Rush Enterprises' President, CEO and Chairman Rusty Rush presented the keys of the last Peterbilt Model 389X ever produced to Jennifer Best of Pryor, Okla., Monday during a press event at the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Management Conference and Exhibition (MCE) in Nashville.
Pryor won the truck through a sweepstakes sponsored by Rush Truck Centers in conjunction with the Rush Enterprises Foundation that launched in March at the Mid-America Trucking Show. To enter the sweepstakes, individuals were encouraged to make a $50 donation that was given to Wounded Warrior Project at the end of the sweepstakes.
The sweepstakes ended on Sept. 15 and, as such, Rush also presented the Wounded Warrior Project a check for $500,000 during Monday's event. Sal Gonzalez, a former Marine and Wounded Warrior Project ambassador, thanked Rush, Peterbilt and the trucking industry for their generosity during the press conference before performing a song in honor of all former veterans.
The Wounded Warrior Project is a direct program and service provider that supports post-9/11 combat veterans who have been wounded. The program centers around preventing suicide of veterans after their time in action. Gonzalez says the Wounded Warrior Project was vital to his recovery after losing his left leg after his vehicle was struck by a bomb in Iraq in 2004.
Former Marine Sal Gonzalez performs a song during the Rush Enterprises' press event in support of Wounded Warrior Project Monday.
“On behalf of me and several other thousands of warriors, I'd just like to say 'thank you,'” he told the Nashville crowd.
Best and her husband, Shane Best, operate Shane Best Trucking, a small fleet specializing in hauling rock, soil and aggregate materials in and around the Tulsa area.
“Trucking runs in our family. We took over the business from Shane’s mother, my dad was a truck driver, and both of our boys are in the business,” said Best. “When I got the call that we’d won, I was in shock. We were happy to support Wounded Warrior Project but to win this incredible truck is unbelievable.”
“This is a unique and very special truck, and we knew we could do a lot of good for a lot of people with it,” added Rush. “We are immensely proud that this sweepstakes generated $500,000 for Wounded Warrior Project and the life-changing programs and services they provide at no cost to America’s injured veterans.”
Rush said Rush Truck Centers secured the build slot for the final Model 389 with a winning bid of $1.5 million in an auction hosted by Peterbilt and attended by its dealer body during the 2023 Peterbilt Dealer Meeting. Peterbilt and Rush Truck Centers donated the full amount of the winning bid to two additional charitable organizations – Truckers Against Trafficking and Wreaths Across America, at the Mid-America Trucking Show event.
In total, Rush Truck Centers and Peterbilt Motors Company donated $2,000,000 to three deserving organizations through the dealer auction and subsequent sweepstakes contest.
“The Peterbilt Model 389 is a testament to the rich heritage and tradition of iconic Peterbilt trucks working today on jobsites and highways across North America,” said Jason Skoog, general manager of Peterbilt Motors Company, who helped develop the sweepstakes idea with the Rush Enterprises team. “Peterbilt ended its production run of this truck at the end of 2023 and today we are honored to recognize Ms. Best as the winner of the last Model 389, a milestone in Peterbilt’s history.”
“The effects of war and military service can last a lifetime for wounded veterans, their families, and caregivers,” said Brea Kratzert Todd, WWP vice president of business development. “Supporters like Rush Enterprises and the Best family fuel the life-changing programs and services that Wounded Warrior Project delivers to warriors and their loved ones. Our nation’s heroes deserve our support for as long as they need it, and we can ensure they never feel alone thanks to inspiring partnerships like this one with Rush Enterprises.”
The truck will be delivered to Rush Truck Centers in Tulsa where the Bests will take possession later this month.
