Does truck night in america pay for repairs

CROSS JUNCTION — Abe Wine spent most of his youth in his grandfather’s Cross Junction garage. There, he learned how to repair trucks and engines and weld and fabricate parts. He also grew up to be an ethical, funny and kind man thanks to the positive influence of his grandfather Philip Wine and uncle Chris Wine.

The entire country will meet the Frederick County native when a new reality TV show, “Truck Night in America,” premieres at 10 p.m. Thursday on History.

Wine is one of the show’s four co-hosts, and he’s the only host from the East Coast.

In each of the 10 episodes, five nonprofessional drivers and their trucks compete against each other in a series of challenges that test the drivers’ skills behind the wheel and in the garage.

The over-the-top challenges test the trucks’ acceleration, speed, suspension, strength, torque, traction, maneuverability and durability.

“A casting agent called me more than a year ago,” said Wine, 30, who owns and operates Shoprat Metal Works in Annandale. At first, he wasn’t sure about committing to the show, and Wine still doesn’t know how the casting agent found him, though it was likely social media.

“He liked my skills, he liked my look and he liked my vibe,” Wine said. Years ago, when an extreme home makeover show was in the Washington, D.C., area, Wine’s shop fabricated some pieces.

He imagines someone held onto his name and phone number.

Before production on “Truck Night in America” began last year, Wine met the other co-hosts, who are all based in western states.

“Pistol” Pete Sohren is a Baja-based desert racing champion and track builder. Glen Plake is an extreme sports pioneer and dirt track racer, and Rob “Bender” Park is a rock crawling champion and master fabricator.

The show refers to Wine, Sohren, Plake and Park as “experts” rather than co-hosts, because they are called upon to offer advice as well as work in an on-site garage, helping contestants repair and ready their trucks for the next challenge.

“We got together and talked first. We decided we did not want $150,000 pro race trucks,” Wine said. “Contestants are average people from across the country. The show is a chance for blue-collar men and women to show off the trucks they built and show what they can do. That’s what sold me.”

Trucks and Jeeps are great equalizers, Wine said. Drivers are men and women, young and old.

Each episode of “Truck Night in America” begins with five contestants. The winner in each episode walks away with $10,000.

One contestant is immediately eliminated after the first challenge. Wine, Sohren, Plake and Park then decide which driver each expert will assist. After the first two challenges, the experts and drivers take the trucks into the shop, where they have 60 minutes to make any necessary repairs. If a challenge totally breaks a truck, it’s out.

When the insane challenges have eliminated all but two trucks, those drivers head to a 3-mile-long obstacle course called the Green Hell, where winches and special tires seem to be required equipment, especially when the trucks reach the swamp.

Wine, Sohren, Plake and Park are naturals for the show. They are clearly in their element and have engaging personalities.

With humor and vast experience, they offer advice and professional perspectives on each driver’s strategy and performance.

“I had a blast,” Wine said. “It was a lot of fun working with the other experts, and it was a great opportunity to let other people show their skills.”

He said the contestants were happy, too, even those who lost the competition.

“This isn’t a fake drama show. These are ordinary people who love trucks,” said Wine, a self-professed gearhead who “wants to be a positive vibe in the world.”

Wine, who is married and has a young daughter, splits his time between his metal shop in Annandale and his grandfather’s Cross Junction garage.

“My grandfather opened Philip E. Wine Truck Repair over 30 years ago,” he said. “My uncle Chris has helped him run it for more than 25 years. People may remember him when he was a dirt track racer in the early ’90s at the Winchester Speedway.”

Philip E. Wine Truck Repair specializes in large commercial trucks and diesel engines.

“I literally grew up in the garage, and I’ve only owned pickup trucks my whole life,” said Wine, who was born in the old Winchester Memorial Hospital on Cork Street. “While other kids had summer vacations, I was working at the family business.”

His grandfather and uncle are over-the-moon proud of Abe. They are planning a viewing party for Thursday night.

Now that the first 10-episode season of “Truck Night in America” is complete, Wine hopes there may be more.

“I want people to enjoy watching the show as much as we all enjoyed making the show,” Wine said. “I’d be thrilled if the show got some kids interested in trucks and welding, and it changed their lives for the better.”

♦

Find more about “Truck Night in America” at history.com/shows/truck-night-in-america and clips of the show on History’s YouTube channel.

— Contact Cathy Kuehner at

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