Guilty By Association Truck Show Dominates Joplin, Delights Trucking Industry

JOPLIN, MO--Oct. 8, 2013: On the weekend of September the 27th, the Chrome Shop Mafia team officially put on their most successful Guilty by Association Annual Truck show to date.

Between 7500 and 8500 people swarmed out to the beloved Joplin trucking event, ready to shatter records. From the beautiful, sunny Friday through to the overcast and showers on Saturday, huge crowds took to the festivities, charity events, competitions, and sales with enthusiasm.

Attendees love the show not just because of the waived charge for truck entry (including a commemorative plaque for participation) or the access to all the major players in the trucking industry, and not just due to the celebrity status of Chrome Shop Mafia's former TV hit Trick My Truck, but because this well-planned, well-executed show manages to cover all the bases to make it an enjoyable outing for any type of person who attends, professional trucker or not.

The highlight of the show for the team at 4-State is the Special Olympics convoy - always a success, and a cause close to the hearts of the Chrome Shop Mafia team. This year saw a new national record with 234 trucks. Funds donated and bids gathered from the auction for the first 15 slots in the convoy amounted to a staggering $50,000, a contribution that owner Bryan Martin says the team is "just incredibly proud" to be able to help raise.

A variety of competitions were held during the proceedings, including an unprecedented opportunity to win one of the 12 slots in the famed CSM calendar for 2014, which was shot this year at the show.

Best of Show Winners were Chad Blackwell (Bobtail) with his peach, teal and white 2007 Peterbilt 379. Dustin Dickerson claimed Best of Show Combo with his gorgeous blue 2007 Peterbilt and matching blue 2006 MAC end dump.

Jimmy Finn, Owner-Operator and founder of the Big Iron Classic Truck Show, was this year's recipient of the Larry H. Martin memorial Award.

Friday evening was wrapped up with a massive street fair and a concert by Matt Coleman on Joplin's Main Street, providing a family friendly event in the historic downtown area attended by enthusiasts from across the USA and locals in Joplin. Among the highlights of the weekend were a Saturday night truck & tractor pull, and a fireworks show, with a special performance from the Human Bomb - courtesy of Lincoln Chrome.

"Ultimately, this show is a not only a traditional trucking show, but also has the key components of an Customer Appreciation Expo event, and an open house thrown in there. It's a 'ton of fun' and a pretty well-rounded event," says Martin. "The 2013 Truck Show was a truly great event!"