Matthew Boenisch Returns To NTDCs As Wisconsin’s Grand Champion

Paul Butkowski Brings Home Second Career Minnesota Grand Championship

[https://podwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Lutzie_Podcast_Blog_Banner.jpg]https://lutzie43.org/ With All-Time NTDC legends Richard Gillespie and Ray Simon onsite at the 2026 Minnesota TDC, FedEx Freight’s Paul Butkowski stepped up to be at his best. Paul excelled on the test, the pretrip and the driving course to add an 11th State TDC vehicle championship to his precision driving resume. A native of St. Cloud, which was also the long-time home of three-time NTDC Grand Champion Simon, Paul had the honor of having his name called as the MInnesota TDC Grand Champion and taking home the 2026 Richard Gillespie Trophy. Paul was actually part of a committee that recommended the name change to the Minnesota Trucking Association to include the name of the only person to win a National Championship in all vehicle classes in which he competed over the years. In addition to winning two NTDC Grand Championships, Richard Gillespie served as a volunteer for over 30 years. As Paul shares with us on the podcast, he has a great appreciation for the history of the event at both a state and national level. Over the course of our conversation, you’ll hear how found his footing driving in the Tanker Class for the first time. You also hear what it means to Paul to earn his second career State Grand Champion’s title and his 11th trip to the Nationals. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation  [https://lutzie43.org/]and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org [https://lutzie43.org/]. The post Paul Butkowski Brings Home Second Career Minnesota Grand Championship [https://podwheels.com/paul-butkowski-brings-home-second-career-minnesota-grand-championship/] appeared first on PodWheels [https://podwheels.com].

Indiana’s Tony Burns Still Stunned After Winning His First State Grand Championship

[https://podwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Lutzie_Podcast_Blog_Banner.jpg]https://lutzie43.org/ As he shares with us in this episode of the podcast, Tony Burns from FedEx Freight was in a state of total disbelief when he heard his point total and then name called out as the State Grand Champion of Indiana. Qualifying for his third career trip to the NTDCs with his victory in Indiana’s 5-Axle Class, Tony was thrilled and quite satisfied to be making his first trip back to Nationals since 2023 as he heard his name called for a second time at the Champions Banquet. Tony talks to us about his approach to safety and how he first got involved in the TDCs. You’ll also hear about his first trip to Nationals 11 years ago and the awe-inspiring experience he had walking into the Edward Jones Dome in St Louis, which was the site of NTDC 2015. Tony is hoping his third trip to Nationals (and his first-ever visit to Pittsburgh) will open the door of opportunity to compete in the NTDC 2026 runoff. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation  [https://lutzie43.org/]and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org [https://lutzie43.org/]. The post Indiana’s Tony Burns Still Stunned After Winning His First State Grand Championship [https://podwheels.com/indianas-tony-burns-still-stunned-after-winning-his-first-state-grand-championship/] appeared first on PodWheels [https://podwheels.com].

Roland Returns For 21st Nationals As A Seven-Time State Grand Champion

[https://podwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SCF_Podcast_Post_Banner.jpg]https://truckersfund.org/ For this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc, just a few days after he earned his 21st trip to the NTDCs. Competing in 5-Axle at the Massachusetts TDC, Roland will be going to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh in grand style, having won a State Grand Champions’ trophy for the seventh time in his career. While Roland is thrilled to be heading back to what he calls the “Family Reunion” at NTDC 2026, he tells the podcast that one of the most satisfying parts of the Tri-State TDC that also brought together Connecticut and Rhode Island was getting to see Andrew Tenney, his FedEx teammate, break through to qualify for his his first NTDC. Roland takes some time to reflect on his years competing at the State TDCs and the Nationals. A runner-up in 5-Axle at Nationals in 2025, Roland discusses his preparations for Pittsburgh. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund [https://truckersfund.org/] is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund  [https://truckersfund.org/]also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund [https://truckersfund.org/] and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org [https://truckersfund.org/]. The post Roland Returns For 21st Nationals As A Seven-Time State Grand Champion [https://podwheels.com/roland-returns-for-21st-nationals-as-a-seven-time-state-grand-champion/] appeared first on PodWheels [https://podwheels.com].

Jeremy Kasitz Delivers Oregon Grand Championship For Old Dominion

[https://podwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Lutzie_Podcast_Blog_Banner.jpg]https://lutzie43.org/ Old Dominion Freight Lines veteran driver Jeremy Kasitz is the first to admit that bringing home the State Grand Championship trophy was not on his Bingo Card when the Oregon TDC took place on May 16th. As he shares with us in this episode of the podcast, Jeremy was still walking on air after winning the 4-Axle Vehicle Division title and earning his trip to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh. Over the course of the conversation, you’ll hear Jeremy discuss his road back to Nationals, having reached the NTDCs in 2024 prior to finishing in fourth place in 2025. He talks about the success of his Old Dominion teammates who brought home the Team Trophy and six individual awards that included three state championships. Without a doubt, the highlight of this feature is hearing Jeremy’s reaction to having his name called as Oregon’s State Grand Champion. While Jeremy knows the 4-Axle NTDC field will be filled with tough competitors, he’s excited to build off his previous experience and looking to rise to the challenges ahead on the Road To Pittsburgh. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation [https://lutzie43.org/] is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation  [https://lutzie43.org/]and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org [https://lutzie43.org/]. The post Jeremy Kasitz Delivers Oregon Grand Championship For Old Dominion [https://podwheels.com/jeremy-kasitz-delivers-oregon-grand-championship-for-old-dominion/] appeared first on PodWheels [https://podwheels.com].

Matthew Boenisch Returns To NTDCs As Wisconsin’s Grand Champion

[https://podwheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SCF_Podcast_Post_Banner.jpg]https://truckersfund.org/ A Wisconsin State Grand Champion in 2024 who finished with a third-place trophy in 2025, Matthew Boenisch of FedEx Freight maintained a year-long drive to do his best to return to the Nationals in 2026. Matthew’s all-around performance in 5-Axle at the Wisconsin TDC in Appleton secured his third State Vehicle Division title in four years. Matthew’s mastery of all three disciplines was also strong enough to bring home the Wisconsin Grand Championship for the second time in three years. As Matthew shares with us on this edition of the podcast, the hard work and dedication throughout the year paid off, and his victories were made even more memorable this year because they were part of a big day for the FedEx Freight Team. Matthew was one of four FedEx Freight drivers who secured their spots at NTDC 2026 with Vehicle Division State Crowns. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund [https://truckersfund.org/] is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund  [https://truckersfund.org/]also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund [https://truckersfund.org/] and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org [https://truckersfund.org/]. The post Matthew Boenisch Returns To NTDCs As Wisconsin’s Grand Champion [https://podwheels.com/matthew-boenisch-returns-to-ntdcs-as-wisconsins-grand-champion/] appeared first on PodWheels [https://podwheels.com].