Countdown To Victory

“One hundred men we’ll test today,

ut only three win the green beret.”

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, “Ballad of the Green Berets.”

NEW ORLEANS - Waiting is the hardest part on the final day at the driving tournament.

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During the two-day semifinals at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the bleacher seats were half empty. Not so today. Nearly 14,000 people overflow the bleachers onto the convention hall floor waiting to see who is the best of the best.

For the truck-operating gladiator to get to this point, he or she had to avoid accidents for the year before entering the competition arena and had to win a state championship. Of the 384 men and three women who faced off on Aug. 9, the field would be winnowed down to 27 finalists for the nine class titles.

The drivers line up nervously next to the judges’ stand as the hall is called to order by Mark Darling, chairman of the National Truck Driving Championships. As the final notes of a soulful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” by saxophonist Sean S. Kundu fade away, several drivers wipe their brow free of sweat before replacing their caps. Other adjust their ties anxiously.

Division by division, the drivers walk on stage, receiving an envelope containing a certificate and a green felt bag. Craig Bonds, a driver for Wal-Mart Stores who is representing Colorado in the straight truck division, smiles and shakes his head in happiness as he opens the bag and pulls out a silver belt buckle.

Each champion has champions in the crowd leading cheers. The Con-Way contingent, which stands out in its red polo shirts, cheer its 49 drivers with pompoms and giant letters spelling out the company’s name. The volume rises as the finalists — three in each of the nine classes — are chosen.

For the full story, see the Aug. 21 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.