2025 Wheel Jam Truck Show – Memories of Scot
HURON, SD…. The 2025 Wheel Jam Truck Show, held on June 5-8 at the South Dakota Fairgrounds in Huron, South Dakota was bittersweet, to say the least. Thursday night kicked off the show with the traditional social and steak dinner
The weather was picture perfect and it truly was a wonderful weekend with gorgeous Big Rigs filling the Fairgrounds. During the day, there were plenty of vendors and food. Scot’s beloved Dynamic Engine Brake Contest was thrilling, as always. Tony Justice and Long Haul Paul had the crowds jammin’ during their Friday night concerts.
Yes, it was a spectacular show – but Scot Marone, the founder of Wheel Jam Truck Show/18-Wheel Truck Production, LLC, was sadly missed by everyone. Scot died in August 2024. The 2025 Wheel Jam Truck Show – Memories of Scot was dedicated to his memory.
I spoke with Tracy back in May about the then upcoming Wheel Jam Truck Show and she shared with me that last year, when she and Scot were at the Mayo Clinic, he expressed his wish for the show to go on for years to come. Tracy said, “ Scot blessed me with AMAZING people to help organize and produce the Wheel Jam Truck Show. Last May, Scot asked Rich Barnes to take over as General Manager of the Wheel Jam Truck Show after he was diagnosed with cancer. Rich has been with the Wheel Jam Truck Show since the first year so he knows and understands how the show needs to run. Shanna and Brian Gray, of S&B Alignment, have also stepped up to the plate. The past couple years, Shanna was helping Scot with getting sponsorships for the show and promoting the show. Shanna has been doing a phenomenal job with getting sponsorships and promoting the show while also helping with several other aspects of the show! Shanna’s husband Brian is the guy behind the screen doing all of the Wheel Jam Truck Show website/Facebook updates/ advertisements. There are several other people that also make this show happen. It takes a village to put on the Wheel Jam Truck Show. We are doing it for Scot .... "The Show must go on… "
In 2023 I interviewed Scot about the Wheel Jam Truck Show. He was adamant that the Drivers come first. He stated, “Wheel Jam Truck Show is all about the North American Truck drivers and the truck owners. We are honored to have Drivers come back to Huron year after year and to also welcome new Drivers. Wheel Jam Truck Show has the best truck drivers in the nation in attendance. They are very professional.”
He also had high praise for the 18-Wheel Truck Production, LLC crew for all of their hard work in making Wheel Jam Truck Show the huge success that it is. “We can’t do this without everyone,” he said. He also thanked all of the Truck Drivers, Sponsors, and Vendors for their support year after year.
My personal memories of Scot? There’s so many: our phone calls as he was driving his truck on a haul, and the phone calls when he was home and he and Tracy were fielding my questions and sharing their excitement about the truck show. All of the years that Scot would pop by our booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show to say hello. And my favorite memory of all – I was out in the lot of the South Dakota Fairgrounds during the 2023 Wheel Jam Truck Show, photographing trucks when a quad roared up beside me and Scot hopped off and gave me the biggest hug. It was like being hugged by a bear.
Great memories of a great man. I am confident in saying that I know that Scot would approve that the Wheel Jam Truck Show has indeed gone on. Plans are already underway for the 2026 Wheel Jam Truck Show, which will be held June 4-7.
2025 Wheel Jam Truck Show Winners List
Tractor/Trailer:
1974-1984: 1st: Steve Anderson, 1982 Freightliner Cabover; 2nd: Weber Trucking, 1984 Kenworth W900
1985-1996: 1st: Jake Denton, 1995 Peterbilt 379; 2nd: Caleb Glanzer, 1991 Freightliner FLA80 Cabover
1997-2007: 1st: Morris Trucking, 2007 Peterbilt 379 Exhood; 2nd: Steve
Anderson, 2005 Peterbilt
2008-2015: 1st: Spencer Mann, 2010 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: Joppa Trucking, 2013 Peterbilt 386
2016-2020: 1st: Parker Janiszesk, 2020 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: Joe Bertus, 2018 Peterbilt 389
2021-2025: 1st: Aaron Puterbaugh, 2023 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: Bobby Wallum, 2024 Peterbilt 389
New Truck 2026: 1st: Stan’s #512, 2026 Kenworth T680 Sleepercab
Show Truck/Limited Mileage: 1st: Chad Ellison, 2023 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: Larry Olsen, 1982 Kenworth W900
Bobtail:
1974-1984: 1st: Jumpoff Buffalo Ranch, 1982 Freightliner FLT; 2nd: Stan’s, 1984 Kenworth W900
1985-1996: 1st: Ward Denning, 1988 Peterbilt 362; 2nd: Jason Steele, 1995 Kenworth W900L
1997-2007: 1st: Doug Beyers, 2015 Peterbilt 379; 2nd: Premium Best Transport, 2000 Peterbilt 379 Extended Hood
2008-2015: 1st: L&D Peterson Trucking, 2015 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: L&D Trucking, 2014 Peterbilt 388
2016-2020: 1st: Leber Ag Service, 2017 Peterbilt 389; 2nd: Scott Feller, 2020 Peterbilt 389
2021-2025: 1st: Robert Gonzales, 2024 Peterbilt 579; 2nd: Scott Feller, 2024 Peterbilt 389X
Show Truck/Limited Mileage: 1st: Ziglar Transport, 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd: Brendon Wilson, 1987 Peterbilt 379
Best Cabover: Wayne & Pearl Hot, 1984 Peterbilt Cabover 362
Specialty Class Tractor Trailer: Chris Bentsen, 2007 Peterbilt 379
Dynamic Engine Brake: 1st: Dallas Laube, 1994 Peterbilt 379 Ext. Hood; 2nd: Todd Dovico, 1975 Kenworth K-100; 3rd: Cutter Laube, 2005 Peterbilt 379; 4th: Gary Dovico, 1965 IH
Best Interior – Drivers Choice: Fritz Littlefield, 2006 Peterbilt 379
Light Show Bobtail – Drivers Choice: Cody Dorby, 2018 Peterbilt 389
Light Show Tractor Trailer – Drivers Choice: Chad Ellison, 2023 Peterbilt 389
Best Fleet Bobtail: L&D Peterson Trucking
Best Fleet Tractor Trailer: PJ Brink Trucking
Best Bull Rack Tractor Trailer: Bobby Wallum, 2024 Peterbilt 389
Best Aerodynamics Cab: Robert Gonzales, 2024 Peterbilt 379
Best Grain Hopper Tractor Trailer: Spencer Mann, 2010 Peterbilt 389
Best Van Reefer Tractor Trailer: Habeck Trucking/Jason Cates, 2025 Peterbilt 589
Best Tanker Tractor Trailer: Dennis Durand/Jade Transport, 2017 Kenworth
Best Flatbed Tractor Trailer: Fritz Littlefield, 2006 Peterbilt 379
Best Polished Bobtail/Tractor Trailer: Brendon Wilson, 1987 Peterbilt 379
Show ‘N’ Shine: 1st: Fielder Farms; 2nd: Lance Trucking; 3rd: Habeck Trucking; 4th: Brendon Wilson; 5th: Ziglar Transport; 6th: Chad Ellison; 7th: Chris Bentson; 8th: Leber Ag Service; 9th: Cody Darby; 10th: L&D Peterson Trucking
Lifetime Achievement: Ben Spaans/Spaans Trucking
Legacy Award: John and Becky Rose/Rockin R Trucking
Rick Marone Memorial Award: Fritz Littlefield, 2006 Peterbilt 379