Participants from the 2025 Western Star Star Nation Experience gather at Daimler Truck North America’s Madras Proving Grounds, where winners tested their skills, built camaraderie, and celebrated the Star Nation community.
Credit: Work Truck | Lauren Fletcher
3 min to read
Western Star has opened entries for its next Star Nation Experience, inviting truckers and brand fans to compete for a spot in the all-expenses-paid adventure happening June 5-8, 2026, in Bend, Oregon.
If last year’s event was any indication, this is not your typical “show up, take a selfie, go home” thing. The Star Nation Experience is built around the same ingredients that defined the 2025 gathering at Daimler Truck North America’s proving grounds in Madras, Oregon: real competition, serious pride, and a community vibe that feels like trucking’s version of a reunion… with better horsepower.
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What is the Star Nation Experience?
Western Star describes the Star Nation Experience as an all-expenses-paid, four-day VIP trip designed for “serious truckers” and fans of the brand. The experience blends adventure travel with Western Star access, including opportunities to connect directly with the people behind the trucks.
In 2025, the event leaned hard into what makes Star Nation different: it wasn’t just about equipment, it was about the people who use it. Brand leaders emphasized celebrating vocational operators as the backbone of the industry and building camaraderie around the work they do.
What Can Winners Expect in Bend, Oregon?
The 2026 Star Nation Experience will take place in Bend, Oregon, and Western Star says the itinerary will include world-class dining and adventure activities such as whitewater rafting, along with an X-Series Ride & Drive Challenge at the Madras Proving Grounds and a Star Nation photo shoot in the mountains.
Past experiences have also included behind-the-scenes moments and hands-on demos, pairing “off-the-truck” adventure with time with Western Star products and teams. Western Star notes that winners may also share feedback with engineers, marketers, researchers, and product development leadership to help shape future innovation.
How Can YOU Enter the Western Star Star Nation Experience?
Entries are open from January 20, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. ET through May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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To enter, participants must complete the official contest entry form during the contest period, including:
Submit a photo or video showing the Western Star truck they use most
Provide social media handles (required)
Each email address and social media account can only be used once, so it’s a one-and-done entry. Entrants who select the option to receive a copy of their responses will be able to edit their submitted photo or video up to April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Who is Eligible and How are Entrants Accepted?
The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 21 or older and are either actively working in the trucking industry or are active fans of the brand through American Truck Simulator.
A CDL is not required to enter or win, though Western Star notes that some activities may require a CDL to participate. Individuals employed by a dealer business or a government agency are not eligible.
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Western Star also notes that winners will be selected through a judging process, not a random drawing. Eligible entries will be scored based on how well the entrant’s content answers the questions and reflects involvement in trucking, along with the strength of the photo/video submission and social presence in demonstrating enthusiasm for Western Star and the industry.
What Does the Trip to Oregon Cover?
Western Star says the Star Nation Experience prize includes a four-day, three-night trip with round-trip transportation, hotel accommodations, airport and local transportation (if applicable), scheduled adventure activities (subject to availability and weather), and certain meals provided at the sponsor’s discretion. There is no cost to enter, and no purchase is required.
Full contest rules and terms are available through the entry form; more information can be found on the Star Nation website here.
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