The 25th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition gets under way this Thursday through Saturday, June 21- 23 in Joplin, Mo., at the Joplin Petro Stopping Center, I-44, exit 4. The SuperRigs competition is the premier truck beauty contest

for actively working trucks. Owner-operator truckers from across the United States and Canada will compete for cash and prizes valued at $25,000. Additionally, 13 lucky drivers will be selected to have their truck featured in the 2008 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar.
Trucks are judged by industry professionals who work for major trucking publications and broadcast companies. Judges score the rigs on exterior appearance, design, detail/finish, originality and workmanship. In total, 25 working trucks receive awards for categories such as Best of Show, Tractor, Tractor/Trailer Combination and Classic categories.
This year, to honor the 25th anniversary of the SuperRigs competition, Shell Rotella will award one owner-operator with a $50,000 truck makeover by S&J Truck Sales of Fort Wayne, Ind. S&J built the "Best of Show" winning truck at the 2007 Mid-America Trucking Show Big-Rig Build-Off, as well as the "People's Choice" winning truck at the 2006 Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition. Partners for the makeover contest include Bridgestone, Alcoa, and Pana-Pacific.
To be considered for the truck makeover, entrants were able to register online or via U.S. mail. Additionally, entries will also be accepted in person at the event Thursday and Friday. Entered vehicles must be in good mechanical condition, be road-worthy, and be used by the owner in conducting his/her own transport business, and entrants are required to submit a story explaining why they believe they should win the makeover.
"Shell Lubricants is extremely excited about the silver anniversary of the Shell Rotella SuperRigs Truck Beauty Contest," said Dennis Doggett, general manager of marketing, B2B, Shell Lubricants. "The SuperRigs competition provides Shell Lubricants with an opportunity to honor our loyal consumers and celebrate the work that they do. This year, the SuperRigs competition is extremely special, as we will provide one lucky winner with a complete truck makeover."
The truck beauty and makeover contests are free to all participants. Every entrant will receive a gift package consisting of one gallon of Shell Rotella T with Triple Protection, one gallon of Shell Rotella Extended Life Coolant, one tube of Shell Retinax LX Fifth Wheel Grease, one quart of Shell Spirax EW Gear Oil, a 25th Anniversary Shell Rotella SuperRigs T-shirt and baseball cap and a 2007 Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar.
Contest entrants can register on site upon arrival and enter the judging line whenever they are ready. Judging will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday. Judging takes about 20 minutes, and contestants do not need to be present to win. The presentation ceremony for the awards will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Along with the above categories, awards will also be given in specialized categories such as "Best Chrome," "Best Theme," "Best Mural," "Best Lights," "People's Choice" and several others. The "Best Lights" judging will be held at dark on Friday evening, and the "People's Choice" award will be voted on throughout the event by all contestants and spectators.
In addition to the truck beauty contest, there will be entertainment including a Friday night concert from former American Idol contestant Carmen Rasmusen. Joey Holiday will also perform throughout the event. There will also be a NASCAR race simulator, replicating a race with the Shell Pennzoil car driven by 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick, and an outdoor movie night on Thursday, June 21. Additionally, the event will feature activities, contests and prizes for drivers not participating in the truck beauty contest.
For more information, visit www.rotella.com.