Chapter Seventeen
Chapter 17
Carly did feel bad about hitting Pamela’s bumper. “I feel bad about that – but it wasn’t more than a tap. And hey, that’s racin’, right?” she said.
“Yeah, it is! Carly, don’t worry. She’ll live! Now when are you gonna get that rig to the front of the field?” Tony Sr. asked her.
Carly laughed. “When there’s about 10 to go. If I can beat Schrader! Is he still sitting in first?”
“Yep, but he’s pulling away. You better move up. You’re clear on the outside – go now, cause Schrader’s in a pack of lap traffic.”
“Clear now?” she checked.
“Go-go-go!” Tony Sr. replied.
Carly moved up the track to pass Pamela on the outside. Just then Pamela decided to play “Days of Thunder”. She moved up sharply and hit Carly on the driver’s side. Carly managed to maintain control of the car, only wobbling a little, but Pamela spun. Fortunately she spun down onto the apron, and managed not to get hit by anyone else.
“What the HELL was that?” Carly screamed into her helmet mike. “Freaking Bitch! How bad is my car, Tony?”
“Looks not too bad – Yellow flag is out – try to get positions – your clear on the outside. Go, honey, go go!”
Carly looked right, and passed the car in front of her. She raced Randy Lajoie back to the line. She just barely beat him over the start finish line, and gained another spot.
She brought her car into the pits. She elected only to take two tires, on the left side where Pamela hit her. Her rear tire guys pulled on her left rear fender to straighten it. When the car was jacked up on the left side, Dale stuck his hand in through the window. Carly squeezed it briefly, but all too soon, the car was ready. He let the jack down, and jumped back over the wall.
Her pit stop was a good one, and as she was pulling out, she almost hit Pamela who was just bringing her car in. Carly spun her tires, and made a smoke cloud.
“Hope she chokes on the fumes.” Carly muttered. She got the car back onto the track, and gained another 3 positions. “Great pit stop guys!” she yelled exitedly. What lap is this?”
“Lap 40. We got a while to go yet, so take it easy. Just pick your way up to the front.” Tony Jr. advised her.
“Tony Junior, I’m just gonna have to call you TJ, cause this “Tony” stuff is messing me up. Hope you don’t mind. Just for today, ok, TJ?” Carly laughed.
Tony Jr. laughed. “Ok, CJ, anything you say!”
“Aye Aye, captain. Where is the dreaded Pamela, anyway. She go home yet?” Carly asked.
“She’s the last car on the lead lap.” Tony Sr. said. “Damned if Scotty and the guys didn’t give her a great pit stop too.”
“I hope she’s pissed. I really do. I hope she gets a lap down.” Carly grumbled.
The race went on. Carly had gotten into 5th position. Steven Wallace had gotten up behind her. They were at the half way mark, and it was almost time for another pit stop. Steven tapped her rear bumper. Then he hit it again.
“Uh, is this a carnival ride???” Carly yelled. “Uncle Tony, talk to Rusty please! What’s this kid trying to do??”
“Let him pass you Carly, then move him outta the way!” Tony Sr. said. But it was too late – Steven hit her again, and Carly got loose, and spun up the track. She could see cars dodging her. Smoke was everywhere. Carly braced for impact with the wall. She managed not to hit it though. She came to rest just centimeters from the wall.
“You OK?” Tony Sr. asked.
“Yup. I’m gonna try to turn it around. Engine’s off.” Carly hit her ignition. Luckily, it started up. She gave it gas and turned the car around. She got back in traffic. The yellow was out. Carly had managed to get going again before the leader, Ken Schrader got past her. “I got flat spots. Sorry guys!” She apologized to the pit crew. Her tires thumped around the track towards pit road.
“Hey – it’s ok – GREAT save, Carly.” TJ said. She skidded into the pits.
“Fast guys! Get me back out – get me positions!” she said. She hoped Dale would stick his hand in her window again, but he was too busy. He was working hard. He had to run to catch a loose tire, then get back to get the jack down. When she felt her car hit the ground again, she stuck her hand out and waved. He waved back, and she was off.
“13.9!!!” TJ said. “Awesome job!! Woo Hoo Carly – you got out really quick!”
“I know! Thanks guys! Awright! Where am I? I know I got past a bunch of cars. TellmeTellmeTellme!!!” Carly was excited.
“Uh…looks like…14th! You made up 10 positions! Great job down there!” Tony Sr. praised his crew.
“OK Guys!” Carly yelled. “I can take it from here. I’ll get us a trophy. No trophy for Princess Prickly Pear. She’s toast.”
The race continued on. Carly had to avoid lots of spins and bumps from the less experienced racers. Pamela managed not to get into too much trouble. Neither did Steven or Justin. In fact, Justin was doing pretty well. He had more experience than Steven. He had actually had a couple of Busch starts in the past. This was his first time at Atlanta. He managed to run in the top ten. Carly was in the top ten too, along with Stacey Compton. Another caution flag brought them all in for their final pit stops. Carly only took on right side tires and gas. She got back out of the pits, and was in third.
“Nice one! Thanks again, guys! This race is looking better!” Carly laughed. Pamela had gotten a good pit stop too. She managed to pick up some positions. “Where is she? Which position?” Carly asked.
“12th.” Tony Sr. replied. “No where near you, honey. Keep up the good job. You gotta get past Schrader now.”
Ken Schrader had led practically the whole race. Justin Labonte was in second. Carly was third. When they went green again, Carly was able to pass Justin, and take second from him.
“Ok – I’m on my way. Damn. Schrader’s got a hot rod. That car is fast. I’m doing my best – that car is just plain fast.”
Justin was trying his darndest to pass Carly. The laps wound down. They were down to the last ten laps. Pamela had managed to get up to about 10th, then she tried to pass on the outside, got out of the groove, and got shuffled back to 15th.
“Ha, Ha.” Carly laughed when Tony told her what had happened. “Guys – I’m tryin’! Schrader’s just too freakin’ fast. Whoa!” Carly exclaimed as she got hit from the rear. “What the hell was that?”
“Labonte again. He wants second real bad. Steven Wallace is behind him. Looks like they’re trying to draft. They want by you, so watch out. Stay low. Make them move out of the groove. Stay put. Keep going. Here he comes again!”
BAM. “Ouch.” Carly said. “I must admit, I did that a lot when I was in ARCA.” There were now 5 laps to go.
“Whoa – Pam spun! She’s ok – no yellow. She’s trying to turn it around. Watch out – you’re coming up on her, she’s in turn two – you’re clear. She’s moving – no yellow – keep going. Clear. Watch your rear.” Tony Sr. was coaching her.
Carly began to get really excited. She was passing the pit area, and she glanced over as she passed. She could see both red Budweiser crews standing on the pit wall, waving. She knew they were waving at her. She pushed her car to try to catch Schrader. Now they were getting the white flag. One lap to go. Try as she might, Carly could not catch up to Schrader. As they were coming into turn 3, Carly felt Justin get into her rear bumper again. He was right on her.
“Watch your rear! Brace yourself! I think he’s gonna try and move you on the front stretch. Keep control, Carly. Hang on!”
“I got it. I got it.” BAM he hit her again. “Dammit!” Carly yelled. BAM again. They were coming to the finish line. The checkered flag was waving. Ken Schrader was going to win. Carly wanted to hang on for second. But Justin hit her one more time, really hard. She started to spin. She corrected, and managed to slow the spin down. The car skidded around oh so slowly, and Justin got ahead of her. Her car spun 180 degrees around, and she crossed the finish line backwards!
“Whooooooaaaaaa where am I?????” she yelled. Her car continued to turn, and eventually she corrected out of the spin and was going forwards again. The crowd was on its feet.
“Ha!! That was the funniest finish for you yet, Carly! You crossed the finish line backwards!! But you got third! Not bad for a backwards run!” TJ yelled.
“Whoa. Man. I need to see a replay. I got totally disoriented. Shit. Oops, sorry.” She mumbled.
Dale came on the radio. “What the hell was that, babe? “Backwards” Carly Grant. I gotta say, I’ve never done that!”
She let out a breath. “I dunno, Dale. What the hell was that? But hey, a top 3 is a top 3, no matter how you get it, I guess. Hey, Kerry crossed the finish line upside down once. So I’m not the only one. I hope someone has some Gatorade for me. Red Gatorade, please. Driving backwards makes me thirsty.” She laughed.
“You got it, babe!” Dale answered.
“Hey, jack man – nice job!” she said.
“Thank you, honey! You did good tonight too!” He laughed. She got the car parked on pit road, and started to get un- buckled. Dale met her with her Gatorade. He leaned in, and helped her with her helmet, then gave her a quick kiss.
“Thanks!” she said as he helped her out. She took a long drink. “Where’s the princess?” She asked.
“Who cares?” Dale grinned at her.
“She was pissed at me. And I don’t know why. Did you see her slam me?”
“Yeah. What a bitch. She did a bad job of hitting you, too. No finesse.” He grinned. “You handled it pretty well.”
Carly saw Justin Labonte by his car, laughing with his dad. “You better not be laughing at me, Justin…” Carly scolded.
“Hey, Sorry Carly!” he said. “I wanted to get you out of the way sooo bad! I didn’t mean to spin you! Hey – you drive backwards real good!”
Carly and Dale laughed. “You just wait! I’ll get you back, someday! Good finish, though. Keep up the good work!”
“Thanks!” he said.
Carly smiled at Dale. “Lets get outta here. Hey – Where’s Steve?”
“He said he had a date. But he didn’t give me any other details.”
“Ooo – think it’s that Megan girl?” Carly speculated.
“Better not be. You know who she works for. Uh oh, bitch patrol, dead ahead…” Dale stopped walking.
Pamela was strutting up towards Carly.
