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・[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor
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.
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.
Ad Loading...
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
Ad Loading...
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
The Environmental Protection Agency is asking diesel engine makers to provide information about diesel exhaust fluid system failures as it considers changes to emissions regulations.
The companies also said they plan to coordinate deployment planning across priority freight corridors and define routes and operational design domains for U.S. commercial service while laying the groundwork for expansion into key European markets.
Previous Star Nation events have included driver challenges, exclusive access to Daimler Truck North America facilities and hands-on experiences with the latest Western Star X-Series lineup.
Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.
Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.
Freightliner’s fifth-generation Cascadia earned a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for its aerodynamic design and functional updates developed through close collaboration between designers and engineers.