Eighteen winners shared $10,000 in prizes and awards at the recent Shell SuperRigs contest, held at the new TravelCenters of America outside Denver.

Unlike most other shows, the trucks aren't judged sitting still in a particular spot. You must drive your truck through a judging lane and park it in front of the judges. Each driver who came through received a prize pack of Shell products.
Trucks competed in three categories: Tractor, Tractor/Trailer Combination and Classic. Each truck was judged on five criteria: Appearance, Design, Detail/Finish, Originality and Workmanship.
Also decided during the contest was which trucks will appear in the SuperRigs calendar for 2001. Completely separate from the judging of the trucks for the contest, a photographer and art director chose the trucks.
Best of Show went to Tom & Jane Opliger, Intercity Automobile, McAdenville, N.C., for their '96 Peterbilt 379 with auto-theme murals on a white background (pictured at right).. First Runner Up was Nathan Cain, Hoffman Transport, Dwight, Ill, for a 2000 Peterbilt 379 with pneumatic bulk trailer featuring railroad and truck murals on a green background. Second Runner Up was Russ and Debbie Brown, Oklahoma City, "Razors Edge," a '99 Peterbilt 379 tractor done up in a sharp theme with purple fenders and accents on a white background.
Tractor Trailer top prize went to Dan and Katie Kimball, Burlington, Wis., for their 2000 Kenworth W900L and Utility 2000R, featuring a Miami Dolphins color scheme on white background. Second place went to Mike McDonald, Plenty, Saskatchewan, for his 2000 Peterbilt 379 and '00 Great Dane SuperSeal reefer, yellow with purple fenders and roof. Third place went to Jamie Hewett, Grand Ridge, Fla., for "Rooster Cruiser," a '99 Kenworth W900L with Utility 2000R trailer, using a chicken-hauler theme with flamed fenders.
Tractor first place was Ned and Stephanie Kontogouris, Chicago, for "Thunderstruck," a blue 2000 Kenworth W900L with lightning flash theme. Second place went to Brian McGowan, Birdsboro, Pa., for a white 2000 379 Peterbilt 4-axle heavy-haul with extreme flame in blue/gray. Third place was Chris Lewis, Jackson, Mo., for a blue and purple '99 Peterbilt 379 with color shift painted fenders.
Classic winner was Thomas (Smitty) Smith, Goldsboro, N.C., for his '90 Peterbilt 379, painted Mayflower green with wood grain accents. Second place went to Mike Duffy, Belle River, Ontario, for his purple '89 International 9300 daycab with subtle flamed accents. Third prize was Stan Squires Western Distributing, Blackhawk, Colo., for his blue '53 Peterbilt with super extended hood.