When the Wake Living team learned the Wienermobile driver is a local, we relished the opportunity to send him all our burning questions! A 2021 graduate of Green Hope High School, Trey O’Shea, aka Tailgate Trey, has landed in the driver’s seat of one of the most recognizable vehicles on the road.
He recently rolled through Wake County, and he squeezed out a few minutes to ketchup with us.
How exactly does someone land a job driving a giant hot dog? Did you get grilled during an interview?
Every year, Oscar Mayer hires 12 new Hotdoggers to pilot the Wienermobile. We’re boots-on-the-ground ambassadors, social media managers, and PR representatives. I’m one of the lucky dogs who cut the mustard!
In college, I found out one of my professors had been a Hotdogger in the early 2000s. Hearing him talk about traveling the country and sparking smiles everywhere made me realize that this is the job for me. You need an appetite for adventure and a willingness to go the extra mile to make someone’s day, and that’s exactly what drew me towards it.
Is there one Wienermobile that goes everywhere, or are there a few for different regions? How far do you travel?
It’s miles of smiles, all the time! There are six Wienermobiles cruising the hot dog highways. Each has its own region, though the lines are flexible depending on where we’re needed.
We hit a new city every week, and the miles vary. Recently we’ve gone from Pittsburgh to Raleigh to Louisville to St. Louis in four weeks.
Do people do a double take when they see you driving by?
Driving the Wienermobile is like being in a parade everywhere we go. The best part of this job is how much happiness it brings to other people. They’re smiling, waving, laughing, honking the horn, or taking pictures. It’s the only vehicle in America where people are genuinely excited to let you merge.
Any favorite stops or stories that stand out?
Plenty of bunderful stops, but one that stands out is driving on the Circuit of the Americas F1 track in Austin on National Hot Dog Day. As a lifelong racing fan, that was a dream.
Later this year, we’ll race in the second-ever Wienie 500, hailed “the meatiest race in motorsports.” All six Wienermobiles will race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Indy 500 weekend where one will be crowned Top Dog. I’ll be driving Corn Dog in the race, so be sure to root for us at the Brickyard! Being part of something that iconic on such a storied track is something I’ll relish forever.
Did you get a special reception in your hometown?
There’s nothing quite like seeing the Wienermobile parked in my parents’ driveway.
Getting to share this experience with the people who helped me get here and make those once-in-a-lifetime memories with them means everything. Also, not needing GPS for a week in Raleigh was super nice.
Is the Wienermobile hard to drive? Ever gotten into a pickle?
It takes some getting used to, but once you’ve got it, it’s like riding a bike (just a 27-foot-long one.)
Luckily, I’ve never scratched my buns. We go through a two-week training program called Hot Dog High, where we learn the ins-and-outs of being a Hotdogger and how to maneuver this big dog. By the time we hit the road, we’re ready for anything!
How many hot dogs do you eat a week? Favorite toppings? Any weird combos?
I’m a big fan of a classic chili cheese dog. I’m also pro-ketchup but I highly recommend trying one with aioli and bacon bits.
Since we’re not actually a food truck (just shaped like food), I don’t eat as many hot dogs as you’d think. That said … hot dogs have a funny way of finding you in this job. I enjoy having hot dogs when the opportunity presents itself!
Let’s get philosophical: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Frankly, a hot dog is a sandwich the way a square is a rectangle. Technically true, but if you asked me to pass you a rectangle, I wouldn’t hand you a square.
Any interesting weenie facts?
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile started hauling buns around the country in 1936. It was invented by Oscar’s nephew, Carl Mayer, during the great depression to being more levity to life and brighten peoples day-to-day. It’s been on the same mission ever since!
The Wienermobile is 60 hot dogs long and weighs 140,500 hot dogs. Naturally.
Anything else you’d like readers to know?
Thanks for making my week in Wake County so special. Keep an eye on the Oscar Mayer website to see when the Wienermobile rolls through next and tell them Tailgate Trey sent you.
