CONCORD, N.C. – The Hendrick Motorsports teams are ready to battle at "The Last Great Colosseum" -- Bristol Motor Speedway. But before they hit the track on Sunday there are a few rituals that must take place.
This week we asked our teammates about their unique pre-race preparations.
1) "I walk around the pit box and I shake everyone’s hand on the team. I don’t fist bump because that’s like, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ But like a business deal is normally a handshake when you are about to go to work. I have a special handshake with a few guys too. Other than that, I stretch and pray before every race." -Ryan Patton, No. 48 rear-tire carrier
2) "Before the race we used to play old wrestling promos from 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, Ric Flair and Scott Steiner. That was a good time, a lot of fun." -David Ott, No. 24 hauler driver
3) "My pre-race ritual is to make sure that I am stretched out, make sure all the tires are taped right and all the lug nuts are glued right, the tires are in the right set order and make sure that I stay loose the whole time until the race starts. I don’t listen to any music, I start listening to the crew chief and the driver talk about how the race is going to go and how we are going to have a good day. I kind of motivate myself without music or anything." -Rowdy Harrell, No. 88 rear-tire carrier
4) "I come in, put my book bag up in the hauler, put my coffee in the Keurig -- got to get my coffee in. We just laugh and joke in the hauler. We go down and set up the pit box as a team. I get my jack prepped and then we go check the car. When that’s all done, we have two hours of down time. In that time I really don’t like eating big meals so I go back to the hauler and make a sandwich. Then I go talk to different teammates and relax before the team meeting. After the team meeting I put on my firesuit, get focused and ready to go." -Joseph So, No. 5 jackman
5) "I always have to stretch and pray right before the race." -Devin DelRicco, No. 88 rear-tire changer