2019 West Virginia Truck Driving Championships

2019 PHOTO GALLERY: 

Click image or click here for 2019 photo gallery.

2019 Preview

When: June 8, 2019

Where: Nitro, W.Va.

Field: Thirty-six truck drivers are expected to compete in nine categories.

Preview: A battle of (Grand) Champions is brewing in West Virginia, as the West Virginia Truck Driving Championships are set to kick off June 8 at a FedEx Freight terminal in Nitro.

Last year’s Grand Champion, Jeremy Thomas, will be present at the state truck driving rodeo in an attempt to defend his title. Thomas, a driver for FedEx Freight, was the top contender in the 2018 West Virginia Tank Truck division. This year, he will compete in the 3-Axle class.

Also taking to the course will be Larry Gorby, a driver for XPO Logistics. Gorby was West Virginia’s 2017 Grand Champion. He won for his Straight Truck performance.

Another winning contender: Kenneth Grimmett of XPO Logistics, who was the 2016 Grand Champion. He drove in the Flatbed division.

READ MORE: West Virginia Truck Driving Championships to Feature Multiple Past Champs

More info: West Virginia Trucking Association Course layout:

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2018 Recap

When Jeremy Thomas of Cross Lanes, W.Va., was younger, he often would play in the cab of his father’s truck. He blew the horn and pretended to shift gears. He wanted to be just like his dad, his hero.

Fast forward about three decades to the 2018 West Virginia Truck Driving Championships. The elder Thomas, Randy, placed first in the 4-Axle class. Now 35 and a driver for 13 years, Jeremy placed first in the Tank Truck class.  And Jeremy is standing next to Randy when he finds out he is named Grand Champion in only his second year of competing, a title he could not have earned without his father’s guidance.

“Growing up with a professional driver in your house as someone you looked up to, you really gained a respect for how important the job of a professional driver is not only to the local community but the country in general,” Jeremy said.

READ MORE: Like Father, Like Son: Thomases Win W.Va. State Titles

2018 RESULTS:

Classification	Winner	Company
Grand Champion	Jeremy Thomas	FedEx Freight
Sleeper Berth	William Adkins	FedEx Freight
3-Axle	James May	FedEx Freight
5-Axle	Jason Smith	Walmart Transportation
Tank Truck	Jeremy Thomas	FedEx Freight
4-Axle	Randy Thomas	FedEx Freight
Straight Truck	Charles Randolph	Pitt Ohio
Step Van	Neil Austen	FedEx Ground
Flatbed	Paul Norman	Pitt Ohio
Twins	Greg Brooks	FedEx Freight

2018 PHOTO GALLERY:

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