Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.”

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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...

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.

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

Ad Loading...

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

Place in the 2016 Rotella SuperRigs Calendar

Kiegan Nelson

Richfield, Wis.

1985 Peterbilt 359 Trailer: 2014 Mac

Ad Loading...


Best of Show 1st Runner Up

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

Phil Miller Livestock

Amargosa Valley, Nev.

2010 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: 2015 Wilson Livestock

Ad Loading...


Best of Show 2nd Runner Up

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

Marciano Esparza Sandoval

Salinas, Calif.

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

Ad Loading...

Working Truck – Limited Mileage

$250

Eric Adams

New Bethlehem, Penn.

2015 Peterbilt 289

Ad Loading...


Most Hardworking Trucker

$500

Paul Rissler

California, Miss.

1996 Peterbilt 379 Trailer: 2008 Great Dane

Ad Loading...

People's Choice

$250

Kiegan Nelson

Richfield, Wis.

1985 Peterbilt 359 Trailer: 2014 Mac

Ad Loading...


Show Truck

$250

Ramon R. Rodriquez

Salinas, Calif.

2015 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: Western 2015 Step Deck

Ad Loading...


Best Engine

Phil Miller Livestock

Amargosa Valley, Nev.

2010 Peterbilt 389 Trailer: 2015 Wilson Livestock


Best Lights

Ad Loading...

Ray French Jr.

Crosby, Texas

2002 Peterbilt 379

Best Chrome

Joe Regalado

Ad Loading...

Von Ormy, Texas

1997 Peterbilt 379


Best Theme

Dustin Pope

Greenville, Texas

Ad Loading...

2003 Kenworth W900L Trailer: 2010 Utility 3000R


Best Interior

Daniel and Phyllis Snow

Harrison, Ark.

1996 Freightliner ClassicXL

Ad Loading...


1st Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$1,500

Bobby Delon

Von Ormy, Texas

2004 Peterbilt 379 Trailer: 2014 Rango

Ad Loading...


2nd Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$1,000

Dustin Pope

Greenville, Texas

2003 Kenworth W900L Trailer: 2010 Utility 3000R

Ad Loading...


3rd Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$750

Shawn Cielke

Haugan, Mont.

2007 Kenworth T600 Trailer: 2014 Wabash Reefer

Ad Loading...


4th Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$500

Truett Novosad

College Station, Texas

2007 Peterbilt

Ad Loading...


5th Place Tractor/Trailer Division

$250

Duane Hostetler

Belleville, Penn.

2006 Peterbilt 370 Trailer: 2005 Reitnour

Ad Loading...


1st Place Tractor Division

$1,500

Billy Griffin

Irving, Texas

2011 Peterbilt 389

Ad Loading...


2nd Place Tractor Division

$1,000

David Foster

Joplin, Mo.

2005 Kenworth W900L

Ad Loading...


3rd Place Tractor Division

$750

Humberto Cano

Boerne, Texas

2014 Peterbilt 389

Ad Loading...


4th Place Tractor Division

$500

Ramon R. Rodriquez

Salinas, Calif.

2000 Peterbilt 379 Ext Hood

Ad Loading...


5th Place Tractor Division

$250

Caleb Eilers

Odessa, Texas

2000 Peterbilt 379

Ad Loading...


1st Place Classic Division

$1,500

Daniel and Phyllis Snow

Harrison, Ark.

1996 Freightliner ClassicXL

Ad Loading...


2nd Place Classic Division

$1,000

Justin Querry

Shirleysburg, Penn.

1998 Kenworth W900L

Ad Loading...


3rd Place Classic Division

$750

Walt Kurz

Central Point, Ore.

1997 Peterbilt 379

Ad Loading...


4th Place Classic Division

$500

Michael LeJeune

Church Point, La.

1999 Peterbilt 379

Ad Loading...


5th Place Classic Division

$250

Richard Rodriguez

San Antonio, Texas

1974 White Freightliner COE


Topics:Equipment

More Equipment

Red Kodiak-branded autonomous tractor with Charger-branded trailer backed up to warehouse
Fleet Management•October 30, 2026

Kodiak Lines Up Fleets for Driverless Trucking

An agreement for 75 trucks, a new Texas freight lane, and progress on safety validation move Kodiak closer to its planned driverless highway launch.

Read More →
A GP Transco tractor-trailer crosses a bridge over a river, with trailer side skirts visible beneath the white trailer.
Fuel Smarts•by Deborah Lockridge•October 27, 2026

How GP Transco Builds Fuel Savings a Fraction at a Time

Aerodynamic specs, solar panels, and driver incentives help GP Transco turn small efficiency gains into savings it can reinvest in its people.

Read More →
YouTube thumbnail showing man being interviewed and backup camera and in-cab screen showing backup video
Safety & Compliance•by Deborah Lockridge•October 23, 2026

More Trailer Data Through the Same Seven-Way [Video]

Can trucking’s standard seven-way connector handle more cameras and trailer data? Grote’s Adam Slade shows HDT how the company is using new technology with its 4See trailer system, not only to add a new backup camera but also to expand other capabilities — without adding another connection.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rear view camera on back of a semi trailer
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•October 23, 2026

Grote: More Cameras, Same Seven-Way Connector

The next-generation 4See rear-view backup camera from Grote uses the standard seven-way connector and supports additional cameras and other trailer data.

Read More →
wide angle photo of trade show booth with big "Mack" sign above, red Mack truck in the foreground
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•October 20, 2026

Trucks at ATA's 2026 MC&E in Charlotte, North Carolina [Photos]

From rigs decked out in patriotic America's 250 paint schemes to autonomous trucks and more, check out these photos from ATA's 2026 Management Conference & Exhibition.

Read More →
2027 HDT Top 20 Products logo beside “Nominations Open” text and images of 2026 award winners: a Cummins engine, Lytx dash cam, and Michelin truck tire.
Equipment•by Staff•October 16, 2026

Help HDT Find Trucking’s Top Products

Have you come across a new product that could make a difference for trucking fleets? Nominate it for HDT’s 2027 Top 20 Products Awards by November 9.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Yellow Volvo VNS heavy-haul sleeper truck with rugged tires and prominent grille, parked at night on a snow-covered lot beside a black truck, with a Volvo construction machine on a trailer behind it.
Equipment•by Wayne Parham•October 14, 2026

Volvo Unveils New VNX Heavy-Haul and Vocational Truck

Volvo Trucks has launched the VNX, a new vocational truck also available as a tractor in day cab and two sleeper configurations, with one heavy-haul model. The Volvo VNX is powered by Volvo's D13 platform, which delivers up to 540 horsepower and 1,950 pound-feet of torque and is EPA 2027-compliant.  

Read More →
Youtube thumbnail showing two people with a truck and the word "fuel" behind them, the HDT Talks Trucking logo, and the words "Small Gains. Big Savings."
Fuel Smarts•by Deborah Lockridge•October 12, 2026

How GP Transco Cuts Trucking Fuel Costs, a Tenth of a Gallon at a Time

What’s another tenth of a mile per gallon worth? GP Transco shares how equipment upgrades and driver coaching turn small gains into meaningful fuel savings.

Read More →
Photo of electric OrangeEV terminal tractor with a Lazer Logistics trailer
Equipment•by Staff•October 6, 2026

Electric Yard Tractors Move Beyond Pilots

Operating-cost savings have overtaken sustainability goals as the leading reason surveyed fleets are adopting battery-electric terminal tractors, according to new NACFE research.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two truck tires with a muted highway background
Maintenance•by News/Media Release•October 2, 2026

Continental Introduces New Regional Truck Tires

Continental says its new Generation 5 steer and drive tires for regional operations offer longer tread life, with estimated mileage gains of 22% and 19%, respectively.

Read More →