Rush Truck Centers named a new all-around champion Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Michael French of Rush Truck Centers — Dallas took home a grand total of $18,500, plus a set of custom all-around champion spurs and display case.
"I had a feeling I was going to make it this year," a grinning French says after being awarded the top prize by Chairman, CEO and President Rusty Rush; NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart; Leah Pruitt; and No. 14 NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe. "This is the first year I placed and I took it all at the same time."
French says he told his boss before the dinner that he thought he won it, and afterward, his boss told French, "I thought you was full of it."
"No sir," French says. "I told you I had it. I just felt good about it. I like my job and I didn't give up on the test."
The winners in the 2023 Rush Tech Skills Rodeo are:
Parts Division, $5,000 each
Ford: Jeffrey Crichley, Rush Truck Centers — Oklahoma City.
Hino: Aaron Van Straten, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Northwest.
Isuzu: John Obrien, Rush Truck Centers — Orlando South.
International: Eric Valenzuela, Rush Truck Centers — Joliet.
Peterbilt: Jesus Marquez, Rush Truck Centers — Yuma.
Collision Center
Body Paint
First: Daniel Garcia Gonzalez, Rush Truck Centers — Salt Lake City, $5,500.
Second: Tamarr Jivens, Rush Truck Centers — Boise, $3,000.
Body Repair
First: Richard Uzialko, Rush Truck Centers — Haines City, $5,500.
Second: Larry Edwards, Rush Truck Centers — Richmond, $3,000.
Specialty Division
Leasing
First: Tyler Davis, Rush Truck Leasing — Birmingham, $6,500.
Second: Dale Peterson, Rush Truck Leasing — Cleveland Idealease, $3,500.
Rising Star
First: Zane Marble, Rush Truck Centers — Tulsa, $11,500.
Second: Peter Roberts, Rush Truck Centres — Sudbury, $6,000.
Third: Paul Fletcher, Rush Truck Centers — Jacksonville, $3,000.
Medium-Duty Service Division
Allison Transmission
First: Grant Meyer, Rush Truck Centers — Houston, $6,500.
Second: David Boesdorfer, Rush Truck Centers — Springfield, Illinois, $3,500.
Bus
First: Matt Chilson, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Medium-Duty, $6,500.
Second: Joseph Behrend, Rush Truck Centers — Idaho Falls, $3,500.
Ford
First: Scott Schlarf, Rush Truck Centers — Orlando Light- and Medium-Duty, $6,500.
Second: James Williams, Rush Truck Centers — Denver, $3,500.
Hino
First: Bill Stanley, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Northwest, $6,500.
Second: Thomas Powell, Rush Truck Centers — Austin, $3,500.
Isuzu
First: Jacob Ely, Rush Truck Centers — Columbus, Georgia, $6,500.
Second: Corey Phillips, Rush Truck Centers — Orlando North, $3,500.
International
First: Thomas Pianalto, Rush Truck Centers — Lowell, $6,500.
Second: Christopher Purcell, Rush Truck Centers — Atlanta, $3,500
Peterbuilt
First: Paul Crawford, Rush Truck Centers — Haines City, $6,500.
Second: Travis Graham, Rush Truck Centers — Orlando, $3,500.
Heavy-Duty Service
Alternative Fuels
First: William Marcy, Rush Truck Centers — Fontana Vocational Services, $6,500.
Second: Samuel Jakubauskas, Rush Truck Centers — Denver, $3,500.
Vocational
First: Carl Trevino, Custom Vehicle Solutions — Denton, $6,500.
Second: Joshua Mahieu, Rush Truck Centers — Nashville, $3,500.
Cummins
First: Walter Hobbs, Rush Truck Centers — Fort Worth, $6,500.
Second: Wesley Appleton, Rush Truck Centers — Odessa, $3,500.
Third: Christopher Hand, Rush Truck Centers — Phoenix, $2,500.
Eaton
First: Pieter Dezwart, Rush Truck Centers — Doraville, $6,500.
Second John Malone, Rush Truck Centers — Lake City, $3,500.
Third: Damon Culver Delangis, Rush Truck Centers — Fontana Vocational Services, $2,500.
Navistar
First: Tim Kelley, Rush Truck Centers — Smyrna, $6,500.
Second: Jonathan Steckman, Rush Truck Centers — Columbus, Ohio, $3,500.
Third: Jeffrey Metcalf, Rush Truck Centres — Kemptville, $2,500.
PACCAR MX
First: Michael French, Rush Truck Centers — Dallas, $6,500.
Second: Tomas Rocha, Rush Truck Centers — Austin, $3,500.
Third: Alexander Bergstrom, Rush Truck Centers — Flagstaff, $2,500.
Truck Sales Division Champions, $5,00 each
Ford: Rod Tankerson, Rush Truck Centers — Whittier.
Hino: Logan Wallace, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Medium-Duty.
Isuzu: Andrea Ramos, Rush Truck Centers — Charlotte.
International Medium-Duty: Jay Rickman, Rush Truck Centers — Doraville.
International Heavy-Duty: Patrick Mendenhall, Rush Truck Centers — Memphis.
Peterbilt Medium-Duty: Kristin Holtzendorff, Rush Truck Centers — Los Angeles.
Peterbilt Heavy-Duty: Travis Quadlander, Rush Truck Centers — Dallas.
Rodeo Reserve Champions
Aftermarket: Gerardo Acosta Rios, Rush Truck Centers — Houston, $6,500.
Parts: Aaron Van Straten, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Northwest, $10,500.
Medium-Duty Service: Matthew Chilson, Rush Truck Centers — Houston Medium-Duty, $12,000.
Heavy-Duty Service: Jeffrey Metcalf, Rush Truck Centres — Kemptville, $8,000. He is the first reserve champion from a Canadian location.
Rodeo Grand Champions
Truck Sales: Kristin Holtzendorff, Rush Truck Centers — Los Angeles, $10,000. She is the first woman to be named truck sales grand champion.
Aftermarket: Tim Sebolt, Rush Truck Centers — Odessa, $9,500.
Parts: Eric Valenzuela, Rush Truck Centers — Joliet, $13,000.
Medium-Duty Service: Thomas Pianalto, Rush Truck Centers — Lowell, $14,500.
Heavy-Duty Service: Michael French, Rush Truck Centers — Dallas, $14,500.
All-Around Rodeo Champion
Michael French, Rush Truck Centers — Dallas, $18,500 plus custom spurs and a display case.
