PKY Truck Beauty Championship 2026: Randy Menkel Wins Build-Off with 1985 Peterbilt 359

Never Satisfied Builds (Randy Menkel) took the grand prize in the Big Rig Build-Off at PKY 2026 (MATS Louisville, March 28) with a classic 1985 Peterbilt 359. Over 175 trucks competed. Phillip Couch won Best of Show Working Truck Bobtail with a 1999 Freightliner Classic XL.

🏆 Big Rig Build-Off: Randy Menkel Champion

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky, the awards ceremony for the PKY Truck Beauty Championship took place, one of the most prestigious custom truck competitions in North America.

Over 175 trucks competed in dozens of categories, but the most coveted prize — the Big Rig Build-Off Champion — went to Randy Menkel of Never Satisfied Builds / J&L Contracting with his 1985 Peterbilt 359.

The Build-Off pits the 3 best custom truck builders in the U.S. in a competition to build the best show truck in a limited time. This year's competitors were:

• Randy Menkel (Never Satisfied Builds) — winner
• Luke Rethwisch (Rethwisch Transport) — defending champion
• James Stegall (Stegall's Truck Shop)

Menkel credited the victory to his team: "This proves how good a great, dedicated team is. And we've got a pretty strong group. Our attention to detail is what I believe set the truck apart."

🚛 Best of Show: Working Truck and Limited Mileage

Working Truck — Bobtail

Best of Show: Phillip Couch with his 1999 Freightliner Classic XL

The "Working Truck" category is for trucks that are still in active service — not show trucks that only go to expos. These are trucks that work day in and day out and still look immaculate.

Phillip Couch's victory is especially significant because his 1999 Freightliner Classic XL isn't a "traditional" show truck brand (Peterbilt/Kenworth dominate). This proves that any well-maintained truck can shine.

Second place: Austin Badders (1983 Peterbilt 359)
Third place: Ashton Kaley (1995 Kenworth W900)

Working Truck — Combo

Best of Show: Blake Ray with 2020 Peterbilt 389 + 2026 Mac

"Combo" means truck + trailer. In this category, judges evaluate the visual cohesion between tractor and trailer, in addition to the quality of each.

Blake Ray also won individual awards in:

• Working Truck — Engine (best engine)
• Working Truck — Combo, Lights (best lighting)
• Working Truck — Interior, OEM Sleeper (best interior in factory sleeper)

Second place: Tucker Jacob (2024 Peterbilt 389 + 2024 Eby)
Third place: John Treadway (1998 Peterbilt 379 + 2017 Great Dane)

Limited Mileage — Bobtail with Miles

Best of Show: Darryl Beger with 2019 Peterbilt 389

"Limited Mileage" means trucks with low mileage but that HAVE been driven (not 0 miles). This category is for trucks that are cared for like gold but still work occasionally.

Second place: Bryant Mann (1998 Peterbilt 379)
Third place: Josh and Jayson Loyer (1989 Mack Superliner)

Limited Mileage — Combo

Best of Show: Chad and Brad Sand with 2016 Peterbilt 389 + 2018 Mac

Second place: Jason Flores (2018 Peterbilt 389 + 2018 XL doubles) — also won People's Choice
Third place: Jerry Mies (2007 Peterbilt 379 + 2022 Walker)

🏅 Special Categories

People's Choice

Winner: Jason Flores (2018 Peterbilt 389 + 2018 XL double flats)

This award is decided by the MATS attending public — not the judges. It's the truck that impressed people the most.

Antique Original

Winner Bobtail: Ethan Tipton (1972 Brockway 457)
Winner Combo: Bruce Jones (2000 Peterbilt 379 + 2025 Mac)

"Antique Original" means classic trucks maintained in their original condition — not customized, only restored.

Antique Custom

Winner: Jaden Warner (1988 Peterbilt 362)

"Antique Custom" is for classic trucks that WERE modified/customized.

Troy "The Legend" Huddleston Award

Winner: Tyler LaMontagne (1983 Peterbilt 359)

This award honors Troy Huddleston, a legendary owner-operator and builder who passed away and is remembered as "a man who constantly raised the bar higher." It's the most prestigious award after the Build-Off.

🎨 Technical Detail Awards

Best Engine

• Working Truck: Blake Ray (2020 Peterbilt 389)
• Limited Mileage: Eddie Homfeld (2024 Peterbilt 389)
• Antique: Brant Arnold (1970 Peterbilt 289M)

Best Paint & Graphics

• Working Truck Bobtail: Phillip Couch (1999 Freightliner Classic XL)
• Working Truck Combo: Rob Baesel (2024 Peterbilt 389 + 2025 Mac)
• Limited Mileage Bobtail: Jared Nelson (2022 Peterbilt 389)
• Limited Mileage Combo: Jason Flores (2018 Peterbilt 389 + 2018 XL doubles)
• Antique: Wayne Smith (1968 Kenworth W925A)

Best Lights

• Working Truck Bobtail: Richie Foster (2022 Peterbilt 389)
• Working Truck Combo: Jeff Dills (2007 Peterbilt 379 + 2001 Utility 3000R)
• Limited Mileage Bobtail: Eddie Homfeld (2024 Peterbilt 389)
• Limited Mileage Combo: Chad and Brad Sand (2016 Peterbilt 389 + 2018 Mac)

Best Interior

• Working Truck — Cab Only: Mark Aragon (2003 Peterbilt 379EXHD)
• Working Truck — OEM Sleeper: Blake Ray (2020 Peterbilt 389)
• Working Truck — Aftermarket Sleeper: Dean Cross (2000 Peterbilt 379)
• Limited Mileage: Jerry Mies (2007 Peterbilt 379)
• Antique: Brian Sweet (1979 Kenworth W900A)

🚛 Peterbilt and Kenworth Dominate (As Always)

As in every PKY Championship, the brands Peterbilt and Kenworth dominated the categories. Of the main winners:

• Peterbilt: ~85% of winners
• Kenworth: ~10%
• Freightliner: 1 (Phillip Couch — Working Truck Bobtail)
• Mack: 1 (Josh/Jayson Loyer — third place Limited Mileage Bobtail)

Why? Peterbilt and Kenworth have a better aftermarket for custom parts, more configuration flexibility from the factory, and simply "look better" according to show truck culture.

🔧 What Makes a Truck Win PKY?

PKY judges evaluate:

• Attention to detail: Every nut, bolt, hose must be impeccable
• Visual cohesion: The truck must look like a unified work of art, not just "pretty parts stuck together"
• Quality of execution: Flawless paint, spotless chrome, perfectly aligned lights
• Originality: Is it something we've seen 100 times or is it unique?
• Functionality (Working Truck): Does it really work or is it just for show?

In the Working Truck category, judges also check for signs of real use: oil on the engine, light wear on pedals, logbooks in the cab, etc. You can't fake working if you've never hauled a load.

💰 How Much Does It Cost to Build a PKY Winner?

According to interviews with previous builders, a Big Rig Build-Off winning truck can cost:

• Base truck: $80,000-$150,000 (if you buy used) or $180,000-$250,000 (new)
• Custom paint: $20,000-$50,000
• Chrome + stainless steel: $15,000-$40,000
• Lighting: $10,000-$25,000
• Custom interior: $15,000-$30,000
• Engine work + detailing: $10,000-$20,000

Total: $150,000-$400,000+ depending on how extreme you go.

And that's WITHOUT counting the thousands of hours of labor needed to reach that level of detail.

🛠️ What About Your Truck? It Doesn't Have to Win PKY to Look Good

Most truckers won't build a show truck. But that DOESN'T mean your truck can't look professional and be in excellent mechanical condition.

At The Truck Savers™ we don't build show trucks, but we DO maintain working trucks in optimal condition:

• Free road simulator inspection — detects problems before they become expensive
• Professional alignment service using an alignment computer — prevents premature tire wear and improves fuel economy
• Suspension and brakes — trucks that handle well are safer and more profitable
• DOT inspection courses — learn to maintain your truck in condition to pass any roadside inspection

Your truck doesn't need to win awards. It just needs to work every day without problems.

Call (713) 455-5566 (Houston) or visit us in Monterrey.

📅 Next PKY: Shell Rotella SuperRigs 2026

The next major custom truck show is Shell Rotella SuperRigs in June 2026 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee.

If you missed PKY, that's your next opportunity to see the most impressive trucks in North America.

🚨 Conclusion: Celebrating the Art of Trucking

The PKY Truck Beauty Championship isn't just a beauty contest — it's a celebration of professional pride.

These owners and builders invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours because they love what they do. Their trucks are rolling works of art.

And even though your truck doesn't have $50,000 in custom paint, you can share that same professional pride by keeping your equipment in perfect mechanical condition.

Because at the end of the day, a well-maintained truck doesn't just look better — it makes more money.

Sources: Overdrive Magazine (MATS 2026), PKY Truck Beauty Championship Official Results