'Scoop there it is': NMDOT announces slick snowplow contest winners

Hip, nostalgic and punny.

Those are words that can describe the New Mexico Department of Transportation's latest snowplow name selections.

For the second year in a row, NMDOT received close to 700 entries in its 3rd annual competition. Of these, 12 were selected.

Some paid tribute to cartoon, movie and television icons like "Saltimus Prime" ("Transformers"),"Cinder-ella," "Snowbi Wan Kenobi" and "Betty Whiteout." Other selections were a play on song lyrics such as "Scoop there it is ♪ ♪ ♪" or artist names like the "Snowtorious, B.I.G."

Then there were "cool" names like "Chilly Changa."

The winners were announced on Friday evening after thousands of votes were tallied, according to NMDOT.

"Thank you, New Mexico for another year of the most unique, fun, and New Mexico-inspired names for our hardworking snowplows," NMDOT spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic said in a news release. "These trucks play an important role in keeping our roads safe during the winter months, look for our newly named plows on roads near you."

Listed below are the winners in each NMDOT district:

• District 1: Chilly Changa, DuckDuckOrangeTruck.
• District 2: Snowtorious, B.I.G., Scoop there it is ♪ ♪ ♪.
• District 3: Cinder-ella, Clarence.
• District 4: A La cinders, Down wit da slikness.
• District 5: Snowbi Wan Kenobi, Nope. School’s On.
• District 6: Saltimus Prime, Betty Whiteout.

"I love this list," State Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, said in an NMDOT social media post.

Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.