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
|