S & J TRUCK SALES WINS “BIG RIG BUILD-OFF” AT MID-AMERICA TRUCKING SHOW WEARING PPG FINISHES

For Immediate Release:
May, 2007

PPG Automotive Refinish
19699 Progress Drive
Strongsville, Ohio 44149

Contact:
Calvinia Fields
PPG Automotive Refinish, 19699
Progress Drive, Strongsville, Ohio 4414
(440) 572-2800
cfields@ppg.com

Jim Raines (center) owner of S & J Truck Sales in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, shows off the trophy for the Stars & Stripes Big Rig Build-Off truck beauty contest, sponsored by PPG Commercial Coatings and Jones Performance, Inc. The contest was held at the largest trucking industry event of the year, the Mid-America Trucking Show, in March. The S & J team spent over one year producing the prize-winning custom truck. They are, from left to right: Danny Skinner, Dawn Esterline, Steven Raines, Jim Raines, Joe Casebolt, Al Bendele, and Richard McCombs. (Missing from the photo is Raines’ son Michael Raines, and Loren Hartmann, S & J parts manager).

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – April 23, 2007 – Jim Raines, the owner of S & J Truck Sales in Ft. Wayne, Indiana was the winner of the Stars & Stripes “Big Rig Build-Off” truck beauty contest at the Mid-America Trucking Show held March 22 – 24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The Build-Off, co-sponsored by PPG and Jones Performance, Inc., pits custom truck builders against one another to create the ultimate big rig. PPG supports the build-off participants by providing paint products through a local source, and Jones Performance, a manufacturer of fiberglass truck hoods and custom fiberglass truck components in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, offers design consulting and fabrication services to the teams competing in the contest.

A fantastic truck needs a fantastic finish, so Raines chose PPG’s Omaha Sunset Orange and modified the formula to create a spectacular custom color using the Delfleet Ò Evolution system from PPG Commercial Coatings. “The unique design and eye-popping color combined to make our truck a winner,” Raines said. “Although the competition was stiff, the “wow” factor of the finished truck helped it take the first prize.”

S & J competed against four North American truck builders, who participated in this 3 rd annual invitation-only contest.

This awesome custom rig, built by S & J Truck Sales in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, was the winner of the Stars & Stripes Big Rig Build-Off truck beauty contest, sponsored by PPG Commercial Coatings and Jones Performance, Inc. held at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Modeled after a 1950’s style low-rider, Raines chose PPG’s Omaha Sunset Orange and modified the formula to create a spectacular custom color using the Delfleet â Evolution system from PPG.

Raines’ custom creation began with a ’95 Peterbilt, which he completely tore down. He then started over with two new frame rails. His team put in over 2,300 hours over a year’s time to produce a totally custom truck modeled after a 1950’s style low-rider. In fact, Raines named the rig “Rock Bottom” since it was so low to the ground. “This rig is definitely one-of-a-kind,” said Raines. “Everything on it was custom made and hand-built, including the fuel tanks, tool boxes, exhaust system, bracketing, custom rear fenders and more. Dave Jones and his team at Jones Performance were terrific helping us create an ultimate hood and fenders.”

The S & J team has a winning track record for their custom built vehicles, with a host of awards and accolades to their credit. Their custom renovated ’54 Autocar Semi won the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Mid-America show last year, and was selected as one of the twelve “Trucks of the Year” by the Shell Oil Company for their 2007 calendar, appearing on the calendar’s cover as their banner truck. In 2005, the Autocar was also featured in the American Truck Historical Society Wheels of Time Collectors special issue.

The Mid-America Trucking Show is the largest trucking industry event of the year and is the champion of trucking tradeshows. This year 1,067 exhibitors representing 47 states and 11 foreign countries participated, and over 75,000 trucking professionals attended to peruse more than 1 million square feet of exhibits.

Attendees at the show determined the Big Rig Build-Off winner, voting electronically by swiping their name badges through a card reader. “To achieve the championship award was unbelievable,” said Raines.

“Winning the award based on popular vote made it an even more rewarding achievement.” Raines and his team accepted the Champion’s Trophy at a ceremony held at the conclusion of the show.

“Mid-America’s Big Rig Build-Off was created to promote the advancement of truck design through a competition among leading-edge custom truck designers to showcase the creativity and capabilities of today’s custom truck builders and their sponsors,” said Bud Farquhar, director of Stars & Stripes LLC, producers of the Build-Off. “This year’s entries certainly met those goals. These fabulous rigs are both beautiful and practical. This type of innovation serves to enhance the overall image of the trucking industry.”

For more information about Stars & Stripes Truck Beauty competitions, go to www.starsandstripesshow.com. For more information on S & J Truck Sales, go to www.sjtruck.com.

For more information about Jones Performance, Inc., go to www.jonesperformance.com, to find out more about the Mid-America Trucking Show, please visit www.truckingshow.com, and for more information on PPG Commercial Coatings, go to www.ppgcommercialcoatings.com

Delfleet is a registered trademark of PPG Industries.

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