TOPIC: Bristol provides some of the most exciting bumper-to-bumper racing of the season. Everybody has his or her own analogy for what racing at the famous half-mile is like. We asked our drivers what their favorite comparison was.

Matt Kenseth, No. 17 DEWALT Ford Taurus:
"Racing at Bristol is like driving down an exit ramp on to the interstate for 3 ˝ hours at 120 miles per hour, but you never get to the interstate. It's the most intense racing we'll do all year."

Mark Martin, No. 6 Viagra Ford Taurus:
"Racing at Bristol is a lot like playing Russian Roulette. There is a lot of luck involved in both. I've also heard some drivers compare it to being in a pinball machine. You just keep bouncing off stuff until the game is over."

Kurt Busch, No. 97 Roush Racing Ford Taurus:
" When the green flag drops, it's like dropping a spoon into the cereal bowl, you never know where the flakes are going to end up."

Jeff Burton, No. 99, CITGO SUPERGARD Ford Taurus:
"Well, I always use the analogy that racing at Bristol is compared to popcorn seeds in a bowl. You know when you finish eating the popcorn, and there are seeds still in the bottom of the bowl. Well, if you swish them around the bowl, they just keep circling around, and that's what racing at Bristol is like. It's a whirlwind."

Greg Biffle, No. 60 Grainger Ford Taurus:
"Racing at Bristol is like having someone crack open a bee hive inside of your car."

Chuck and Nathan recently raced at Mesa Marin Raceway, in Bakersfield, Calif., which is a half-mile racetrack. We asked them if they had to explain the place in one word, what would it be.

Chuck Hossfeld, No. 50 J.R.'s Garage Ford F-150:
The place is pretty fun to race at, but if I had to sum it up in one word it would be "Greasy." The trucks would just not stick in the corners."

Nathan Haseleu. No. 99 Roush Performance Ford F-150:
"When I think back to Bakersfield the one word that comes to mind is "difficult," because the place wasn't that easy to get around. The track is old, slick and very hard to get a handle on."