As the 2018 truck show season came to a close, the ATSC National Championship did, as well. Culminating in Ventura, California on October 19-21, after three other events were held in Wisconsin, Kansas City and Oklahoma, the “best of the best” came to compete in this esteemed competition. In addition to the National Championship Series, there was also a more-relaxed Wash and Show contest, which featured not only awards, but very nice giveaways from sponsoring companies, as well.
With about 50 of the finest rigs to ever grace the American highways on the lot and several vendors, the show featured perfect California weather (sun and 80-degree days), music, food and fun. On Friday evening, after everyone got parked, RoadWorks hosted a happy hour and dinner for all the competitors. Following that, the Friday night “Display of Lights and Sound” took place, setting the whole fairgrounds aglow.
With a few more trucks rolling in at the last-minute Saturday morning, “rags down” was called at 9:00 AM. Around noon, A & L Truck Supply hosted a competitor lunch, and then there was balloon twisting and face painting in the kid zone. With the show being held right next to the beach, the event sponsors set up a surfing camp for any competitors who wanted to add a little excitement to their weekend. Known for their fair and impartial style of tabulating scores, the judging occurred throughout most of the day. Later that evening, there was a poker tournament, and then another light and sound display.
Come Sunday morning, it was time for the awards. There may not have been a ton of trucks at this event, but the ones that were there were top-notch! In the National Championship Series classes, Steven Sontag and his 2007 orange and white “Dreamsickle” Peterbilt 379, along with Robbie Basse and his “Baby Blue” 2016 Kenworth W900L, took top honors in the Limited for Show Bobtail and Combo classes, respectively. In the Elite Working classes, the Best Bobtail award went to Edward Carballo and his slick little white and black 2-axle 1999 Peterbilt 379, while the Best Combo award went to Josh Weaber and his brown 2017 KW W900L. Steven and Robbie also secured their National Championship Series titles in their classes at this event.
Competitors in the Wash and Show contest experience a competitive truck show environment without the pressure of having every square inch of their equipment inspected and scored by a five-judge panel. This lower-pressure contest offers competitors flexibility to show up and clean as little or as much as they want, giving them more time to focus on the added value features provided by the sponsors and event hosts. The Best Bobtail trophy in the Wash and Show contest went to Rufino Hernandez and his white 2019 Pete 389 with teal green fenders, while the Best Combo trophy went to Pete Castanon and his dark metallic gray 2019 Peterbilt 389 and tanker (Double E Trucking).
Two special awards were given, as well, including Best Chrome, which went to Robbie Basse and his blue and white 2016 Kenworth W900L, and People’s Choice, which went to Steven Sontag and his white and orange 2007 Peterbilt 379. Bryan Robers and his purple 2019 “Amethyst” Pete 389 car carrier ended up with a second place in the Elite Working Combo class in Ventura, but that was still enough to secure his National Championship Series title in that class for the year. Matt Strottman and his green 2017 Peterbilt 389 did not even show up to compete in Ventura, but he still had enough points accrued to secure his National Championship Series title in the Elite Working Bobtail class.
Some other trucks that were lookin’ mighty fine but may or may not have earned any trophies included Jose Ruben Vargas’ bright red 2011 Peterbilt 386, DeBoer’s (2) silver cattle-hauling Petes, and Russ Roy’s black 2018 Peterbilt 389 transfer (Bame Trucking). A few more head-turners were Bryan Pfersching’s black 2016 Kenworth W900L, AGT’s slammed white Pete 579, Mike Ragan’s red 2012 Peterbilt 389 with black stripes (Hettinga Trans), and all the NAVA trucks. At night, Kris Gaare’s black 389, Richard Hettinga’s red 379 and Darrick Devine’s black 379 were all shining just a little bit brighter than everyone else.
Once all the awards were handed out, the vendors started packing up and the trucks began rolling, heading out under the big inflatable Dynaflex arch, towards home or their next destination. Not having a booth at this event, we were able to relax more than usual and enjoy the weekend a bit more, just hanging out with our trucking friends (you know who you are) and taking pictures.
Truck show season is always fun and exciting, but after going to eight shows in five different states across the country (running the booths and covering the events) over the past eight months, and spending 27 nights in hotel rooms (yes, I went back and counted), the thought of being done with travel for the year and just being home (and doing my “normal” job as editor) sounds nice.
As the official media sponsor of the ATSC, it has been our pleasure covering these events throughout the year. Our congratulations go out to all the winners, especially the National Champions. After a few months of rest and recovery, we will be refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to start it all over again in Louisville, KY in March 2019. Until then, here’s wishing you all a safe winter and a happy Holiday Season. See you in 2019! And the winners in Ventura were:
LIMITED FOR SHOW BOBTAIL / NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
EXTERIOR:
1st Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Gary Jones (1995 Peterbilt 379).
ENGINE:
1st Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Gary Jones (1995 Peterbilt 379).
INTERIOR:
1st Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Gary Jones (1995 Peterbilt 379).
DRIVER PRESENTATION:
1st Gary Jones (1995 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Gary Jones (1995 Peterbilt 379).
LIMITED FOR SHOW COMBO / NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
EXTERIOR:
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Miro Dragich (2003 Peterbilt 379 Transfer);
3rd Karsyn Pfersching (2016 KW W900L).
ENGINE:
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Miro Dragich (2003 Peterbilt 379 Transfer);
3rd Karsyn Pfersching (2016 KW W900L).
INTERIOR:
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Miro Dragich (2003 Peterbilt 379 Transfer);
3rd Karsyn Pfersching (2016 KW W900L).
DRIVER PRESENTATION:
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Miro Dragich (2003 Peterbilt 379 Transfer);
3rd Karsyn Pfersching (2016 KW W900L).
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Miro Dragich (2003 Peterbilt 379 Transfer);
3rd Karsyn Pfersching (2016 KW W900L).
ELITE WORKING BOBTAIL / NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
EXTERIOR:
1st Edward Carballo (1999 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Juan Henriquez (2014 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Buck Crombie (1989 Peterbilt 379).
ENGINE:
1st Edward Carballo (1999 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Juan Henriquez (2014 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Buck Crombie (1989 Peterbilt 379).
INTERIOR:
1st Edward Carballo (1999 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Juan Henriquez (2014 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Buck Crombie (1989 Peterbilt 379).
DRIVER PRESENTATION:
1st Buck Crombie (1989 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Edward Carballo (1999 Peterbilt 379);
3rd Juan Henriquez (2014 Peterbilt 389).
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Edward Carballo (1999 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Juan Henriquez (2014 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Buck Crombie (1989 Peterbilt 379).
ELITE WORKING COMBO / NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
EXTERIOR:
1st (tie) Josh Weaber (2017 Kenworth W900L);
1st (tie) Russ Roy (2018 Pete 389 Transfer);
3rd Bryan Robers (2019 Peterbilt 389).
ENGINE:
1st Josh Weaber (2017 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Russ Roy (2018 Peterbilt 389 Transfer);
3rd Bryan Robers (2019 Peterbilt 389).
INTERIOR:
1st Bryan Robers (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Josh Weaber (2017 Kenworth W900L);
3rd Russ Roy (2018 Peterbilt 389 Transfer).
DRIVER PRESENTATION:
1st Bryan Robers (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Josh Weaber (2017 Kenworth W900L);
3rd Russ Roy (2018 Peterbilt 389 Transfer).
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Josh Weaber (2017 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Bryan Robers (2019 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Russ Roy (2018 Peterbilt 389 Transfer).
WASH AND SHOW BOBTAIL (COMPETITOR’S CHOICE)
LIGHT DISPLAY:
1st Rufino Hernandez (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Joyce Hofstee (1979 Peterbilt 359);
3rd Alex Gomez (2018 Kenworth W900).
EXTERIOR STYLING:
1st Joyce Hofstee (1979 Peterbilt 359);
2nd Rufino Hernandez (2019 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Johnny Brown (2018 Peterbilt 389).
PAINT / VINYL:
1st Rufino Hernandez (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Joyce Hofstee (1979 Peterbilt 359);
3rd Johnny Brown (2018 Peterbilt 389).
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Rufino Hernandez (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Joyce Hofstee (1979 Peterbilt 359);
3rd Alex Gomez (2018 Kenworth W900).
WASH AND SHOW COMBO (COMPETITOR’S CHOICE)
LIGHT DISPLAY:
1st Richard Hettinga (2000 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Jose Ruben Vargas (2011 Peterbilt 386);
3rd Kris Gaare (2015 Peterbilt 389).
EXTERIOR STYLING:
1st Jose Ruben Vargas (2011 Peterbilt 386);
2nd Mike Ragan (2012 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Ron Beer (2002 Peterbilt 379).
PAINT / VINYL:
1st Mike Ragan (2012 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Jose Ruben Vargas (2011 Peterbilt 386);
3rd Jose Robles (2005 Kenworth W900).
BEST OF SHOW:
1st Pete Castanon (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Jose Robles (2005 Kenworth W900);
3rd Mike Ragan (2012 Peterbilt 389).
BEST CHROME
1st Robbie Basse (2016 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Russ Roy (2018 Peterbilt 389 Transfer);
3rd Jose Ruben Vargas (2011 Peterbilt 386).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Steven Sontag (2007 Peterbilt 379).
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR 2018
LIMITED FOR SHOW BOBTAIL: Steven Sontag – orange and white 2007 Peterbilt 379 “Dreamsickle”
LIMITED FOR SHOW COMBO: Robbie Basse – blue and white 2016 Kenworth W900L “Baby Blue”
ELITE WORKING BOBTAIL: Matt Strottman – green 2017 Peterbilt 389
ELITE WORKING COMBO: Bryan Robers – purple 2019 Peterbilt 389 “Amethyst
