ST. JACOBS, Ont. — Joe Kuntz, a professional truck driver with Home Hardware Stores, representing Team Ontario, was named Grand Champion with the highest points of the day at this year’s Ontario Truck Driving Championships. Home Hardware drivers won nine of the 22 awards presented at Saturday’s competition. Held in London, Ont., the championship requires drivers to compete in a series of competitive tests that measure the contestant’s knowledge of rules of the road, safety, courtesy, and efficiency in vehicle handling. These events include a written test, pre-trip inspection, and a driving competition.
Kuntz was the only driver who has competed in the Central Ontario Truck Driving Championships every year since it began and competed in the Single-Single division to be awarded with Highest Points of the Day and Grand Champion. Home Hardware drivers William Wolfe and Bryon Winfield were awarded second and third in Single-Tandem, respectively, and Darryl Smith was fourth in the B-Train class. Kuntz joins Shawn Matheson who won the Tandem-Tandem class and Wayne Burnett who won the B-Train class, Highest Pre-Trip Award, and MTO Safety Award to represent Team Ontario at the national championships in Regina, Sask., this fall.
