Truck Show Report: By Oliver Wiesmann On the morning of this year’s 44th Shell Rotella SuperRigs, I awoke far outside the reaches of Bristol Motor Speedway and the birthplace of Country music. Located in Bristol, TN, the speedway was about three hours south of our campsite in southern West Virginia. The week prior I had attended the truck show in Macungie, PA at the Antique Truck Club of America’s national meet. On my way to Bristol, I picked up my friend and occasional collaborator Avery Craig who had been on his own adventure touring around New England documenting a gospel choir from Louisville. Together, we got to see the best of the best that trucking had to offer. We headed out at 5:00 AM so we could be at the truck show when it began. When we arrived, only a dozen or more trucks were present by 9:00 AM that Thursday, but by the afternoon, the lot had filled in. As we made our way into the venue, we were met by the delightful event staff at the registration desk. All the staff and organizers of the show were extremely accommodating and happy to help. This was something that everyone I spoke to highlighted again and again. After obtaining our credentials, we began walking around, as the early morning sun started peeking over the hills around Thunder Valley. Some of the participants had arrived early and were working overtime on getting these highway chariots ready for the judges. Climbing under their trucks to wipe down their chrome shock absorbers, airbags, and leaf springs, or clean the road tar off their smooth frame rails, I was also witnessing the families of the truckers get in on the action, as some had up to five people working in the sun to get their truck show ready. As newly registered rigs got escorted by golf carts to their spots, and with little early morning attendance from the general public, the atmosphere on the lot resembled how I imagined a truck stop was like in the 1970s, with truckers admiring other drivers’ rides, and looking for good conversation. I spent the weekend trying my best to find interesting stories and perspectives from truckers about themselves, the industry, and their trucks. I spoke with young truckers, older veterans, event organizers, and fellow members of the media about everything from the show itself to the lifestyle it highlights and the culture that surrounds it. To begin, I asked myself, “Why do truckers attend this truck show in the first place?” The question of “What brought you here?” came up often when talking to people. Aside from the prizes, participants had many different reasons for coming to this year’s show. Getting the opportunity to be featured in the SuperRigs calendar seemed to be enough for some truckers. “The calendar spots are almost more coveted than the prizes themselves, because you’re in a sense immortalized in the SuperRigs calendar,” said Julie Wright, Brand Manager for Shell Rotella North America. “There are families out here where dad was in the calendar, and now their kids are trying to be in it, too.” For some it is a tradition to be at the show, but for many, it is not about the prizes or the calendar. It was fourth generation trucker Erin Barrick’s (23) first time attending SuperRigs. “I’m not here to win at all. I’m just here to hang out, talk, and enjoy this.” Erin brought with her a 1986 Peterbilt 359 with a Big Cam 400 Cummins and a custom black with white pinstripes paint job. This beautiful rig was put together by Erin and her father John Barrick (55) who run a fleet of trucks in Lincoln, IL. John is a 3rd generation trucker preparing to pass the torch of their family business to his daughter. Erin is optimistic and confident about her future, saying, “I’m looking forward to bringing old-school trucking back and reviving the culture. I want to bring that great history back into the industry.” Billy Odom (66) placed 2nd in the Tractor Division with his red 1984 cabover 362 Peterbilt with a 550-hp 3406E CAT. Billy told me he enjoys going to truck shows, but this was his first time attending SuperRigs. “All of the people affiliated with SuperRigs are very friendly, helpful, nice people. It’s really been a very neat experience with the people responsible for SuperRigs.” Billy still runs his rig regularly, saying, “I basically work more or less local now. I don’t do any overnight trips or sleep in the truck anymore.” Susan Odom (Billy’s wife) mentioned her husband also used to run coast-to-coast and has been on the road for 45 years (since 1981). Jay Van Kampen placed 3rd in the Classic Division with his 1976 Kenworth W900A Bicentennial Edition. Jay rolled into this show running a 550-hp 12.7 Detroit, a 13-speed, 3.58 rears, and low-pro 24.5 rubber on the rears and tall 24s on the front. Jay and I talked about a lot because his truck carries quite the story. “They only made 41 of them, and my father bought this truck in 1978. He died in 1981 and the truck was auctioned off. 34 years later, in 2015, our pastor did a sermon called ‘Tell Your Story’ and I prayed about it. Later that year, the good Lord dropped this truck back into my hands.” Jay still drives this truck, and throughout his travels, it carries the message “Be A Rachel” inscribed on the side of his hood as a tribute to his late wife Rachel. “She was the most selfless woman you would ever meet and always put others before herself. I challenge everybody to be Rachel.” 58 10-4 Magazine / August 2026 BEST OF THE BEST
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