GBATS returns with in-person event this September
The Guilty By Association Truck Show will return in 2021 with its in-person event Sept. 23-25 at 4 State Trucks in Joplin, Mo. Once again, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association will be a sponsor.
Following a reshuffling of the schedule last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, excitement is building for the return of the biennial truck show.
“Our last live event was in 2018, after which we adopted an every-other-year format, due to the growth of the event,” said Bryan “Boss Man” Martin of 4 States Trucks. “We tried to pull out all the stops last year (2020) with the virtual event, and it went pretty well, but nothing replaces 10,000 people and 800 trucks.”
The event, sponsored by Chrome Shop Mafia, is free to attend but drivers are encouraged to arrive on Wednesday for registration.
Many of the popular events and vendors will be back this year. There also will be a few additions, Martin said.
The diesel drag time trials will be an organized main event now, while the Friday night stunt show will feature some of the best motocross racers in the world. Big rig burnouts is adding cars, motorcycles and pickup trucks for exhibitions. In addition, industry celebrities, influencer drivers as well as movie truck appearances are in the works.
Saturday will again feature the Special Olympics breakfast and World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics Missouri later in the day.
The concert and street party, which officially closes the celebration, will feature country music artists Joe Nichols and Curtis Grimes from a new location in downtown Joplin that Martin said will have better truck access.
“Everybody we’ve reached out to for confirmation has been over-the-top excited,” Martin said. “It’s encouraging, but a bit intimidating. There’s a lot of pent-up excitement, and I think it will be exhibited here and at every grassroots outdoor truck show this summer. We’re planning for 800 trucks, but expecting more.”
For more information visit ChromeShopMafia.com/Guilty-By-Association-Truck-Show/ or call 417-624-2900 ext. 161. LL