NASCAR Cup Series

Teams must be ready for the Bristol challenge

Published Mar. 18, 2009 3:08 p.m. ET

Jeff Hammond

I think all the nicknames people use to describe Bristol Motor Speedway — 8th Wonder of the World, the World's Fastest Half Mile, Thunder Valley — are appropriate. To me, it is simply one of the most real racetracks we go to.

It's a challenge for everybody, including the car itself.

We really put the cars through a heck of a beating at Bristol and to survive that place they have to be specially prepared.