10-4 Magazine December 2021

34 10-4 Magazine / December 2021 Fun and laughter happened as the day went on with a stunt motorcycle performance in both the morning and afternoon, as well as the dunk tank, in which Mitchell Bottomley was one of the participants in the hot seat, waiting to see if someone had an arm good enough to dunk him. Funny antics ensued with a Barney Fife impersonator on site who definitely had many people laughing and interacting with him. Around 5:30 PM, Steven Molanders was on stage with some entertainment prior to Tony Justice taking over in a setting fitting for him to play – among a sea of trucks with all their lights on. The last day of the show ended with a bang, literally, with an amazing display of fireworks that was really awesome. I’m grateful I had spoken with co-contributor Eric Hill prior to the awards as I really appreciate that he was able to get photos during the ceremony. The awards ceremony was nothing short of amazing, from those who got awards, to the most stellar part, the amount of money raised for Brenner Children’s Hospital. Remember that previously mentioned goal of raising $250,000? Some probably thought it was a crazy number, but the show beat that goal and handed a check for $351,466 to Brenner Children’s president, Alisa Starbuck, who was accompanied by Angela Carlton, Senior Philanthropy and Alumni Events Coordinator. The trophies were won by votes from competitors to avoid complaints about judging. The “Great 8” trophies went to Chuck Hyde, Jimmy Ganski, Danny Kimball, Don Wood, Clayton Driskill, Rob Hallahan, Tyler Hintz, and Brandon Smith. “Best of” trophies went to Don Wood for Lowest Truck and Best Interior, Jacob Bonham for Best Lights, Rick Sowers for Oldest Truck, Chuck Hyde for Best Paint, Austin Kiser for Best Engine, Noah Lance for Furthest Driven (presented by Tony Justice during his concert), and Best of Show went to Robert Burleson. The Top Notch 10 awards went to local trucks from Virginia and North Carolina. Recipients were Rick Sowers, Stoney Greene, Austin Kiser, Jimmy McHone, David Strickland, Brad Routh, Skyler Stanley, Casey Jones, Will Smith, and Josh Miller. The Fine Nine awards were chosen based on trucks with model year 1990 and older. The winners in this category included Nick Black, Patrick Underwood, Bob Vogel, Rick Sowers, Brian Kepley, Bruce Hill, Ben Cadle, David Strickland, and Mike Hatcher. Along with the awards, the show is producing a truck show calendar and calendar spot holders were announced during the awards ceremony. The 2022 calendar spot holders are Don Wood of DSD Transport (cover), John Deschaine of Deschaine Logging and Clearing, Brandon Smith of Smith Transport, Nicholas Black of NA Black Trucking, Josh Teel of Teel Trucking, Jimmy Ganski of JC Ganski, Bill Rethwisch of Rethwisch Transport, Austin Kiser of Greg Kiser Trucking, Chuck Hyde of BCH Trucking Services, Jacob Bonham of Tri-State Heavy Haul, Rick Sowers of Sowers Construction Company, Bubba Branch of Atlas Heavy Haul, and Robert Burleson of Jack Hicks, Inc. Sunday was a day of reflection, as most of the trucks departed from the show and either headed out for loads or back home. The weather couldn’t have been better for this show. To have had the opportunity to be a small part in helping to get this show off the ground was so exciting, but the most amazing