Raymond Simon of Yellow Freight System Saturday became the first driver ever to win grand champion title of the National Truck Driving Championships three times.

Simon also won the American Trucking Associations' event in 1992 and 1997.
"My goal was never to see how many awards or trophies I could get," Simon said in his acceptance speech. "My goal is to leave this world and be judged worthy of the next."
Nearly 400 professional truck drivers from across the United States competed in the annual ATA-sponsored event. In addition to the title of grand champion, nine drivers were recognized as national champions in their respective truck classes. They were:
Straight Truck: Daniel Poole, The Boeing Co., Wash.
Three Axle: Gerald W. Cudmore, Yellow Freight System, S.D.
Four Axle: Raymond Simon, Yellow Freight System, Minn.
Five Axle: Joseph E. Obregon, Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Ga.
Tank Truck: Norman Melanson, ExxonMobil Corp., Va.
Flatbed: Mike Hanson, Sysco Food Services, Minn.
Sleeper Berth: Ricky Pledger, Wal-Mart Inc., Texas
Twins: David G. McDonald, Roadway Express, Kan.
Auto Transporters: Steve Davey, Hadley Auto Transport, Region 1 (California, Nevada)
The Professional Excellence Award (formerly the Sontheimer Award) went to Joe Gonzales of H.E. Butt Grocery Co. in Texas.
Randy Pehrson of Wal-Mart Inc. in Colorado was named Rookie of the Year and Gary L. Ott of Roadway Express in Montana received the Vehicle Condition Award.
The Team Championship Trophy went to the state of Minnesota.
The championships kicked off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.