2021 Guilty By Association Truck Show Was Worth The Wait
Arguably the most anticipated truck show of the 2021 season would have to be the Guilty By Association Truck Show, organized and operated by 4 State Trucks and Chrome Shop Mafia under the leadership of Bryan “the Bossman” Martin. Since the last GBATS, Bryan decided to change the show format to every other year, but with Covid, it’s been long overdue having the gathering once again.
With nearly 800 trucks entered and parked GBATS ’21 [official count was 764] was officially underway. This was the day so many had been eagerly waiting for over two years. If there was an open space available, the GBATS team was parking a truck or allowing a vendor to set up in it. Borrowing space from the Petro truck plaza across the street, gas station on the corner, parts, and service shops across the street from the chrome shop store, there were trucks everywhere you looked. The “Bossman” is a magician at utilizing every square foot of space available to him. It’s easy be overwhelmed by this show’s size but once you understand the layout of the
In typical GBATS fashion, Bryan had September 23rd to 25th jam packed with entertainment other than just looking at really cool semi-trucks. One of the crowd favorites was the Maximum Overdrive movie truck on display. The kiddos were not left out as the kiddie tractor pull were testing the kid’s leg power while the big rig burnouts were roasting their tires across the lot. Specialty events included the truck and tractor pulls Friday night at the track just east of the venue. The dirt bike stunt team of United FMX wowed the crowd as they were flying through the air. There was even a monster truck giving rides for those wanting
One of the most exciting parts of GBATS is its well-known convoy. This year, 429 trucks participated in the convoy to raise money for local Joplin charities. The convoy goes from the show site through the countryside with people of the community lining the roadways and kids of all ages pumping their arms at the big rigs cruising along ending up in the city of Joplin on Maiden Lane where trucks park putting on a light show into the evening while country artists Curtis Grimes and Easton Corbin performed on stage entertaining the masses.
This GBATS was long overdue, and it proved that great shows can hit setbacks and come back stronger and better than ever. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the camaraderie of drivers, owners, vendors, and spectators was inspirational and a testament of what we all have been going through the past two years. Shows like GBATS is a catalyst to show that we are going in the right direction and our brother/sisterhood of this industry is alive and thriving. Bravo to Bryan and all of his team for making GBATS 2021 such huge success.
I crossed paths with Bryan just before the convoy and I asked if he’d like to make a comment and he smiled, winked, and said, “I’m already planning the next one in my head.” Make sure to keep an eye out for the dates of the next show or follow along on Facebook at Guilty by Association Truck Show as get yourself to this show!
Award Winners:
Ratrod - Jason Douglas's 1950 GMC "The Crusty Fat Cab"
Zephyr - Kary Brice's "Snow White"
People's Choice - #305 Dusty Berry, Berry & Sons Peterbilt 389
Bobtail - #161 Chad Foss's 2020 Peterbilt 389
Combo - #223 Todd Gribble's 2012 Peterbilt 389
TBS - Kary Brice's "Snow White"
Head to our gallery for more photos: https://www.movinout.com/galleries/gallery/2021-guilty-by-association-truck-show-was-worth-the-wait-111.php.