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Shell Reveals SuperRigs Winners

And the top winner of the 33rd Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition is… drumroll, please: Kiegan Nelson of Richfield, Wis., who shined his 1985 Peterbilt 359 and 2014 MAC trailer combination all the way to score “Best in Show.”

David Cullen
David Cullen[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor
Read David's Posts
June 16, 2015
Shell Reveals SuperRigs Winners

Marciano Esparza Sandoval's 1991 Peterbilt 379 scored as Best of Show second runner-up. Photo: Shell

4 min to read


Best in Show honors went to Kiegan Nelson's 1985 Peterbilt 359 and 2014 MAC trailer combination. Photo: Shell

And the top winner of the 33rd Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition is… drumroll, please: Kiegan Nelson of Richfield, Wis., who shined his 1985 Peterbilt 359 and 2014 MAC trailer combination all the way to score “Best in Show.”

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Along with that title, Nelson received a $10,000 prize from Shell Rotella and a $5,000 one from MAC trailers, which helped sponsor the event along with Sam’s Club.

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His rig also took first place in the People’s Choice category, which is selected by the votes of competitors and attendees alike at the event. “It was an amazing experience to compete against all these trucks and to come out on top is a great feeling,” said Nelson. “There were a lot of cool trucks here and to take home the top title is incredibly surreal.”

Nelson competed in a hotly contested field of 72 entries at this year’s event, which largely took place under a broiling Texas sun from June 11-13 at Retama Park, just north of San Antonio.

Competitors put her best looks forward for a go at over $25,000 in cash and prizes as well as the chance for 12 of them to see their rigs published in the 2016 edition of the SuperRigs calendar. This year’s event also boasted the first ever SuperRigs BBQ Cook-off, a truck light show, a fireworks display and Phil Pritchett, live in concert.

Phil Miller's 2010 Peterbilt 389 rolled away as the Best of Show first runner-up. Photo: Shell

Phil Miller of Amargosa Valley, Nev, rolled away with his 2010 Peterbilt 389 as the Best of Show first runner-up. He received $4,000 from Shell Rotella and $3,000 from MAC Trailer and also won for Best Engine. 

Marciano Esparza Sandoval of Salinas, Calif., was awarded Best of Show second runner-up for his 1991 Peterbilt 379. He received $2,000 from Shell Rotella and $2,000 from MAC Trailer.

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Marciano Esparza Sandoval's 1991 Peterbilt 379 scored as Best of Show second runner-up. Photo: Shell

First-place winners also included Bobby Delon of Von Ormy, Texas in the Tractor/Trailer Division for his 2004 Peterbilt 379; Billy Griffin of Irving, Texas in the Tractor Division with a 2011 Peterbilt 389;  Daniel and Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Ark. in the Classic Division for their 1996 Freightliner Classic XL. The Most Hardworking Trucker award went to Paul Rissler, of California, Mo. who drives a 1996 Peterbilt 379.

Here is a complete rundown of the SuperRigs winners:

Best of Show

$10,000 from Shell Rotella and $5,000 from Mac Trailer

Place in the 2016 Rotella SuperRigs Calendar

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Kiegan Nelson

Richfield, Wis.

1985 Peterbilt 359 Trailer: 2014 Mac


Best of Show 1st Runner Up

$4000 from Shell Rotella and $3,000 from Mac Trailer

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Phil Miller Livestock

Amargosa Valley, Nev.

2010 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: 2015 Wilson Livestock


Best of Show 2nd Runner Up

$2000 from Shell and $2,000 from Mac Trailer

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Marciano Esparza Sandoval

Salinas, Calif.

1991 Peterbilt 379 Ext Hood Trailer: 2003 Fontaine 53’ Flatbed

Working Truck – Limited Mileage

$250

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Eric Adams

New Bethlehem, Penn.

2015 Peterbilt 289


Most Hardworking Trucker

$500

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Paul Rissler

California, Miss.

1996 Peterbilt 379 Trailer: 2008 Great Dane

People's Choice

$250

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Kiegan Nelson

Richfield, Wis.

1985 Peterbilt 359 Trailer: 2014 Mac


Show Truck

$250

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Ramon R. Rodriquez

Salinas, Calif.

2015 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: Western 2015 Step Deck


Best Engine

Phil Miller Livestock

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Amargosa Valley, Nev.

2010 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: 2015 Wilson Livestock


Best Lights

Ray French Jr.

Crosby, Texas

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2002 Peterbilt 379

Best Chrome

Joe Regalado

Von Ormy, Texas

1997 Peterbilt 379

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Best Theme

Dustin Pope

Greenville, Texas

2003 Kenworth W900L Trailer: 2010 Utility 3000R


Best Interior

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Daniel and Phyllis Snow

Harrison, Ark.

1996 Freightliner ClassicXL


1st Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$1,500

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Bobby Delon

Von Ormy, Texas

2004 Peterbilt 379 Trailer: 2014 Rango


2nd Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$1,000

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Dustin Pope

Greenville, Texas

2003 Kenworth W900L Trailer: 2010 Utility 3000R


3rd Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$750

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Shawn Cielke

Haugan, Mont.

2007 Kenworth T600 Trailer: 2014 Wabash Reefer


4th Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$500

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Truett Novosad

College Station, Texas

2007 Peterbilt


5th Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$250

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Duane Hostetler

Belleville, Penn.

2006 Peterbilt 370 Trailer: 2005 Reitnour


1st Place Tractor Division

$1,500

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Billy Griffin

Irving, Texas

2011 Peterbilt 389


2nd Place Tractor Division

$1,000

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David Foster

Joplin, Mo.

2005 Kenworth W900L


3rd Place Tractor Division

$750

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Humberto Cano

Boerne, Texas

2014 Peterbilt 389


4th Place Tractor Division

$500

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Ramon R. Rodriquez

Salinas, Calif.

2000 Peterbilt 379 Ext Hood


5th Place Tractor Division

$250

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Caleb Eilers

Odessa, Texas

2000 Peterbilt 379


1st Place Classic Division

$1,500

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Daniel and Phyllis Snow

Harrison, Ark.

1996 Freightliner ClassicXL


2nd Place Classic Division

$1,000

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Justin Querry

Shirleysburg, Penn.

1998 Kenworth W900L


3rd Place Classic Division

$750

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Walt Kurz

Central Point, Ore.

1997 Peterbilt 379


4th Place Classic Division

$500

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Michael LeJeune

Church Point, La.

1999 Peterbilt 379


5th Place Classic Division

$250

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Richard Rodriguez

San Antonio, Texas

1974 White Freightliner COE


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