Travis Graham won third place in the Paccar MX division, was named Heavy Duty Grand Champion and All Around Rodeo Champion.A shortage of diesel technicians and the aging population of current techs are among commercial trucking’s biggest concerns, but the future appears bright at Rush Truck Centers (RTC) around the U.S.
Travis Graham, a 24-year-old tech from RTC – Orlando, took home top honors as the third place Paccar MX tech, Heavy Duty Grand Champion and All Around Rodeo Champion at the Tenth Annual Rush Technician Rodeo in San Antonio Tuesday night. For his efforts, the nearly 3-year veteran of RTC banked almost $22,000 in prize money, which he said he plans to put toward Christmas shopping.
Competiting in his first Rush Rodeo, Graham – a Level 4 diesel tech – had a tough road to the winner’s circle, having to beat out four-time champion Jason Swann, who won the Eaton division this year, and two-time champion and defending 2014 champion Erick Lincoln, who fishined second in the Eaton division behind Swann.
“Just pay attention. Attention to detail,” he says of keys to success. “I’ve always had a knack for this kind of work. I’ve been working on cars since I was old enough to hold a wrench. It’s just been second nature to me.”
Dustin Ebert is the first contestant in the rodeo’s 10 year history to win both medium and heavy duty divisions.Dustin Ebert, of RTC – Phoenix, finished second in the Peterbilt medium duty category, was named Medium Duty Grand Champion Tuesday night and awarded nearly $13,000 in cash. A heavy duty champion in 2007, Ebert is the first contestant in the rodeo’s 10 year history to win both medium and heavy duty divisions.
“You’ve got Jason Swann who’s won four times, and Erick has won more than one,” Ebert says. “I wanted to do something that hasn’t been done before, and that was to win both divisions.”
David Zainfeld, of RTC – Houston, was named the Parts Grand Champion, banking nearly $12,000 and taking first place in the Hino parts division.
Blake Fondren, a tech from Rush Truck Leasing – Birmingham, took home the Rising Star Championship, a new category rolled out this year for the company’s Level 1 and Level 2 techs.
