As dusty, road-worn rigs lumber across the truckstop parking lot, Darian Stephens' purple 1995 Freightliner show truck "Keystone JR" looks like something from another planet. The late afternoon sun glances off its glossy sides and numerous chrome accents; hints of neon glow beneath the chassis, hood and air cleaner lids.

All day long, other truckers and truckstop employees have come out to gawk, snap pictures and ask the inevitable question: "Hey, this truck doesn't work pulling loads, does it?"

It does indeed work - Stephens pulls loads for National Carriers of Liberal, Kan., logging well over 100,000 miles most years. And don't suggest to this 37-year-old owner operator that running a show truck isn't work - he dreams about polishing. It pays, though - he's won a ton of awards, including First Place in the Tractor (bobtail) class at the 2001 Shell Rotella SuperRigs show in May.

Stephens rocketed out of Hereford, Pa., into the truck show orbit only a few years ago, inspired by legends such as Richard "Streaker" Johns whose trucks he'd seen in magazines. His first year on the show circuit caused a stir - a number of veterans talked about "The Kid" who had quickly begun picking up lots of trophies.

Most truck show rookies spend a year or more learning the tedious art of competition-level detailing. But Stephens seemed to know a lot of the ropes early on, and what he didn't know at one show, he generally had mastered by the next.

In fact, he had something of a head start - he'd shown a street-legal monster truck and drag cars before he stepped up to the big-rig leagues. He brought along techniques commonly used in car shows but not much seen on the truck circuit. These included full-length carpeting beneath the rig, mirrors under the chassis, and flowers, peek-a-boo babies, and other props around the truck.

Stephens doesn't claim to be the first to have used any or all of these, but he has a knack for putting together a total presentation package that adds up to more than its parts. Almost certainly he is the first (and maybe only) show truck competitor to wear a top hat, white gloves and tails for the events.

"When I started showing my truck, I had the idea of being a showman," he says. "I believe you need a certain amount of attitude and presentation, as well as polishing and cleaning. I enjoy the heck out of doing things that other people haven't done," he says.

He also enjoys the camaraderie of the competition. Truck show contestants usually work almost side by side, and routinely share polishes, rags and buffing pads along with advice and good-natured ribbing. "I'm always glad to help, but I'll also go all out to beat you," he says.

Stephens learned to love trucks early on. His mother, who also holds a CDL, had been a dispatcher for North-South Trucking. A friend began taking 9-year-old Darian for rides. Later, Stephens helped load and unload and learned to drive by the time he was 14. The deep purple color on his truck is the same that adorned his mentor's tractor.

For 10 years, Stephens drove dump trucks around his hometown and made some local runs. In 1991, National Carriers hired him, and he was able to purchase his first truck. "I had dreamed of being an owner-operator since I was 14, and National gave me the break I needed to make it happen," he says.

In 1995, he traded for a new Freightliner FL daycab. It was set up with a 290-inch wheelbase, 470-hp Detroit Diesel engine developing 1550 ft-lbs of torque, 15-speed transmission and 3:58 rears. "From day one, I intended to put a big Double Eagle sleeper on it," he says.

Once it was installed, Stephens further customized the roomy sleeper with red oak cabinets and other appointments from Eagle Interior Accents of Oklahoma City. The company ultimately became his first full-time sponsor; Stephens has since designed his own line of dash switches sold through the firm.

The tractor has more than 170 incandescent, LED and neon lights. To handle the power loads, Stephens rewired the truck, installed circuit breakers and relays, and runs two alternators in parallel.

Neon rims the diamond-shaped rear windows and runs under the sun visor, hood, tool boxes, fuel tanks and wheel wells. Four-inch oval Truck-Lite incandescent fixtures beneath the chassis light up the ground, while Peterson and Panelite LEDs comprise the marker lights. "I was going for a total illumination look, that would be even all around and not just a concentrated blob. And in the daytime, it has a nice clean look."

Late last year as his rig neared the 800,000-mile mark, he decided to come off the road for an in-frame rebuild. He overhauled and repainted the engine and replaced a number of worn components and parts with new chromed parts. He also revamped his paint job, adding a subtle checkerboard pattern along the fender skirts, around the doors, on and under the hood, and on the sides.

"People kept teasing me while I was working in it, saying, 'Check it out!' So that's what I decided to put on the truck," he says. He also painted "John 3:16" behind the sleeper to proclaim his faith.

The truck was ready in time for the Stars and Stripes Championship at the Mid-America Trucking Show in March. There he introduced a new twist - he put the rig's front end up on jack stands and removed the steer wheels, displaying them separately.

Keeping up a show truck is an every day job. When he has to wait at a dock, out come the rags and polish. A dose of road crud in winter starts him looking for a truck wash.

Winning a first place at the SuperRigs show was a long-cherished dream, and there are lots of other titles to chase. What's in his bag of tricks for the rest of 2001? He says Road King's "Men in Black" cover theme may be part of it. Whatever it is, it'll be out of this world.