Rush Enterprises awards Tech Skills Rodeo champion; first woman wins competition category

Rusty Rush, chairman, CEO, president, Rush Enterprises (from left), Justin Euler, NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer. Credit: Erik FossumRusty Rush, chairman, CEO, president, Rush Enterprises (from left), Justin Euler, NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer. Credit: Erik Fossum

It was an evening of firsts — and seconds — Tuesday night during the awards ceremony for Rush Enterprises’ 2019 Tech Skills Rodeo held in San Antonio this week.

Justin Euler, Rush Truck Center – St. Peters, Mo., was named All-Around Rodeo Champion for the second time in the competition’s 14 years. And making history was Rebecca Chewning, Rush Truck Center – Dallas, who was the first woman to place first in a competition category (Parts) and also the first woman to be named an All-Around Grand Champion in her category.

After being awarded All-Around Rodeo Champion, Euler said, “You’re always one mistake away from not winning. You just go in knowing what you know. It’s really hard to prepare for what can be thrown at you.”

Euler has been with Rush Enterprises for eight years and this was his sixth Tech Skills Rodeo competition. He was crowned All-Around Rodeo Champion in 2017.

“That first win was really special. It really struck home,” Euler said. “This one here still feels special. It never gets old. You can never go into this too confident. I’m still in shock.”

Euler won $16,000 in cash and prizes. More than 50 employees were recognized during the awards ceremony and more than $300,000 was awarded in cash and prizes.

“When you’re a technician out there on the floor every day, you wonder where you stand among your peers, so this is a good time to find out,” Euler said.

He had advice to colleagues considering taking part in the event.

“If you want to come to the competition, you’re going to have highs and lows. At the end of the day you have to press through it and learn from the mistakes that you made. If you can’t learn from your mistakes, you’re going to have a big problem in the industry,” he said. “If you make mistakes during competition, don’t give up. There’s always next year.”

Rebecca Chewning with Rusty Rush, chairman, CEO and president, Rush Enterprises. Credit: Erik FossumRebecca Chewning with Rusty Rush, chairman, CEO and president, Rush Enterprises. Credit: Erik Fossum

After the awards presentation, Chewning, who has been with Rush Enterprises for three years, was still in shock.

“It’s a little overwhelming, honestly. It’s very exciting. A lot of emotions,” she said.

Chewning participated in the Tech Skills Rodeo last year but didn’t qualify for the second day of testing.

With her performance at this year’s competition, Chewning would like to be a trailblazer of sorts.

“I hope it creates more opportunities for females to be inspired do this because we do have a lot of females in the industry and with Rush [in all departments],” she said.

“I don’t know if they’re intimidated to [compete] or just don’t think they’re good enough. We did have a second female competing this year and I hope to see more females competing in the future with the Rush Rodeo and hopefully becoming champions,” Chewning said.

Following is the list of winners:

All-Around Rodeo Champion (additional $4,000 plus signed Clint Bowyer racing helmet)

Justin Euler, Rush Truck Center – St. Peters

All-Around Grand Champions (additional $5,000 cash each, other prizes)

Aftermarket Sales: Steven Reed, Rush Truck Center – Cleveland

Parts: Rebecca Chewning, Rush Truck Center – Dallas Medium-Duty

Medium-Duty Service: Justin Euler, Rush Truck Center – St. Peters

Heavy-Duty Service: Raymond Jesse, Rush Truck Center – Tulsa

All-Around Reserve Champions (additional $3,500 cash each, other prizes)

Aftermarket Sales: Dillon Schroder, Rush Truck Center – San Antonio

Parts: Chris Klansky, Rush Truck Center – Greeley

Medium-Duty Service: Travis Graham, Rush Truck Center – Orlando

Heavy-Duty Service: Jon Steckman, Rush Truck Center – Columbus, OH

Parts, 1st Place by Category ($3,500 each)

Rebecca Chewning, Rush Truck Center – Dallas Medium-Duty (Hino)

Tim Howard, Rush Truck Center – Las Vegas (Ford)

Chris Klansky, Rush Truck Center – Greeley, CO (Peterbilt)

Brian Lewis, Rush Truck Center – Cincinnati (Isuzu)

Quintin Likely, Rush Truck Center – Columbus, GA (International)

Medium-Duty

Ford

1st, Nicholas Donet, Rush Truck Center – Denver ($5,000)

2nd, Joe Walsh, Rush Truck Center – Orlando Light- and Medium-Duty ($2,500)

Allison Transmission

1st, Byron Holmes, Rush Truck Center – Champaign, IL ($5,000)

2nd, Seth Gibson, Rush Truck Center – Bloomington, IL ($2,500)

Bus

1st Jayson McCarty, Rush Bus Center – Selma, TX ($5,000)

2nd Joseph Behrend, Rush Truck Center – Idaho Falls ($2,500)

Isuzu

1st Rick Nonamaker, Rush Truck Center – Waco ($5,000)

2nd Jacob Ely, Rush Truck Center – Columbus, GA ($4,000)

Hino

1st Billy Stanley, Rush Truck Center – Houston Medium-Duty ($5,000)

2nd David Welker, Rush Truck Center – Phoenix ($4,000)

International

1st Lucas Manlief, Rush Truck Center – Indianapolis ($5,000)

2nd Justin Euler, Rush Truck Center – St. Peters, MO ($4,000)

Peterbilt

1st Travis Graham, Rush Truck Center – Orlando ($5,000)

2nd Jose Garza, Rush Truck Center – Pharr, TX ($4,000)

Heavy-Duty

Alternative Fuels

1st Jaciel Contreras, Rush Truck Center – Houston ($5,000)

2nd Jorge Alvarez, Rush Truck Center – Houston ($4,000)

Vocational

1st Carl Trevino, Custom Vehicle Solutions – Denton ($5,000)

2nd Rex Schulte, Custom Vehicle Solutions – Denton ($4,000)

Cummins

1st Nicholas Misch, Rush Truck Center – San Antonio ($5,000)

2nd Wesley Appleton, Rush Truck Center – Odessa ($4,000)

3rd Raymond Jesse, Rush Truck Center – Tulsa ($3,000)

Eaton

1st Peter Dezwart, Rush Truck Center – Doraville, GA ($5,000)

2nd Matthew Biggs, Rush Truck Center – Nashville ($4,000)

3rd William Myers, Rush Truck Center – Laredo ($3,000)

Navistar

1st Jon Steckman, Rush Truck Center – Columbus, OH ($5,000)

2nd Tim Kelley, Rush Truck Center – Smyrna ($4,000)

3rd Adam Fox Sr, Rush Truck Center – Akron ($3,000)

PACCAR MX

1st Andres Campa, Rush Truck Center – San Antonio ($5,000)

2nd Brandon Winebark, Rush Truck Center – Tyler ($4,000)

3rd Randy Hughes, Rush Truck Center – Texarkana ($3,000)

Truck Sales 1st place by category ($5,000 each)

Kyle Smith, Rush Truck Center – Fort Worth (Peterbilt Heavy Duty)

Andy Flagler, Rush Truck Center – Joliet (International Heavy Duty)

Devin Leissner, Rush Crane Systems (Peterbilt Medium Duty

Andrew Hirsch, Rush Truck Center – Charlotte (International Medium Duty)

Alvaro Parra, Rush Truck Center – Charlotte (Isuzu)

Brett Stair, Rush Truck Center – Dallas Medium-Duty (Hino)

Rod Tankerson, Rush Truck Center – Whittier (Ford)

All-Makes Division

1st Tim Cason, Rush Truck Center – Valdosta, GA ($3,000)

2nd Mike Burbridge, Rush Truck Center – Oklahoma City ($2,000)

Rising Star Division

1st Devon Ducharme, Rush Truck Center – St. Peters ($3,000)

2nd Mark Beck, Rush Truck Center – Effingham ($2,000)

3rd Jason Daniels, Rush Truck Center – Lima ($1,000)

Body Shop Division

Body Repair

1st Ed Polasek, Rush Truck Center – San Antonio ($4,000)

2nd Richard Trahan, Rush Truck Center – San Antonio ($3,000)

Body Paint

1st Jose Torres, Rush Truck Center – Houston ($4,000)

2nd Juan Trevino, Rush Truck Center – El Paso ($3,000)

Learn how to move your used trucks faster
With unsold used inventory depreciating at a rate of more than 2% monthly, efficient inventory turnover is a must for dealers. Download this eBook to access proven strategies for selling used trucks faster.
Download
Used Truck Guide Cover