Chapter 1 ~Musings~
It was mid afternoon. The sun hadn't come out all day but there was no rain
in the forecast. No sun meant a less slick track. And that's just the way
Dale Jr. wanted it.
The young Earnhardt made himself busy half the day in the garages. Helping
his crew work on his number 8 car and even sharing some useful information
with his teammates. To everyone else he looked like a happy go lucky young
man. but something was wrong. It wasn't the day or the atmosphere or even
the track or the car. It was something else. It was eating at him inside
and he knew, after trying to busy himself all morning to forget about it
only to not have it work, he had to tell someone. and soon.
After throwing a wrench back into a toolbox, he straighten up and stared off
into space thinking.
He sat down on one of the toolboxes and grabbed a rear spring that was lying
next to him. He ran his fingers over it in thought.
After some critical musings, he narrowed it down to two people he would talk
to. Chocolate Myers. or Steve Park.
And after additional thinking and a slight chuckle to himself, he realized
that telling Chocolate might be a bad idea. The guy would be his shadow for
the rest of his life if he told him what he was keeping.
Junior stood up from the toolbox he was sitting on and went in search of
Steve. Steve was one of the nicest and most understanding people he knew.
And he also was really good at keeping a secret. Hopefully in this case he
will live up to his reputation.
A quick check to his watch told him he had about an hour till qualifying
began. Not such a good time to get into an important conversation. Plus he
probably had something to do. like work on his car. Well. he had to try.
It didn't take him long to get to Steve's garage area. Junior took a look
around the Pennzoil team and sighed. He didn't see Steve anywhere. He
whispered an obscenity and turned around to walk away. He got halfway back
to his own Garage area when he heard someone call his name. Junior stopped
and spun around only to be greeted by Steve Park.
"Junior! Jesus man you're a fast walker. Were you looking for me? I saw
ya come over and then walk away. I was next door talking to Stewart."
Junior smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah I was lookin for ya. Do you have a few minutes?"
"Well I'm like the twenty first car to qualify today so I've got a little
extra time. What's on your mind?"
"We have to talk in private." He said while turning around to walk to a
place they could talk. .
"Sure."
The two men headed to the bus area. Juniors heart was going a thousand
miles an hour and he couldn't help but think that telling someone would make
the whole situation worse. But he had to say something. Maybe it would
feel better if he got it out.
The two men stood in silence for a few minutes. looking down at their feet
and anywhere else but themselves till Steve couldn't take it anymore.
"JUNIOR! SPIT IT OUT MAN! Your killin m.."
Before he could finish his sentence Junior blurted out what he wanted to
say. He knew when he started saying it; it would be easier to continue.
"Do you remember a long time ago my dad was getting letters?"
Steve stood in front of him confused with fused eyebrows.
"Letters. Like?"
Little E took a deep sigh and fidgeted with his Bud cap.
"You can't mention this to anyone."
"What's going on? You're acting too serious here!" Steve said while
straightening up a little.
"Letters Steve!! Do you remember?" Junior half screamed. He was frustrated
when he came to the realization that he would have to describe the whole
thing.
"Dale. if your not gonna flat out spit it out I'm gonna ring your neck!"
Steve threatened as he put his hands menacingly on his hips.
Junior let him self slip out a chuckle. Even though he didn't feel like
laughing at all he couldn't' help it when he saw Steve getting mad. Steve
Park never got mad!
"Stop laughing at me and spill!"
"Well back a while ago dad kept getting these letters. They were from the
N.Y. area and they were telling him to get more security at certain tracks
cause he'll be there and what not. You remember now?"
Juniors question was answered when he watched Steve's eyes go wide.
"I do! My god I forgot about that!"
"Yeah I noticed."
"Dale that was like. wow. TOO long ago! What is making you remember that
now?"
This was a question he was afraid of getting. He wanted to tell him but
wanting and doing are two different things. After a couple seconds of
silence, Junior decided he had gotten this far.
"I'm getting them now."
