One look at Junior Johnson strapped into his No. 11 race car with old-fashioned goggles wrapped around his helmet, and it was like taking a step back in time.
Johnson was one of several former Bristol Motor Speedway winners testing Tuesday at the .533-mile oval in preparation for the Saturday's Scotts Saturday Night Special. Also taking to the track was Harry Gant, Jimmy Spencer, Jack Ingram, Rusty Wallace, L.D. Ottinger, and Phil Parsons.
The last time Johnson, who won the 1965 Southeastern 500 at BMS, raced at BMS the track was asphalt - and it was much different.
"When it was first built, you run off in the first and second turn like you went down a hill," said the 77-year-old Johnson. "Now, it is so much smoother. I haven't been on it since the last time they redid it, but I can tell it is a lot smoother. The pavement was kind of humpy and bumpy, so it's got to be better (than it was).
"I can't say that I've raced any of these guys that are out here. I might have raced against Harry, but I'm not sure that I did. I haven't raced against Rusty, or Spencer, or Cale (Yarborough) -- any of those boys.
"I really can't see how it has changed much... maybe it has. I ran seven laps at Tri-County a few days ago to practice. First time I've been in a race car in 45 years. It feels the same and everything as it did when I quit."
Johnson, who still leads all car owners at BMS with 21 victories, cannot wait for the green flag to fall Saturday.
"I think it will be a big success," he said. "The charitable thing is great, but racing against these boys is the best part. I'm coming with as good as a setup as anyone."
Jack Ingram, who earned 31 victories and two championships in what was then the Busch Series, now the Nationwide Series, won the second race in that series ever held at BMS, in 1982.
Now 72, Ingram didn't seem intimidated by anyone on the track.
"The only guy I haven't raced against out here is Junior," he said. "And I have outrun all the rest of them many, many times."
Harry Gant, winner of 18 Sprint Cup victories and 21 in the Nationwide Series, was the 1992 Budweiser 250 winner at BMS.
Like the others, the 69-year-old Gant is looking for a competitive race.
"I expect it to be a good race," he said. "I don't know how many cars we're going to have, but it is going to be plenty for us because we haven't been in one in so long. It is going to be pretty exciting.
"It's been a while since I've been in a car, but it will all come back to you when you get in the car. At least that's what Junior says anyway."
Gant feels race fans, old and new, will have fun watching some of NASCAR's greatest return to the track on Saturday.
"Each of us in this race had a lot of fans over the years, and we're hoping that they'll come out to watch us again," he said. "And a lot of these kids under 20 or 30 that never watched us race will get to see us for the first time, so that will be good, and I think they'll enjoy it."
Other drivers expected to compete in the Saturday Night Special are David Green, Terry Labonte, Sterling Marlin, Phil Parsons and Larry Pearson.
Former BMS winner Larry Pearson will be subbing for his father, David, who was scheduled to be in the race. Track officials learned earlier this week that reoccurring issues with the elder Pearson's back will prevent him from taking part in the event.
Among the celebrities testing Wednesday was Ray Everham, Andy Petree, Brad Daugherty, and former NFL star Mike Compton. Other competing in the race are Frank Beamer, Terry Bowden, David Akers, Bill Jordan, Riki Rachtman, Doug Herbert, Ron Capps and Greg Anderson.
The celebrities will run 15-lap or 10-minute heats to help determine the starting spots of their pro driver teammates, who then will run 35 laps.
The Saturday Night Special will take place after the completion of the Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide Series race and will be followed by a 100-lap UARA late model event.
Tickets, which include the Scotts Turf Builder 300 and the 100-lap UARA race, start at $45 and are available by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-989-6900 or by visiting www.bristoltix.com.
