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27th annual Shell Rotella truck beauty contest brings together show truck ‘family’

I don’t know what to say; I can’t explain it,” said a flabbergasted Caton (above) after his win June 20. “I just came to clean up Jake’s [truck] and I guess it paid off.”

By DOROTHY COX
The Trucker Staff

6/21/2009

OAK GROVE, Mo. — When show truckers talk about a family atmosphere, helping one another and pulling together, they’re not just blowing smoke. Brad Caton, who came to the 27th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck beauty show here this week to help clean another man’s truck ended up winning $10,000 cash and the show’s coveted Best of Show award with his truck.

Caton came to help clean the black beauty (’07 Pete 379 with MAC round tube) shown by Pat Eilen for his late brother, Jake, who passed away last November. Jake Eilen has been a well-known name in show trucks for years and Eilen Sons Trucking has had numerous truck show winners.

Caton and others pitched in to help and they did such a good job that the Jake Eilen truck won a 1st runner-up for Best of Show and earned a special place as a Jake Eilen tribute in the 2010 SuperRigs Calendar.

So Caton was a little surprised when his stunning, meticulous 2007 Pete with blue, gray checks and flames won overall Best of Show.

I don’t know what to say; I can’t explain it,” said a flabbergasted Caton after his win June 20. “I just came to clean up Jake’s [truck] and I guess it paid off.” And it paid off handsomely, at that.

Besides the cash, Caton won a top spot on the 2010 calendar, a prize package of goodies from the Oak Grove, Mo., 70 Petro, where the show was held, and a case of Shell Rotella T.

In this contest, all the entries have to be working trucks. And Caton drives his Pete hard hauling coal and road salt.

Top Gun Kustoms in Cambridge, Minn., did the outstanding racing theme paint job and Caton said he pretty much let them choose the design, telling them “do something that will look good.”

Despite the heat, high humidity and on-and-off rain, 77 trucks rolled through the judges’ line June 18-20, more than predicted given the tough economy. There would have been more but one truck showed up after the judging closed at noon June 20 and two others dropped out, presumably because they got last-minute loads.

As part of the awards ceremony, “American truckers” were given a standing ovation as several hundred truckers and their families applauded their own. It was a fitting end to a contest that’s a tribute to working American trucks and the people who lovingly run them, beautify them, customize them and take care of them.

Following are the other winners:

Best Interior

Number 70
Name Curtis Christians 
From Rockport, MO
Truck Details 2005 - 379 Peterbilt 
   
  Best Mural
Number 20
Name Colin Stuart
From Harvard, IL 
Truck Details 1984 Peterbilt 359
   
  Theme
Number 8
Name Terry Wier Jr
From Belle, MO
Truck Details 2005 379 Peterbilt
   
  Chrome
Number 54
Name Jerry Howard 
From Fairborn, OH
Truck Details 1954 Autocar DC-75
   
  Lights
Number 24
Name Mike Krvestad
From Fairbault, MN
Truck Details 1997 Peterbilt 379 Exhd
   
  Engine
Number 65
Name Brad Caton - Eilen & Sons Trucking 
From Hampton, MN
Truck Details 2007 Peterbilt tractor with 2007 Mac Smooth Side
   
  People's Choice
  $500
Number 18
Name Chris Andersen
From Odessa, TX
Truck Details 2000 Kenworth W 800 Studio
   
  5th Place Classic Division
  $250
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 24
Name Mike  Krvestad
From Fairbault, MN
Truck Details 1997 Peterbilt 379 Exhd
   
  4th Place Classic Division
  $500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 61
Name Heath Church
From Astoria, SD
Truck Details 1982 Kenworth W-9004 Longhood 
   
  3rd Place Classic Division
  $750
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 64
Name Travis Headley
From Lebanon, MO
Truck Details Peterbilt 1969 358A
   
  2nd Place Classic Division
  $1,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 20
Name Colin Stuart
From Harvard, IL 
Truck Details 1984 Peterbilt 359
   
  1st Place Classic Division
  $1,500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 21
Name Jerry  Kissinger
From Stoughton, Wisconsin
Truck Details 1991 Mack Superliner
   
  5th Place Tractor Division
  $250
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 34
Name Corry Thone
From St. Joseph, MN
Truck Details 2007 379 Peterbilt
   
  4th Place  Tractor Division
  $500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 48
Name Barry Kasdorf
From Winnipeg, MB
Truck Details 2008 Peterbilt 389
   
  3rd Place  Tractor Division
  $750
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 39
Name Jake Lindamood
From Irving, TX
Truck Details 2007 379 Peterbilt
   
  2nd Place  Tractor Division
  $1,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 41
Name Larry Dyck
From Winnipeg, MB
Truck Details 2007 Peterbilt 379
   
  1st Place  Tractor Division
  $1,500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 70
Name Curtis Christians 
From Rockport, MO
Truck Details 2005 - 379 Peterbilt 
   
   
   
   
   
  5th Place Tractor/Trailer Division
  $250
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 14
Name James Curtis
From Hartford, Michigan 
Truck Details 2008 Kenworth W900 Tractor with 2008 Great Dane Reefer
   
  4th Place Tractor/Trailer Division
  $500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 13
Name Paul Stanchio
From Port Washington, NY
Truck Details 2009 Peterbilt 388 Car Carrier tractor with 2009 Cotteell
   
  3rd Place Tractor/Trailer Division
  $750
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 25
Name Jon Hasaman
From Farmersville, IL
Truck Details 2007 Kenworth 900 L tractor with 2007 Utility
   
  2nd Place Tractor/Trailer Division
  $1,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 30
Name Jarrod Russell
From Jerseyville, IL
Truck Details 07 Peterbilt 379 tractor with 09 Wilson Cattle
   
  1st Place Tractor/Trailer Division
  $1,500
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 43
Name Eric Holthaus
From Seneca, KS
Truck Details 2002 Peterbilt
   
   
   
   
   
  Best of Show 2nd Runner Up
  $2,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 26
Name Todd Roccapriore
From Hebron, CT
Truck Details 1993 Peterbilt 379 EXHD tractor with MAC 2009 Smooth bottom End pump
   
  Best of Show 1st Runner Up
  $4,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
Number 45
Name Pat Eilen - Jake Eilen Truck Shown
From Hampton, MN
Truck Details 2007 Peterbilt 379 tractor with 2007 MAC round tube
   
  Best of Show
  $10,000
  Case of Shell Rotella T, Oak Grove 70 Petro Prize Package
  Spot in the 2010 Shell SuperRigs Calendar
Number 65
Name Brad Caton - Eilen & Sons Trucking 
From Hampton, MN
Truck Details 2007 Peterbilt tractor with 2007 Mac Smooth Side

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Dorothy Cox of The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at dlcox@thetrucker.com.

 

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