The endurance contest started in 1992 as a publicity draw when the Nissan dealership was owned by Jack Long. It has survived through two ownership changes.

Participants are chosen by a random drawing. The contest begins with 24 contestants and a varying number of media participants. This year, three media personalities competed for restaurant gift certificates. Media members are not allowed to win the other prizes.

Contestants are required to keep one hand on the truck at all times.

During the competition, contestants are given a five minute break every hour. Once every eight hours, contestants are given a 15 minute break.

Paramedics routinely check contestants' blood pressure and heart rate and are on standby throughout the contest.

In the early years of the contest, the top prize was a base-model truck with standard transmission and no air conditioning. First prize for the 2005 competition was a $37,000 package, including a 2005 Nissan Titan king cab pickup and a Jayco pop-up camper.

The longest hardbody contest lasted almost 126 hours in 2000. Warren Hearne, of Houston, holds that record.

The oldest hardbody winner was J.D. Drew, who was 53 when he won the truck in 1995. The youngest was Ellen Lenbeck, 30, who won in 2004.

S.R. "Rob" Bindler, a 1988 Longview High School graduate, made a documentary about the contest, condensing more than 100 hours of footage at the 1995 competition into a 96-minute film.