66 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 Oropesa (2012 Peterbilt 389); Best Paint was given to Tanner Mills (2019 Pete 389); Best Interior was awarded to Jeff Sapp (2007 Peterbilt 379); Best Lights went to Brad Harminson (2020 Peterbilt 389); and the Vendor’s Choice was given to Danny Regan (2000 Peterbilt 379). Beautiful handcrafted local metal art trophies were awarded to the “Top 25” trucks which were Brody Clark, Attoyac Energy Services, Kyler Shaw, Gary Hill, Austin Harris, Colby Johnson, Norman Russel, Tanner Mills, Tristan Brown, Terry Aslinger, Brad Harminson, Colton Malone, Derek De La Fuente, Danny Reagan, Michael King, Brandon Mendanhall, Diego Valenzuela, Johnny Due, Paul Ortiz, Lawrence Atteridge, Geo Cuellar, Billy Hopkins, Matt Tarver, Heath Martin and Mark Hopkins. Texas weather likes to keep you guessing – and this weekend had it all. Hoodies in the morning, sunscreen by lunchtime, sudden downpours, and even some tornado warnings. Although there was still so much fun to be had with the Tractor Pull, the Mission 22 Push Up Challenge and Big Rig Sled Pulls that evening, as hail and storms approached, some trucks and spectators reluctantly began packing up and leaving. For us, truck shows are more than chrome and awards – they are how our family spends time together. One summer we hit 17 shows between May and October! This time, our girls were on Fall Break, so they were able to come with us. Rain delays gave us time to explore town and places like Goodwill (Texas has the best ones), antique shops, Cavender’s, Boot Barn, and some can’t miss eats like Ralph & Kacoo’s, Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp (get the seafood enchiladas), and Pelican Pointe. Our daughter Jolie is 11 and has Autism. Until this year, she had never been able to pedal a bike. Thanks to a grant, she received an adaptive tricycle, so we squeezed it into our Expedition so she could fully join the fun. Usually, she stays under the trailer playing with dolls, but not this time! She found a buddy in Weston Novosad, who jumped right on the back and hung on as she zoomed around on her bike. She logged what felt like a thousand miles that weekend and is already planning to add some custom accessories and pinstriping to it. It was her weekend, and it made ours. Despite the wild weather, the show had another successful year and was able to donate $42,500 to Mission 22 and $30,000 to Wyakin Warrior Foundation. Mark your calendars for next year on October 16–17, 2026, at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, Texas. We hope to see you there, because “horsepower and heart” is the perfect combination for a fun and meaningful weekend! n
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