A Kenworth truck owned by Scott Diller of Myerstown, Pa., features a swan spreading its wings over the front grille. The truck, which hauls steel, lumber, equipment and vehicles, was on show Friday in Lexington.

Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times

Eric Harley of Midnight Trucking Radio Network judges Jeff Hyde's 2007 Kenworth W900 at the Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition Friday in Lexington, where there's $25,000 in prize money at stake. Hyde's truck is painted Seminole orange.

LEXINGTON -- Todd Roccapriore, 33, describes his black-and-green 2004 Peterbilt truck as "your worst nightmare" on wheels.

"When I'm on the highway driving past people, I want to catch them off guard and make them take a second look in their rear-view mirror," Roccapriore said.

After the $200,000 mark, Roccapriore said he wanted to forget about how much his truck cost. The truck is equipped with plenty of chrome and lights, a 6,000-watt stereo, custom glass, four massage chairs and a stripper pole.

"It's what I love to do," he said. "I don't expect people to understand it, but when they see my truck, they will appreciate it."

Roccapriore, who drove in from Hebron, Conn., is one of more than 100 truck drivers pouring into the Lee Hi Travel Plaza near Lexington for the 28th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck beauty contest.

During the three-day event, drivers compete for $25,000 in cash and prizes and a spot in the 2011 Shell Rotella SuperRigs calendar.

"It's the first year we've had it in Virginia," said Mark Reed, global brand manager for Shell Rotella.

The trucks are judged on five categories: appearance, design, detail of finish, originality and workmanship. They also have the option of being judged for best chrome, best mural, best theme, best interior and best engine.

Last year, Roccapriore and his wife, Beth, placed third overall at the Shell Rotella SuperRigs contest with their 1993 Peterbilt 379.

For Cecil Wolfe, 53, of Roanoke, Rotella SuperRigs is more than just a beauty contest. It is a chance for him to bond with his fellow truck drivers. The most important driver to Wolfe is his son, Jeremiah Wolfe.

"It's something that I never got to experience with my father," Wolfe said. "Jeremiah loves truck driving just as much as I do. I'd like to win, but I'd be even more excited to see him win something."

Before bringing their trucks to the judging line, contestants spend hours prepping and cleaning their trucks. Some even have superstitions about what time of day they should bring their trucks to be judged.

As one of the truck judges, Jami Jones, a senior editor at Land Line Magazine, looked over a 2004 Peterbilt 379, she noted a scratch that indicated that the truck was being used every day.

"We don't penalize for signs of work, because we understand that some of these drivers have their trucks on the road every day," Jones said.

Although many of the drivers put thousands of dollars into their trucks, they also use them to make a living.

Todd and Beth Roccapriore run Clean Slate Environmental, a company that transports contaminated dirt.

"The truck is fun, but it is also good for business," Todd Roccapriore said. "Some people want to work with us because they know that we keep our trucks in great condition and that we're going take care of whatever they need us to put in our truck."

Ken Mackrell, a trucker from Portersville, Pa., brought his family to the show, but left his truck at home.

"It was too far for me to drive my truck, but I love that it brings everybody together," Mackrell said. "It brings a good light to the trucking industry. There are a lot of good guys out here, and we take pride in our industry."