One of the event’s biggest highlights was the Super Trucks Beauty Contest, which brought together working trucks and custom builds from all over North America. Participants competed across numerous categories, impressing attendees with everything from classic restorations to meaningful themed designs.

Top Honors Capture Tribute and Excellence

The contest’s top awards went to two standout trucks with powerful stories behind them.

Dylan Mercier from St. Anne, Illinois, earned the Best Overall Theme for his tribute rig, a 2005 Mack matched with a 2022 Wilson hopper bottom trailer called “Our Fallen Heroes.”

Meanwhile, Jerry Linander of Winona, Minnesota, won the coveted Trucker’s Choice award with his striking black 1994 Kenworth W900L and 2025 Great Dane dry van named “No Fences.”

These trucks resonated far beyond their aesthetics, reflecting deep connections to the trucking community’s pride and values.

2025 Super Trucks Beauty Contest Winners by Category

WT: Cabover
1st – Matt Schleuger, Wesley, IA – 1993 Kenworth K100E
2nd – Cody Kirby, Bernard, IA – 1987 Kenworth K100
3rd – Dennis Sikorski, Bancroft, WI – 1995 Peterbilt 362 “Old School & Flat Broke”

WT: Company Truck – Bobtail
1st – Andy Mulkey, Van Buren, MI – 2024 Kenworth “A Family Obsession”
2nd – Gary Miller, Cedar Rapids, IA – 2025 Kenworth W990 “Hawkeye Special”
3rd – James Laster, Denver, CO – 2023 Freightliner Cascadia “Time Machine”

WT: Company Truck – Combination
1st – JW Vlcek, Seneca, KS – 2024 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Western Belt trailer
2nd – Luke Oligschlaeger, Meta, MO – 2025 Kenworth W900 & 2023 Great Dane van trailer
3rd – Nick Lierz, Seneca, KS – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Western Belt trailer

Rat Rod
Winner – Jamie Johnson, Marshfield, MO – 1955 Peterbilt 281 “Giddy Up”

WT: 2025–2022 Bobtail Conventional
1st – Brad Steel, New Sharon, IA – 2024 Kenworth W900 “Purplicious”
2nd – Amanda Saumier, Kasota, MN – 2022 Freightliner Cascadia “The Cancer Truck”
3rd – James Nalin, Tucson, AZ – 2022 Freightliner Cascadia “American Patriot”

WT: 2021–2015 Bobtail Conventional
1st – Nate Heiderscheit, Peosta, IA – 2020 Peterbilt 389
2nd – Kenric Fisher, Roseboro, NC – 2019 Freightliner Cascadia
3rd – Brady Benhart, DeWitt, IA – 2017 Peterbilt 389

WT: 2014–2007 Bobtail Conventional
Winner – Timothy Sander, Thebes, IL – 2010 Freightliner Classic “Death Wish”

WT: 2006–2001 Bobtail Conventional
1st – James Weverka, Octavia, NE – 2005 Kenworth W900L “Hercules”
2nd – Shelle Lichti, Olivette, MO – 2003 Freightliner Century
3rd – Tony Haffner, Farmington, IA – 2002 Peterbilt 386

WT: 2000 & Older Bobtail Conventional
1st – Kyle Weaver, Wooster, OH – 1981 Kenworth W900A
2nd – Jeremy Woods, Lucas, KS – 1992 Peterbilt 379 “Bad Company”
3rd – Chris & Pam Homfeld, Warrensburg, MO – 2000 Peterbilt 379 “Babycakes”

WT: 2025–2020 Combination
1st – Bobbie & Dawson Taylor, Cameron, NC – 2020 Freightliner Cascadia & 2026 Utility Reefer “Roll of the Dice”
2nd – Luke Henshaw, Minier, IL – 2025 Kenworth W900L & 2025 Westmor air tanker
3rd – Ken Oligschlaeger, St. Elizabeth, MO – 2025 Kenworth W900 & 2023 Great Dane van trailer

WT: 2019–2011 Combination
Winner – Rich Rukstalis, Morton, IL – 2018 Kenworth T680 & 2014 Great Dane van trailer “Gold Buckle Dreams”

WT: 2010–2002 Combination
1st – Michael & Jackie Wallace, Ashville, AL – 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane van trailer “Semper Fi”
2nd – Bill Blackmon, Florien, LA – 2010 Kenworth W900 & 1992 Great Dane van trailer “Believe”
3rd – Tyler Emmons, Chesterfield, IL – 2010 Western Star 4900 EX & 2005 Great Dane reefer trailer

WT: 2001 & Older Combination
1st – Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, AR – 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2006 Utility van trailer “The Goose”
2nd – John Treadway, Kokomo, IN – 1998 Peterbilt 379 & 2017 Great Dane reefer trailer “Teal Appeal”
3rd – Jerry Linander, Winona, MN – 1994 Kenworth W900L & 2025 Great Dane dry van trailer “No Fences”

WT: Specialty
1st – Clifton Parsley, Cave City, KY – 2024 Peterbilt 389 “Heavy Hook”
2nd – Arville Tackett Jr, Carleton, MI – 2012 Freightliner Cascadia
3rd – Jacob Tackett, Carleton, MI – 2010 Peterbilt 386

Show Class – Bobtail
1st – Mark & Teri Lancaster, Ottumwa, IA – 1967 Peterbilt 358M “Keepin’ It Teal”
2nd – Zack Strayer, Thorntown, IN – 2025 Peterbilt 589 “Canadian Tuxedo”
3rd – John Osborne, Canton, IL – 1994 Peterbilt 379 “Dreamsickle”

Show Class – Combination
1st – Bruce Jones, Channahon, IL – 2000 Peterbilt 379 & 2024 J&L tanker trailer “Show Time”
2nd – Kate Whiting, Chetek, WI – 1973 Kenworth W900L & 1974 Wilson cattle trailer “Cherry Pie”
3rd – Joe Eldridge, Gladewater, TX – 2024 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Kalyn Seibert trailer “Purple Pressure”

Custom Paint – Bobtail
1st – Kyle Weaver, Wooster, OH – 1981 Kenworth W900A
2nd – Mark & Teri Lancaster – 1967 Peterbilt 358M “Keepin’ It Teal”
3rd – Nate Heiderscheit, Peosta, IA – 2020 Peterbilt 389

Custom Paint – Combination
1st – Bruce Jones – 2000 Peterbilt 379 & 2024 tanker “Show Time”
2nd – Nick Lierz – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Western Belt trailer
3rd – Cody Kirby – 1987 Kenworth K100 & 2019 Wilson hopper bottom trailer

Custom Graphics – Bobtail
1st – Amanda Saumier – 2022 Freightliner Cascadia “The Cancer Truck”
2nd – Bret Chastain – 2015 Mack CXU “Every Dog Has Its Day”
3rd – Clifton Parsley – 2024 Peterbilt 389 “Heavy Hook”

Custom Graphics – Combination
1st – Jerry Linander – 1994 Kenworth W900L & 2025 Great Dane dry van “No Fences”
2nd – Dylan Mercier – 2005 Mack & 2022 Wilson hopper bottom trailer “Our Fallen Heroes”
3rd – Daniel & Phyllis Snow – 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2006 Utility trailer “The Goose”

Polish & Detail – Bobtail
1st – Kyle Weaver – 1981 Kenworth W900A
2nd – Nate Heiderscheit – 2020 Peterbilt 389
3rd – Clifton Parsley – 2024 Peterbilt 389 “Heavy Hook”

Polish & Detail – Combination
1st – Jerry Linander – 1994 Kenworth W900L & 2025 Great Dane dry van “No Fences”
2nd – Nick Lierz – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Western Belt trailer
3rd – Daniel & Phyllis Snow – 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2006 Utility trailer

Interior – OEM Sleeper – Bobtail
1st – Zack Strayer – 2025 Peterbilt 589 “Canadian Tuxedo”
2nd – Brad Steel – 2024 Kenworth W900 “Purplicious”
3rd – Kyle Weaver – 1981 Kenworth W900A

Interior – OEM Sleeper – Combination
1st – Bobbie & Dawson Taylor – 2020 Freightliner Cascadia & 2026 Utility Reefer “Roll of the Dice”
2nd – Ken Oligschlaeger – 2025 Kenworth W900 & 2023 Great Dane van trailer
3rd – Nick Lierz – 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2024 Western Belt trailer

Interior – OEM Conversion Sleeper
1st – John Treadway – 1998 Peterbilt 379 & 2017 Great Dane reefer “Teal Appeal”
2nd – Kendall Weaver – 1996 Kenworth W900L & 2022 XL RGIV trailer

Interior – Custom Sleeper
1st – Daniel & Phyllis Snow – 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2006 Utility trailer “The Goose”
2nd – Michael & Jackie Wallace – 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane van trailer “Semper Fi”
3rd – Bruce Jones – 2000 Peterbilt 379 & 2024 tanker “Show Time”

Image: (Source: Truckers News) Dylan Mercier’s 2005 Mack and a 2022 Wilson hopper bottom trailer “Our Fallen Heroes”
Source: Truckers News

The post Trucking Pride Shines Bright at 2025 Walcott Jamboree with Super Trucks Beauty Contest Winners appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Drawn by the Beauty of Truck Designs

SuperRigs, a yearly celebration of hardworking truckers and their dazzling rigs, showcases competitions in categories such as Best Chrome, Best Lights, and Best of Show. Attendees are treated to more than just aesthetic appeal, with over $25,000 in cash and prizes awarded. Winners also have the chance to be featured in the Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar, complete with creative settings from Atlanta.

For Elliott, it was the artful paint designs on the trucks that first captured her attention.

“I saw that paint and it was done so beautifully on all of these trucks,” she shared with enthusiasm.

Elliott, who worked for an automotive paint company for 25 years before retiring in 1999, was enthralled by the craftsmanship on display.

Surprised by a Sense of Community

While Elliott came for the trucks, what surprised and delighted her most was the opportunity to connect with truck drivers at the event.

“I didn’t know I would get to meet drivers,” she said. “It has been a wonderful evening.”

Although the event had been plagued by poor weather earlier, including a nearby tornado that touched down east of the Speedway, Elliott’s adventurous spirit wasn’t dampened. Instead, she embraced the experience wholeheartedly.

An Adventurer at Heart

Elliott’s love of exploration is deeply ingrained in her life. She has visited 25 countries and 47 U.S. states, recently returning from a trip to Greece and Turkey. Her travels have been a mix of personal adventures and mission work with the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief and Builders for Christ.

When Shell Rotella staff learned of Elliott’s presence, they made her visit extra special. They provided her with a golf cart to easily move around and explore the nearly 50 trucks on display.

“Everybody is so welcoming,” Elliott remarked, adding, “It just seems like you are in a family reunion.”

A Night to Remember

For Elliott, the Shell Rotella SuperRigs event was far more than a showcase of trucks; it was an evening filled with artistry, adventure, and connection. Events like these highlight the vibrant community within the trucking industry, a family bound by hard work, passion, and camaraderie.

Source: The Trucker
Image Source: (Bruce Guthrie/The Trucker.com) Mary Elliott, 89, of McDonough, Ga., saw news coverage of this weekend’s Shell Rotella SuperRigs and decided to attend the event Friday night.

The post SuperRigs Welcomes 89-Year-Old World Traveler appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.