Day five of the 2023 Hot Rod Power Tour was bittersweet. There is a sense of excitement and accomplishment that you made it this far. There is also the realization that it would soon be over.

The final stop for this year was an iconic speedway and Power Tour favorite. Bristol, Tennessee has ample parking, a great layout, and a historic sign that every Long Hauler has stopped to take a picture in front of. This was a familiar venue. In 2019, during the 25th Anniversary Power Tour, Bristol Motor Speedway was the third stop on the 7 day trip.

On a warm, sunny, summer day, the drive through the Tennessee mountains is one of the best stretches in the country. Curvy roads, hillsides, and elevation changes keep it interesting.

We headed out earlier than usual with plans to punch our tickets, collect our Long Haul plaques, and continue back to Columbus, Ohio.

This would be a 500 mile driving day when it was all over. It was Friday afternoon, so we encountered some traffic, some rain, but overall it was a good drive. More importantly we made it safely and completed our 2,000 mile mission.