Case Construction Equipment crowned the champion of its Triple Threat Rodeo series on Jan. 24 during the World of Concrete 2012 in Las Vegas, following a  day-long competition among 59 of the United States and Canada’s most talented equipment operators at the 2012 World of Concrete show in Las Vegas. Case awarded prizes with a total value of nearly $140,000 at the end of the competition.

Octavio Miranda, of Ancaster, Ontario, was named the Case Triple Threat Rodeo North American Champion and won a 2012 Ram 2500 truck for himself and a new Case TR270 compact track loader and a Towmaster trailer for his sponsoring company, L.M. Enterprises.

Owner/operator Allan Long, of Summerhill, Pa., finished second to win a $5,000 Case-New Holland (CNH) Capital rewards card.

Lloyd Lesher of Casper, Wyo., finished in third place, winning $1,250 in cash for himself and a $2,500 CNH Capital Card for his sponsoring company, Andreehunt Construction. The CNH Capital Cards are redeemable for products and services at any North American Case Construction Equipment dealer. First-, second- and third-place finishers also received custom belt buckles recognizing their performance.

Habitat for Humanity affiliates across North America also benefitted from the Triple Threat Rodeo program. Case presented a corporate contribution of $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas at the championship event, one year after kicking off the Triple Threat Rodeo program with an identical US$5,000 donation. In addition, each participating Case dealership made a donation to its local Habitat affiliate, bringing the total raised during the program for Habitat affiliates to $51,726.

“We’ve helped raise more than one quarter of a million dollars since the inception of the Triple Threat Roadeo,” Jim Hasler, vice president of Case-New Holland noted at a World of Concrete 2012 press conference attended by Aggregates Manager, Better Roads and Equipment World editors.

The Triple Threat Roadeo began in 2007 when Case celebrated the 50th anniversary of its backhoe loader with a year-long Triple Threat Roadeo, Hasler said. Case continued the celebration in 2009 with its Rockin’ Block parties.

Miranda, Long and Lesher proved their skills during the Triple Threat Rodeo Championship operating a Case F Series wheel loader, N Series loader/backhoe and Alpha Series skid steer through a demanding course of challenges that simulated some of the most difficult applications facing equipment operators in their day-to-day jobs. They earned their place among the five finalists who competed in an extreme test of skills to win their ranks as champion, second- and third-place finishers.