Ben DeBrushl, a Fredericksburg, Va.-based auctioneer, came out on top of a field of 65 competitors to win the title at the 2014 World Auto Auctioneers Championship, held May 9 at ADESA Boston auto auction in Framingham, Mass.

DeBruhl, competing in the WAAC for the sixth time, earned the $5,000 top prize.

He was joined as a world champion by ringman Phillip Gee III of Shelby, N.C., and the championship team of auctioneer TJ Freije of Clayton, Ind., and ringman Bobby McAdams of Martinsville, Ind. They each earned a $2,500 prize.

DeBruhl sells at several auctions in Virginia and surrounding states, including Manheim North Carolina, Manheim Fredericksburg, Manheim Baltimore-Washington, Tidewater Auto Auction and Richmond Auto Auction.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words. It’s a little overwhelming,” DeBruhl said of hearing his name announced as the new world champion auto auctioneer. “You go to that contest and you meet so many great people and so many friends.

“That contest has been an extraordinary thing for my career, but also for my personal life. I’ve got great friends from being part of it and it’s broadened my whole career. It’s been great to me.”

The competition was broadcast live on NIADA.TV, NIADA’s Internet video portal. A 1 1/2-hour recap of the event will be available for viewing on NIADA.TV beginning next week.