbilt/2014 Travis End Dump – “Mr. Mr.”
3rd Place – Warren Carter/Steve & Kaci Snow, Calumet, OK; 2015 Beige & Orange Peterbilt 389/2015 Manac Belly Dump
INTERIOR – CAB ONLY
1st Place – Caleb Eilers, Odessa, TX; 2000 Green & Black Peterbilt 379 – “Blood Sweat & Tears”
2nd Place – Tom Davis/Davis Bros. Trucking, Owensville, IN; 2013 White & Orange Peterbilt 389
3rd Place – Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX; 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L/2010 Utility Reefer – “Cash On The Barrelhead”
INTERIOR – OEM SLEEPER
1st Place – Doug Scholten/Rabbit River Transport, Holland, MI; 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359/2001 Utility Reefer – “Gold Digger”
2nd Place – Mike Lemley, Mustang, OK; 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
3rd Place Tie – Mitch Broderson, E Peoria, IL; 2007 White & Black Western Star Lowmax 4900ex – “Live to Ride”
3rd Place Tie – Dean Jay, Ucon, ID; 2007 Off White & Buckskin Peterbilt 379/2013 MAC Flatbed – “Cream Puff”
BEST INTERIOR – LIMITED MILEAGE/BUILDERS’ CLASS
Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 378/2015 Western Step Deck – “Wicked”
ENGINE –WORKING TRUCK
1st Place – Doug Scholten/Rabbit River Transport, Holland, MI; 1986 White & Gold Peterbilt 359/2001 Utility Reefer – “Gold Digger”
2nd Place – Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2000 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379/2006 Transcraft Flatbed – “El Patron”
3rd Place – Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379/2003 Fruehauf Flatbed – “Hardway”
BEST ENGINE – LIMITED MILEAGE or BUILDERS CLASS
Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 378/2015 Western Step Deck – “Wicked”
CUSTOM PAINT – COMBO
1st Place – Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 1988 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 379/2003 Fruehauf Flatbed – “Hardway”
2nd Place – Dean Jay, Ucon, ID; 2007 Off White & Buckskin Peterbilt 379/2013 MAC Flatbed – “Cream Puff”
3rd Place – Dustin Pope, Greenville, TX; 2003 Viper Red Kenworth W900L/2010 Utility Reefer – “Cash On The Barrelhead”
BEST PAINT – LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO
Ray Rodriguez, Salinas, CA; 2015 Lavender & Purple Peterbilt 378/2015 Western Step Deck – “Wicked”
CUSTOM PAINT – BOBTAIL
1st Place – Mike Lemley, Mustang, OK; 2000 Viper Red Peterbilt 379 – “Cathouse”
2nd Place – Robert Freeman/Brad Parson, Tulsa, OK; 1996 Grey/Orange/Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Up In Smoke”
3rd Place – Albert Aguero/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 2003 White & Blue Peterbilt 379 – “Cotulla Blue”
BEST PAINT – LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL or BUILDERS CLASS
Tie – Jerry & Kay Kissinger, Stoughton, WI; 1978 Black Cherry Mack Superliner – “Puff”
Tie – Dustin Allen/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 1984 Black Peterbilt 359
BUILDERS CLASS BOBTAIL
1st Place – Robert Moneypenny, Shawnee, OK; 1988 Orange & Black Peterbilt 379 – “Wildside”
2nd Place – Jerry Cruz, San Antonio, Tx; 2000 Black & Orange Peterbilt 379 – “Ghost”
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL
Runner Up – Dustin Allen/Texas Chrome Shop, Atascosa, TX; 1984 Black Peterbilt 359
3rd Place – Rusty Whitson, Elk City, OK; 2013 Teal & Silver Peterbilt 389 Glider – “All Hers”
