NASCAR WCUP: Hamilton on 'common ground' this weekend at Bristol

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 21, 2001

CHARLOTTE, N.C., – NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers and teams are on the road 39 weeks a year. Although Square D driver Bobby Hamilton will have to fly to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend for the Food City 500, he will still be on common ground in Tennessee.

"There’s something to be said for comfort at these different tracks we go to every week," said Hamilton. "We’re on the road so much that when we do get to stay at a track that hits home with us – it means something. Most of the drivers feel that way about Lowe’s (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Although I like to race there, I always look forward to Bristol. This track is what I would call my home turf."

Hamilton, who was born and raised in the state of Tennessee, comments on the rough racing the drivers will do this weekend.

"Bristol is a unique place for all of us. This half-mile oval with 36-degree banking is a race that’s hard to finish. If you get to the checkered flag and the car is still in one piece, you’ve definitely accomplished something. All the beating and banging that we’ll do on each other always makes this place so interesting. Other tracks have their own quirks, but Bristol is totally different.

"It’s always been a pretty good place for me and I seem to be able to stay out of trouble there," continued Hamilton. "Since this Square D Racing Team has started off on the right foot this year, I hope that this weekend’s beating and banging on the steep hillside of Bristol will not include the No. 55 Chevrolet.

"I look forward to going there especially with this team. They seem to make all the perfect calls for me and it’s just great."

The car that Hamilton will be racing this weekend in the Food City 500 will be the same car he drove to a ninth-place finish last weekend in Darlington (S.C.).

"I love this car," said Hamilton. "We just keep getting good finishes in this one, so why shouldn’t we use it? We figure we’ll drive it until the doors fall off."

Crew chief Jimmy Elledge reminded Hamilton about the doors on the car for Bristol.

"Actually, one of the doors did fall off," laughed Elledge. "The famous Darlington stripe got us last weekend. However, it’s fixed and we’re ready to roll toward a strong Bristol finish this weekend."

The Food City 500 gets underway on Sun., March 25 at 1 p.m. EST. The 500-lap race will air live on FOX.

Text provided by Lori Shuler

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