Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/723417
Custom Rigs 56 | Overdrive | September 2016 V irginia-based owner-operator Mi- chael Manuel jotted down truck build ideas for years — in the middle of the night occasionally, some- times when he was driving one of his flatbed fleet's trucks. Last October, he took ownership of a new 2015 Peterbilt 389 Fitzgerald glider kit, and he immedi- ately began stripping the truck down and prepping it to be the canvas for the idea notebook he started almost a half-decade ago. "Autism: One of Many" wasn't only built as a dedica- tion to Manuel's daughter, Kara, but also serves as a broader awareness cam- paign to help destigmatize autism, Manuel says. Kara, 23, is autistic. Manuel's Pete and match- ing 2017 Mac curtainside trailer capped a triumphant year on the show circuit last month, being named one of six Overdrive's Pride & Polish National Championship winners. Manuel and his rig won the Builders Combo category, following two Pride & Polish Best of Show vic- tories earned at shows held earlier in the year. The other five winners were Jonathan Eilen's 1990 Peterbilt 379 in the Build- ers Bobtail category; Jordan Jay's 2015 Peterbilt 389 and 2016 Western flatbed in the Limited-Mileage Combo category; Josh Skidmore's 2016 Peterbilt 389 in the Limited-Mileage Bobtail cat- egory; Joe Regalado's 2000 Peterbilt 379 and match- ing '16 CTS dump in the Working Combo category; and Sid Calangelo's and Kyle Cousins' 2015 Peterbilt W900L Icon in the Working Bobtail category. The Pride & Polish National Championship crowns the country's top show trucks each year at the Great American Truck- ing Show. The finalists qualify by winning a Best of Show at Pride & Polish contests held throughout the season. The winners were an- nounced Aug. 27 at GATS, in the Kay Bailey Hutchi- son Convention Center in Dallas. Also announced there were this year's five GATS Best of Show winners. They will compete in the 2016-17 National Championship, which concludes at next year's GATS. Picking up Best of Show in the Builders Bobtail category was Texas Chrome Shop's new build, "Project TOC," a 2000 Kenworth W900L owned by Omar Ruiz of Midland, Texas. Freddy Velasco of Sul- phur Springs, Texas, won Best of Show in the Working Combo category with his 2003 Peterbilt 379 and 2003 Great Dane reefer, while Louisiana-based Shane Boullion won top honors in the Working Bobtail cat- egory with his 2001 Peterbilt 379. Jack Bowlin's 2017 Peter- bilt 389 won Best of Show, Limited-Mileage Bobtail, and Marty Colvin's and Kary Bryce's 1986 Peterbilt 359 and 2016 Etnyre tanker won Best of Show, Limited- By James Jaillet Pride & Polish crowns year's top rigs Michael Manuel's 2015 Peterbilt 389 and 2017 Mac curtainside won the Builders Combo category. Photos by Brian Bourke Joe Regalado's 2000 Peterbilt 379 and 2016 CTS dump trailer bested the competition in the Working Combo category. Jonathan Eilen's 1990 Peterbilt 379 won the Pride & Polish National Championship in the Builders Bobtail category.