Shell's annual truck beauty show and calendar shoot, the Shell Rotella Superrigs, was held last week at the Oak Grove Petro truckstop just outside of Kansas City, Mo.

In the two-and-a-half-day event, 77 trucks came through the judging line. At the same time, 12 trucks to be featured in the Superrigs Calendar for 2010 were selected and taken off site to previously selected photographic locations.

Best of Show winner and runner up were popular choices among other competitors, as their entries were in memory of one of show trucking's best loved characters, Jake Eilen, who passed away late last year. Both trucks were cleaned and polished -- a Herculean task especially with the very varied weather and rain and storms in the area -- by show winner Brad Caton, who put in many long hours of preparation to get both outstanding end-dump combinations ready for the event.

But co-operation was the name of the game at this year's event, where showers in the middle of the second day -- normally the busiest for judging -- meant trucks had to be toweled off coming through the line. Competitors helped each other to get the trucks back to their best and out in front of the judges, who were from various trucking media (including myself).

Is the show has developed over the years, the competition has become fiercer and fiercer. This year's event featured the cream of the crop from the United States and Canada, with highly customized trucks competing in three categories: Tractor, Tractor-Trailer and Classic. The first five places in each category earned an award plaque, cases of Shell Rotella oil, prize packages from the Oak Grove Petro truckstop and up to $1,500 for the category winner.

The two Best of Show runners up also get valuable cash prizes with the Caton's top award earning an oversized check for $10,000. Additional prizes are awarded individually for best chrome, interior, engine and lights as well as the best mural and the best theme for the graphics.

Best of Show
Brad Caton, Blue 2007 Pete fender flames and checker flags, MAC end dump
Pat Eilen, black 2007 Pete with red flames, MAC round tub end dump
Tod Roccapriore, Chopped '93 Clean Slate Purple and black Pete, chopped roof

Tractor
1 Curtis Christians, all black 2005 Pete with red flames and accents
2 Larry Dyck, Jade Transport, 2007 Pete Green with Orange stripes
3 Jake Lindamood, 2007 Pete, orange heavy hauler with tridem drives
4 Barry Kasdorf, Jade dark green with lower lighter green and striping
5 Corry Thorne, 2007 Pete Blue and white, modern stripe and deep white visor.

Tractor Trailer
1 Eric Holthaus, All white 2002 Pete, Reitnouer step frame aluminum trailer
2 Jarrod Russell, orange 2007 Pete with blue/green stripe, Wilson livestock trailer.
3 Jon Hasaman red 2007 KW W900 shaded pink flames and 2007 Utility trailer
4 Paul Stanchio, 2009 Pete 388 with 2009 Cottrell Hot Wheels car hauler.
5 James Curtis, Fourth Arrow 2008 KW W900 blue orange fenders and highlights

Classic
1 Jerry Kissinger, Gold 1991 Mack Superliner V8 with bulldog accents
2 Colin Stuart, 1984 Pete blue Pete with huge double KW sleeper and fireplace
3 Travis Headley, 1969 Pete 356A, orange, old square doors
4 Heath Church, 1982 black and charcoal grey KW W900A
5 Mike Kvestad, White 379 Pete with blue fenders

Peoples Choice
Chris Anderson, Survivor, 2000 KW W900 from Trick My Truck

Best Interior - Curtis Christians
Best Engine - Brad Caton
Best Theme - Terry Wier Jr., all-black 2005 Pete
Best Mural - Colin Stuart
Best Chrome - Jerry Howard, black 1954 Autocar DC-75
Best Lights - Mike Kvestad