Sole woman competing at 2017 Rush Truck Tech rodeo takes on parts contest

Updated Dec 13, 2017

Sharon Hook from Rush Truck Center in Orlando was the only woman this year to compete at the 2017 Rush Truck Centers Tech Skills Rodeo.

Hook, who’s been working in Ford parts for 34 years this month, competed in the parts division and explained that she had to get through a 50-question test first before making the cut for the Rodeo.

“It was kind of tough, but I scored high enough to get here,” she said.

Joe Duncan, director of parts at Rush Enterprises, explained that the contest recreates a typical work scenario at the parts desk. Contestants first receive a scenario and a VIN number and then use the OEM’s electronic parts catalog along with their skills to answer questions. The five divisions within the parts contest are Ford, Hino, Isuzu, Navistar and Peterbilt.

For Hook, this is not her first rodeo.

“I was here two years ago. That was my first competition. It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot and met a lot of nice people,” she said.

Check out the video below to hear more of what Duncan and Hook have to say about the parts contest.

Update: Though Hook did not make it to the finals, she was happy to report that her fellow Orlando teammate, Travis Graham, did make it to the Peterbilt finals.