Overdrive

September 2015

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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Custom Rigs 54 | Overdrive | September 2015 A year to the week after "Lil' " Ray Rodriguez introduced his underworld- themed 2015 Peterbilt 389 and Western stepdeck, the grain hauler last month was named the 2015 Overdrive's Pride & Polish National Champion in the Limited- Mileage Combo category. Joining Rodriguez as 2015 champs were Phil Miller and his '10 Pete 389 and Wilson livestock hauler, winning in the Working Combo category; Vinnie Diorio and his '85 Pete 359 in the Working Bobtail category; and Todd Roccapriore's '99 Pete 379, called "Disorderly Conduct," in the Limited- Mileage Bobtail category. The winners were an- nounced last month at a ceremony at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, along with other win- ners in the show's general Pride & Polish competition, the first event of the 2015- 16 season. Rodriguez and his combo, named "Wicked," won Best of Show at last year's GATS, qualifying it to compete in this year's National Cham- pionship round of judging. He also picked up a Best of Show victory at the Dynaf- lex Monster Stack Shootout Pride & Polish earlier this year in California. The grain hauler runs a three-truck fleet out of Salinas, Calif. Newcomer Miller's combo also picked up a Best of Show win at the Mon- ster Stack Shootout. The Amargosa Valley, Nev.-based owner-operator hauls mostly cattle with the rig. Richfield, Wis.-based small fleet owner Diorio enjoyed his third straight National Championship victory, though this year's is the first for his newly built '85 Pete 359. The truck just hit the show circuit this summer: Diorio introduced it at Shell's annual Super- Rigs competition in June, where it also won the show's top prize. It then won Best of Show in mid-July at the Fitzgerald Truck Show Pride & Polish event in Crossville, Tenn., qualifying it to com- pete in last month's National Championship round in Dallas. Roccapriore's win was the second for both "Disorderly Conduct" and him. The '99 Pete, which he rebuilt after taking ownership of it last year, also won the 2010 championship. Roccapriore, of Hebron, Conn., won his first championship in 2012 in the same Limited-Mileage Bobtail category, that time with his highly customized '05 Pete "Family Buziness." A fifth Pride & Polish national champ also was named at GATS: The Truckers' Choice national champ, Mike Lemley and his 2000 Pete 379, was picked by Overdrive readers in an online voting contest. Four Best of Show win- ners also were named in the general Pride & Polish competition in Dallas, and they're now qualified to compete in the 2016 Pride & Polish National Champion- ship, which culminates at next year's GATS. Owner-operator Josh Skidmore and his new ven- ture into the show circuit, a '16 Pete 389, won Best of Show in the Limited-Mile- age Bobtail category. The By James Jaillet Pride & Polish champs named 'Wicked,' livestock hauler, 'Disorderly Conduct,' '85 Pete year's top rigs Phil Miller was named the 2015 Overdrive's Pride & Polish National Champion in the Working Combo category for his 2010 Peterbilt 389 and Wilson livestock hauler. Mike Lemley and his 2000 Peterbilt 379 was picked by Overdrive readers as the Truckers' Choice national champion in an online voting contest. 'Lil' ' Ray Rodriguez won in the Limited-Mileage Combo category with his underworld-themed 2015 Peterbilt 389 and Western stepdeck, nicknamed 'Wicked.' Photos by Brian Bourke

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