The Renegade Polisher

By Matthew Harrell

Billy Backus, a.k.a. “The Renegade Polisher,” has made his living polishing trucks. It was 23 years ago that Billy, as a broke and hungry teenager hanging around a truck stop, became The Renegade Polisher. “I got too much pride to beg for money, so I said, ‘Hey look driver, is there anything I can do on your truck where I could make a few bucks to get something to eat?’” The driver responded, “Well, you could polish my truck.” The driver then instructed the young boy as to how to go about polishing the truck, and Backus has been polishing ever since.

Renegade drove his own truck for nine-and-one-half years, polishing trucks on the side. Now Backus prefers to ride in his white polishing van, which is covered in racing stickers and has become his trademark. While many truckers can pick Backus’s van out in a parking lot, he jokingly admits that, “I have had people mistake it for an ice cream truck.”

The Renegade has a business model that most in the business world would envy. “I don’t advertise anywhere, my customers advertise for me. My workmanship speaks for itself,” said Backus. While other polishers work for quick cash, Renegade hopes that he will make a life-long customer out of every one of his clients. “I pride myself in return customers,” Backus continued.

Amidst all The Renegade Polisher’s success, Backus has experienced his share of hardships. After his mother’s death, Backus experienced a great deal of heartache which was accompanied by a substance abuse problem. It was through this problem, however, that The Renegade landed his biggest polishing deal of his career. His girlfriend at the time worked for Speedco and mentioned that Backus was a polisher. He polished one of their trucks and has since become the primary polisher of Speedco’s trucks. This partnership has led him to polish cars and trucks in the NHRA and NASCAR series.

While Backus has several clients that he regularly works for, he is still able to polish other trucks when he is available. This freedom is what empowers The Renegade Polisher to continue to make a name for himself as one of the best in the polishing business. “My customers actually tell people: ‘Hey man, thanks for the compliment on my truck. Renegade polished it and busted his butt on it. He does a real good job.’ That’s what I like.”

You may be wondering what products The Renegade Polisher uses for his award-winning shine. Well, CareersinGear has the insider’s info about what products you can use to give your truck that extra glimmer.

For Aluminum Renegade uses Zephyr Pro 40 Metal Polish

For the body of the truck Renegade uses Mothers or Maguires brand products

For the tires Renegade uses hardwood floor wax (I couldn’t understand the brand name on the tape)

For information on how to contact The Renegade Polisher, please e-mail marketing@careersingear.com.