As the announcement for the winner of the Grand Championship at the Georgia State Truck Driving Championships (TDC) was about to be made, veteran Frito-Lay driver Tony Johnson was still reflecting on his 5-Axle first-place trophy with a true sense of awe and amazement. Johnson had accomplished his primary objective: punching his ticket to be part of the National Truck Driving Championship (NTDC) field for 2026.
Johnson knew winning a vehicle division championship in a Georgia State TDC field that featured 249 overall competitors across the nine classes, including 99 rookies, was indeed a trophy to cherish.
The idea of having his name called as the Grand Champion for the State of Georgia was at least a million safe miles away for Johnson — but the reality of a joyous, life-changing announcement and holding that trophy in his hands was actually right around the corner.
Just prior to learning he would become Georgia’s next Grand Champion, Johnson and his wife, Julia, were still basking in the glow of the 5-Axle title and looking ahead to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh. Quite simply, they were extremely content and focused on enjoying the rest of the awards banquet, which was hosted by the Georgia Trucking Association.
“I was still kind of gloating over my award, my beautiful trophy,” said Johnson of his 5-Axle title — a title that will be sending him to the Nationals for the third time in the last four years.
“It never even crossed my mind that I would even be in the vicinity of the Grand Championship,” he continued. “I even said to Julia, ‘You can go ahead and count me out of this. There are guys here who have done so much better than me. Someone’s going to get it, and I’ll be grateful and happy for them.’”
Like most experienced competitors who have won a vehicle division title at a State TDC, Johnson had placed winning a Grand Championship on his bucket list.
A resident of Perry, Georgia, who’s familiar with the history of neighboring Macon (the one-time home of the Allman Brothers Band), Johnson has always taken a humble approach to the Grand Championship. In the words of a famous Allman Brothers song, Johnson has always held the view that the state awards banquet’s top trophy would likely be a dream that he never sees.
Johnson’s humility aside, sometimes TDC magic DOES happen and dreams are realized. It’s in those moments when the person who hears their name as Grand Champion actually receives a most joyous bolt of lightning.
“Boy, was I surprised. It was an amazing experience,” recalled Johnson about the instant he learned he was the 2026 Georgia TDC Grand Champion. “I couldn’t believe it. I looked at Julia and I said, ‘Am I dreaming right now? This can’t be real. I mean, am I being punked?’ Julia looked back at me and said, ‘You need to go down there and get your award.’
“I screamed at the top of my lungs,” he added when noting the process of getting up from his table and heading to the stage. “Everything was a blur at that moment. I was still in shock. This can’t be happening.
“I’m thinking, ‘Do y’all need to do a recount or something? This just doesn’t make sense to me,” he continued. “But I will tell you this has been an amazing experience, and I’m still trying to soak it all in. I think everybody should be able to experience it.”
Experiencing Professional Growth & Earning Respect
A veteran competitor at the Georgia State TDC, Johnson’s dedication to safety with each mile he drives every year, teamed with and his desire to continually sharpen his skills in all phases of the competition, has earned him the admiration and respect of his fellow competitors and the State TDC organizers.
“One of the biggest things I’ve seen change in Tony over the years is that he originally came to TDC as part of his team. It was something fun to do every year,” said Emily Crane, vice president of safety and engagement for the Georgia Trucking Association. “Everyone knew who Tony was because he’s so tall, has such a fun personality, and he brings a great energy everywhere he goes.
“Over time, I’ve watched Tony transform from someone who participated in TDC into someone who truly embodies the mission and purpose of the program as a professional driver,” she continued.
As the point person for the Georgia State TDC and as a member of the National Organizing Committee for NTDC 2026, Crane has a great appreciation for the professional drivers who go the extra mile to commit to the practice and study needed to excel at a State TDC and the Nationals — all the while meeting the competition’s qualifications for staying safe on the roads for the entire year.
“What stands out most about Tony is that he genuinely embodies the mission and values of the Georgia Trucking Association,” observed Crane. “Everything we do at GTA falls under the categories of Advocate, Connect, Equip and Serve. Tony is a natural at living out every one of those.
“As someone who has known Tony for a long time and who considers him part of our TDC family, it honestly made my heart so happy to see his name at the top of the Grand Champion list,” she said. “Tony represents everything we hope the Truck Driving Championships can help to cultivate in a professional driver, and we’re incredibly proud to have him representing Georgia as our Grand Champion.”
Seeking New Goals At Nationals
Using his previous two trips to the NTDCs in the past three years as a solid base of experience, Johnson is looking to take the next step at the Nationals when they begin August 11 in Pittsburgh. Finishing in the Top 15 in 5-Axle at NTDC 2025 after qualifying for his first Nationals in 2023, Johnson would like to hear his name called on Championship Morning as one of the five finalists in the runoff portion of competition in Pittsburgh.
“Last year, the nervousness decreased. I was able to focus more, and they say the third time is the charm,” explained Johnson. “I like to challenge myself and I want to do well. I don’t want to disappoint the good folks in Georgia. I don’t want to disappoint my company. I don’t want to disappoint myself. So, I always want to do well.
“I’ve proven to myself I can win at state. I’ve proven to myself I could be a State Grand Champion,” he added “Now, I need to prove to myself that I’m good enough to win first place at Nationals. That’s where I want to set my next goal.”
Having realized one seemingly unreachable career dream in winning a State Grand Championship, will Johnson now allow himself to envision the possibility of bringing home the National Grand Championship? After all, FedEx Freight’s David Comings won the National 5-Axle title en route to claiming the Grand Championship at NTDC 2025 during his fourth year at Nationals.
“Grand Champion?” Johnson repeated when asked about his upcoming trip to Pittsburgh. “That would be amazing, if that’s how the chips fall. But that’s the big dream for everybody, right? All I know is that I promise myself and everyone who supports me to do the absolute best that I can at Nationals.”
To listen to the Podwheels podcast featuring Johnson, click here.
Just Peachy: Frito-Lay’s Tony Johnson Wins 1st State Grand Champion Title
Greg Thompson is an award-winning writer and producer who has worked in the trucking industry in a variety of roles since 1998. With more than a decade’s worth of experience as a journalist prior entering trucking, Greg is the founder and executive producer of PodWheels.com, a podcast network dedicated to spotlighting the trucking industry.
Since 2019, PodWheels has provided specialized coverage of the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships.
In 2025, PodWheels’ NTDC Series earned the honor of being named the official podcast of the National Championships by the American Trucking Associations, which hosts the annual nationwide competition.
During 2025 alone, PodWheels produced some 100 episodes and provided over 50 hours of podcast content highlighting the competitors, organizers and volunteers involved with the Truck Driving Championships at both the state and national levels. PodWheels’ coverage of the NTDC, including state competitions and other features, is available through RoadToNTDC.com.
