“Big Willy,” an immaculate 1990 Peterbilt 379 owned by Thomas Smith, was one of the big winners at the third Stars & Stripes qualifying show, sponsored by Chevron, held at the Jubitz Truck Stop in Portland, Ore., over the weekend.

Truck stop owner Fred Jubitz (see photo) was on hand to congratulate Smith – known to many simply as “Smitty.”
The Stars & Stripes qualifier and accompanying NAST truck beauty show were part of a driver appreciation weekend at Jubitz, which included live music, trucker games, product displays, and a truck light show.
In awarding him first prize in the Bobtail division, the NAST-sanctioned judges noted the fine detail of Smitty’s Peterbilt, which features a 140-inch Sundowner sleeper, custom wood floor, and more than 240 exterior lights. Smitty, an owner-operator based in Goldsboro, N.C., hauls household goods for Security Mayflower. He has owned the truck since it was new and has already collected 45 trophies in various truck beauty contests.
First prize in the Combo division went to a 1992 Peterbilt 379 coupled to a 1993 Ravens flatbed owned by Bill and Marie Sandvik of Escondido, Calif. The Sandviks deferred to driver Ricky Torres, crediting him for customizing and detailing the truck, which features a dazzling maroon paint job with flame accents, hand painted detailing under the hood, customized upholstery, and glass lenses on lights. The Sandviks run 17 trucks, hauling tile and marble products in California and Nevada. Bill, who started out as an owner-operator, encourages drivers to customize their rigs. “We like them to have pride in the rigs they drive,” he said. “Some of them have put a lot of hours of work into them.”
Other winners in the Stars & Stripes qualifier were:
* Second Place Bobtail: 1996 Peterbilt 379 named “Kaotic,” owned by Bill Sandvik and driven by Chuck Prigge, which featured purple flame paintwork on a white background, customized interior woodwork, and extensive stainless pieces.
* Third Place Bobtail: 2000 Peterbilt 379, a very clean green and white rig owned by George Van Dyke of Tangent, Ore., and driven by son Brian Van Dyke.
* Second Place Combo: 1980 Peterbilt 359 pulling a 1999 Reinke curtainside trailer, owned by Rick Eggleston of Eagle Point, Ore. The truck had more than 2.5 million miles on the clock and featured an orange and white paint scheme matched to the trailer.
* Third Place Combo: 1996 Peterbilt 379 with a 1997 Great Dane reefer trailer owned by Tod Job of Jefferson City, Mo. The rig featured a special paint from Sikkens which changes color as you walk around it.
In the accompanying NAST beauty show, best of show combo was won by Erich Schoen of Tangent, Ore., with a 1994 Kenworth W900L and a Western Trailers curtainsider. The truck has been lowered 5 inches and featured extensive stainless work by Schoen himself.
Best of show bobtail went to a 1995 Peterbilt 379 owned by George Van Dyke and son Brad. Another very clean unit from the Van Dyke stable.
The six winners in the Stars & Stripes division qualify to compete in the National Championship event at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., next March. The next qualifying event will be held at Diamond J’s Truck Stop in Brookville, Pa., from October 6 to 8.
For more information on the Stars & Stripes show series and upcoming show dates, go to www.starsandstripesshow.com.