Orlando tech McConnell earns top spot at 20th Rush Rodeo

NASHVILLE—For the 20th edition of Rush Enterprises' Tech Skills Rodeo, the competition returned to its Nashville roots where it all began in 2006. The anniversary celebration was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, with 240 Rush Truck Center techs vying for more than $300,000 across multiple skills stations. In total, 2,773 of the service provider's technicians took the qualifying test to attend the event, 95% of the company's total tech workforce.

And even after two decades, Rush Enterprises CEO and Chairman W.M. “Rusty” Rush is still bursting with pride to reward the company's hard-working techs and other employees with this annual grand ole end-of-the-year event.

“When you know that you've got not just the biggest, but the best workforce, then they deserve the biggest and the best when it comes to something like this,” he said.

In uncharacteristically cold conditions in Music City, with low temperatures around 15°F, the techs were tested on how much they knew in terms of vehicle diagnostics and repair knowledge, as well as how efficiently they worked.

Dom McConnell, based out of Rush Truck Centers - Orlando South, took the title of Rodeo Grand Champion along with $18,500 and the coveted trophy. The 26-year-old tech also finished first in the Medium-Duty, Peterbilt division. Now in his third year competing, McConnell said his winning approach came down to fundamentals.

“I just really made sure that I was crossing my T's and dotting my I’s on everything I could,” he said after his win. “The first couple times I came here, I was focused more on fixing the truck as fast as possible rather than following the procedures correctly. These procedures are ingrained in my mind by now, but I need to make sure the judge knows that I know that.”

He emphasized that the most important aspect for success as a technician, both in competition and in day-to-day shop operations, is continuously learning and improving.

“The biggest thing is just read, read, read, and absorb that knowledge, so that when you're working on a truck, you're not taking just a guess,” he explained. That way, the tech knows the most likely root cause and can dive right into the repair and promptly get the truck back to its owner, he said.

McConnell won even bigger at last year's rodeo, despite not getting the top spot. He proposed to his now fiancée on the San Antonio riverwalk at last year’s competition. Their wedding is just weeks away, and the prize will provide the newlyweds with plenty of extra cash for the honeymoon.

2025 Rush Enterprises Tech Skills Rodeo Winners

All-Around Rodeo Champion

Dom McConnell, Rush Truck Centers – Orlando South
Total winnings: $18,500

Rodeo Grand Champions

• Medium-Duty Service:
  Dom McConnell, Rush Truck Centers – Orlando South ($14,500)
• Heavy-Duty Service:
  Nat Dixon, Rush Truck Centers – Joplin ($11,500)
• Parts:
  Eric Valenzuela, Rush Truck Centers – Joliet ($13,000)
• Aftermarket:
  Ryan Summers, Rush Truck Centers – Denver ($9,500)
• Truck Sales:
  Steven Nace, Rush Truck Centers – Smyrna ($10,000)

Rodeo Reserve Champions

• Aftermarket:
  Francisco Ferrara, Rush Truck Centers – Greeley ($6,500)
• Parts:
  Aaron Van Straten, Rush Truck Centers – Houston Northwest ($10,500)
• Medium-Duty Service:
  Joe Behrend, Rush Truck Centers – Idaho Falls ($9,000)
• Heavy-Duty Service:
  Paul Crawford, Rush Truck Centers – Haines City ($8,000)

Parts Division Champions ($5,000 each)

• Ford: Jeff Cerullo, Rush Truck Centers – Chicago Light- & Medium-Duty
• Hino: Aaron Van Straten, Rush Truck Centers – Houston Northwest
• Isuzu: John O’Brien, Rush Truck Centers – Orlando South
• International: Eric Valenzuela, Rush Truck Centers – Joliet
• PACCAR: Jesus Bernardo Marquez, Rush Truck Centers – Yuma

Collision Center Divisions

Body Paint

• 1st: Daniel Garcia Gonzalez, Rush Truck Centers – Salt Lake City ($5,500)
• 2nd: Trevor Powell, Rush Truck Centers – Richmond ($3,000)

Body Repair

• 1st: Larry Edwards, Rush Truck Centers – Richmond ($5,500)
• 2nd: Rich Uzialko, Rush Truck Centers – Haines City ($3,000)

Specialty Divisions

Leasing

• 1st: Riley Doyle, Rush Truck Leasing – Houston Northwest ($6,500)
• 2nd: Kyle Phaneuf, Rush Truck Leasing – Salina Idealease ($3,500)

Rising Star

• 1st: Dan Paquette, Rush Truck Centres of Canada – Sudbury ($11,500)
• 2nd: Jamie Graham, Rush Truck Centers – Waco ($6,000)
• 3rd: Riley Youngblood, Rush Truck Centers – Fort Worth ($3,000)

Medium-Duty Service Division

• Allison: Charlie Marine, Rush Truck Centers – San Antonio ($6,500)
• Bus: Cody Lucas, Rush Truck Centers – Cleveland ($6,500)

Ford

• 1st: Frank Uriostegui-Roman, Rush Truck Centers – Las Vegas ($6,500)
• 2nd: Chris Williams, Rush Truck Centers – Denver ($3,500)

Hino

• 1st: Thomas Powell, Rush Truck Centers – Austin ($6,500)
• 2nd: George Luqueno, Rush Truck Centers – Fontana ($3,500)

Isuzu

• 1st: JR Hartz, Rush Truck Centers – Denver ($6,500)
• 2nd: Rick Nonamaker, Rush Truck Centers – Waco ($3,500)

International

• 1st: Chris Purcell, Rush Truck Centers – Atlanta ($6,500)
• 2nd: Joe Behrend, Rush Truck Centers – Idaho Falls ($3,500)
• 3rd: Brandon Kiger, Rush Truck Centers – St. Joseph ($2,500)

Peterbilt

• 1st: Dom McConnell, Rush Truck Centers – Orlando South ($6,500)
• 2nd: Rafael Unzueta, Rush Truck Centers – Phoenix ($3,500)
• 3rd: Johnny Mendez, Rush Truck Centers – San Antonio ($2,500)

Heavy-Duty Service Division

Alternative Fuels

• 1st: Walter Hobbs, Rush Truck Centers – Fort Worth ($6,500)
• 2nd: Bret Hughes, Rush Truck Centers – Dallas ($3,500)

Vocational

• 1st: Travis Webster, Rush Truck Centers – Houston ($6,500)
• 2nd: Josh Mahieu, Rush Truck Centers – Nashville ($3,500)

Cummins

• 1st: Wesley Appleton, Rush Truck Centers – Odessa ($6,500)
• 2nd: Nat Dixon, Rush Truck Centers – Joplin ($3,500)
• 3rd: Nathan Harris, Rush Truck Centers – Phoenix ($2,500)

Eaton

• 1st: Matt Biggs, Rush Truck Centers – Nashville ($6,500)
• 2nd: Reuben Handy, Rush Truck Centers – Oklahoma City ($3,500)
• 3rd: Scottie McRee, Rush Truck Centers – Mobile ($2,500)

IH Engine

• 1st: Jon Steckman, Rush Truck Centers – Columbus, OH ($6,500)
• 2nd: Jeffrey Metcalf, Rush Truck Centres of Canada – Kemptville ($3,500)
• 3rd: Lance Hoffman, Rush Truck Centers – Cape Girardeau ($2,500)

PACCAR MX

• 1st: Brandon Winebark, Rush Truck Centers – Tyler ($6,500)
• 2nd: Bernardo Cuen, Rush Truck Centers – Yuma ($3,500)
• 3rd: Paul Crawford, Rush Truck Centers – Haines City ($2,500)

Truck Sales Division Champions (Each $2,500)

• Medium-Duty (Ford, Hino, Isuzu): Steven Nace, Rush Truck Centers – Smyrna
• Medium-Duty (Peterbilt, International): Andrew Hirsch, Rush Truck Centers – Charlotte
• Heavy-Duty (Peterbilt, International): Jeff Spanley, Rush Truck Centers – San Antonio