Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/204210
CUSTOM RIGS By James Jaillet Lil' Ray's 'Hardway' P erennial Pride & Polish competitor Ray Rodriguez, known by friends and competitors alike as Lil' Ray, walked out of the 2011 Great West Truck Show in Las Vegas holding a few second- and third-place trophies for small victories in various categories. The recognition is respectable, no doubt, but Rodriguez knew his 1988 Peterbilt 379 and matching Fontaine flatbed combo were capable of more. When the truck made its entrance into the same show the next year, it was sporting some new flames – under the hood, on the frame and in its tractor – and Rodriguez left with the top prize in his category: Best of Show, Working Combo, qualifying him for the 2012 Pride & Polish National Championship at the Great American Trucking Show. This year at the Vegas-held show, Rodriguez repeated his 2012 performance there, and the flamed skull theme – backdropped by Rodriguez's purple and lavender paint scheme – earned its second appearance in the Dallas-held Pride & Polish National Championship judging round. The flamed skull theme for Ray Rodriguez's 1988 Peterbilt 379 and matching Fontaine flatbed combo is backdropped by a purple and lavender paint scheme. Visit OverdriveOnline.com/lil-ray to see more photos and to watch a video of Rodriguez discussing his truck's flames. 46 | Overdrive | November 2013 CR_Opening Page_1113.indd 46 10/30/13 9:26 AM