Christopher Purcell knew what it took to win all-around grand champion at the Rush Enterprises Tech Skills Rodeo. He just didn’t know what it was like to actually receive the award in-person in front of his peers.
“The first time winning was virtual [in 2021], so it’s a different experience,” an excited Purcell said Tuesday after being crowned top tech at the 19th annual event in San Antonio. “There was a lot of anticipation. It was great to hear my name.”
Working out of Rush Truck Centers – Atlanta, Purcell has been a commercial vehicle technician for 25 years and been with Rush Enterprises since 2011. Competing at the Rodeo for the seventh time, Purcell spoke to TPS Monday about his affinity for the contest and the way it challenges technicians to be their best.
“All the vendors, suppliers, everybody being here — it’s awesome for Rush to put together an event like this.”
Purcell won the International medium-duty division and the medium-duty grand champion before taking the event’s top honors. Purcell said after the competition he felt he did well, but was unsure how the results would shake out.
Christopher Purcell (center) was presented the all-around grand champion title at the 2024 Rush Enterprises' Tech Skills Rodeo by Clint Bowyer (left) and Rusty Rush, president, chairman and CEO at Rush Enterprises.
“I felt confident about the International test but the Peterbilt test I was a little iffy about, just not being as familiar with the product,” he said, adding, “The curve ball for me was nerves. Obviously I’ve done this numerous times but the nerves can still get to you.”
Purcell also notes the contest is really hard. The tests change every year and Rush offers no hints for technicians on how to prepare, besides being a great technician in the bay every day.
“It’s different every year so there’s no way you can really prepare for it,” he said. “It’s never a guarantee — the grand champion from last year didn’t make it this year.”
But Purcell said the uncertainty shouldn’t prevent any tech from trying. The Rodeo isn’t just a contest, it’s also an employee appreciation event, networking opportunity and one of the best learning experiences a Rush tech can have.
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“You’ve got to take the test. There’s no way you’ll get here without it and it doesn’t cost you anything,” he said.
Behind Purcell, other grand champions were Jeffrey Metcalf of Rush Truck Centres of Canada – Kemptville in heavy-duty; Eric Valenzuela of Rush Truck Centers – Joliet in parts; Tony Carranza from Rush Bus Centers – Corpus Christi in aftermarket; and Carlos Perez Rush Truck Centers – Ceres for truck sales, medium-duty.
Competing for the third time, Metcalf was thrilled to improve on his reserve champion finish in 2023. “It was awesome. I wasn’t really expecting it for grand champion,” he said.
Like Purcell, Metcalf also specializes on International trucks in the workplace (and won the International heavy-duty engine category) and spoke about the challenge of testing his skills on Peterbilt equipment as well during the competition.
“With the Peterbilt side, it was a big more challenging navigating their software, wiring diagrams,” he said. “You can get a little bit in your own head there before you turn yourself around.”
Second-year tech Riley Doyle of Rush Truck Leasing – Houston Northwest nabbed first prize in the Rodeo’s Rising Star competition. After not advancing to the Rodeo in 2023, Doyle was ecstatic by his performance this year.
“My heart about jumped out of my chest when they called my name,” he said. “I’m not here to win something. I’m here to make sure I learn as much as possible.”
Doyle said he appreciated how openly judges and other contestants were at enabling him to do that.
“After we tested, [the judges] would take us around and showed us what we did wrong so we could learn,” he said. “I appreciated how willing they were to teach us and how friendly they were.”
Winners of every Tech Skills Rodeo category are below:
- Parts, Ford: Kory Sangster, Rush Truck Centers – Dallas Light‐ and Medium‐Duty
- Parts, Hino: Aaron Van Straten, Rush Truck Centers – Houston Northwest
- Parts, International: Eric Valenzuela, Rush Truck Centers – Joliet
- Parts, Peterbilt: Kelly Caddell, Rush Truck Centers – Amarillo
- Leasing: Jorge Manjarrez, Rush Truck Leasing – Carol Stream Idealease
- Rising Star: Riley Doyle, Rush Truck Leasing – Houston Northwest
- Body Repair: Luis Gonzalez, Rush Truck Centers – Dallas
- Body Paint: Jose Torres, Rush Truck Centers – Houston
- Medium‐Duty, Allison: Spencer Tucker, Rush Truck Centers – Champaign
- Medium‐Duty, Bus: Joseph Behrend, Rush Bus Centers – Idaho Falls
- Medium‐Duty, Ford: Scott Schlarf, Rush Truck Centers – Orlando Light‐ and Medium‐Duty
- Medium‐Duty, Hino: Billy Stanley, Rush Truck Centers – Houston Northwest
- Medium‐Duty, Isuzu: Michael Hartz, Rush Truck Centers – Denver
- Medium‐Duty, International: Christopher Purcell, Rush Truck Centers – Atlanta
- Medium‐Duty, Peterbilt: Angel Iniguez, Rush Truck Centers – Las Vegas
- Heavy‐Duty, Alternative Fuels: William Marcy, Rush Truck Centers – Fontana Vocational Services
- Heavy‐Duty, Vocational: Carl Trevino, Custom Vehicle Solutions – Denton
- Heavy‐Duty, Cummins: Wesley Appleton, Rush Truck Centers – Odessa
- Heavy‐Duty, Eaton: John Malone, Rush Truck Centers – Lake City
- Heavy‐Duty, Navistar Engine: Jeffrey Metcalf, Rush Truck Centres of Canada – Kemptville
- Heavy‐Duty, Paccar MX: Alexander Bergstrom, Rush Truck Centers – Phoenix
- MD Truck Sales ‐ Ford, Hino and Isuzu: Carlos Perez, Rush Truck Centers – Ceres
- MD Truck Sales ‐ Peterbilt and International: Sun Hester, Rush Truck Centers – Austin
- HD Truck Sales ‐ Peterbilt and International: Andrew Hirsch, Rush Truck Centers – Charlotte
