Chapter 2 ~ Drinking and Driving ~
It took a few minutes to calm Steve down. There was a few shouts of “What” and “Are you kidding?” followed by a couple more “What’s” but finally Junior got Steve to sit on a chair and listen to what he had to say.
“I got the first one about a month ago. I ignored it because some people just get mad! It was just a normal first letter… didn’t say a word about my father so I just threw it in the trash. But a week later I got another one. From the same guy… and he let slip that he was the one that sent my dad those letters. Started saying some junk about the fact that he never got a chance to finish what he planned to start but he had an other chance now… me.”
Steve’s mouth was on the ground when Junior finally refocused his eyes.
“I can’t believe this… Did you tell anyone else?”
“Hell no! I don’t want to be bothered by this!!”
“DALE! Apparently it IS bothering you if you are acting like this. You need to tell someone so they can do something!”
Junior started cracking his knuckles. He knew he was gonna get this reaction but he wasn’t prepared to deal with it.
“What are they gonna do huh? Not let ANYONE from New England into a race?”
“ Junior… there are things they can do…”
Junior didn’t answer. He turned his back and tried to get his breath back. This was a lot harder then he thought. Steve stood up and put a hand on his shoulder.
“How many more letters have there been Dale? “
The young Earnhardt hesitated a moment.
“Five.”
Junior could feel the exasperated sigh from his friend behind him.
“Fine… I know your not gonna want to hear this… But this is what I’m going to do. I will give you till after Sundays race to tell someone on your own. Whenever you want… where ever you want… WHO ever you want that can help you and that has the authority to do something about this. If you don’t tell by Sunday night… I will.”
There was nothing else he could do. Steve was set on his plan and would stick by it. He did what he had to do and decided he didn’t want to deal with this anymore. He needed to focus on qualifying his car.
“I gotta go. See ya later.”
And with that, Junior walked back out into the hustle and bustle of the garages.
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Because of the wonderful weather and the excellent job by his crew on the car, Junior qualified 5th. He was a tad surprised that he did so well since his mind wasn’t on it through the whole thing. But he couldn’t’ let it show that he was preoccupied. He would work his hardest to not let on that something was wrong till he figured out whom to tell and when. He didn’t want to have Steve do it. He should do it himself.
As Junior walked out of the pit area he saw Steve out of the corner of his eye watching him walk by. He ignored him instead of smiling, waving or nodding and continued back to his bus. He needed a nap or something to ease his mind.
But getting IN TO the bus was going to be a task. Waiting for him at the door of his bus was Kevin Harvick, Elliot Sadler, and Tony Stewart.
“Hey Dale! We were waitin for ya!” Elliot said in his unique accent.
“Yeah we’re goin out tonight and knew you’d be in on the fun.”
Junior stopped in front of his barricades and turned on a smile.
“Kevin you have a Busch race tomorrow. Gonna drive it with a hangover?”
Kevin chuckled.
“Naw man. I’m not drinkin tonight. I’ll be the DD.”
Junior found that absolutely hilarious. He started laughing harder then he ever thought possible at a time like this.
“You have GOT to be kidding me! YOU? You don’t have enough willpower for that my friend!”
Kevin shrugged and put out his hand.
“Wanna bet on it?”
Junior went to shake his hand when behind him he heard a woman’s voice. It was Kevin’s Wife Delana.
“I wouldn’t do that Dale. I’m going with him… So he’ll win of course!”
Junior stuck his hands back in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels.
“So you in Dale? Partying wont be the same without ya.” Elliot said.
“Yeah why not. I gotta get away from here anyways.”
And with that he finally got past his friends and hopped on his bus to change. Some how all of the sudden he felt relieved. He told Steve and he would back him if he failed telling his secret. His friends were around to cheer him up even if they didn’t know what about and he was about to drown himself in a cold one. He couldn’t’ think of any other way to put himself at ease.
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Junior didn’t remember much of Saturday. His head was killing him and he was sore as hell from sitting on a bar stool all night. Maybe next time he’ll try a different approach to ease. He watched half of the Busch race on his bus nodding off and hugging a bottle of Tylenol. He only emerged from it to Congratulate Kevin on his win and get ready for Happy Hour.
As he made his way clumsily to his stock car he heard his name called from behind. Spinning around he saw Steve Park walking his way.
Junior rolled his eyes and sighed while leaning up against the car. His skull splitting headache and the need for a pillow wasn’t going to make this encounter very enjoyable. Finally Steve made it over to the red car and stopped. There was silence for a moment full of nervousness.
“Well?” Steve said while placing a glare into the black sunglasses of Little E.
“Well what…”
“Oh come on now! Don’t play! I know you don’t want to do this and you have been avoiding me but your gonna do it or I will remember? I just want to give you a chance to show some responsibility!” Steve said in a grown up but giggly type voice. He was trying to be stern while being funny at the same time. It wasn’t working though
“Steve I know I gotta do this. Stop riding my ass… I’m having enough trouble as it is functioning today.”
Steve’s eyebrow went up in the air.
“Someone’s been drinkin!! What a way to get your mind off of it man. Well I’ll see ya later then. Go practice.”
Junior turned around to collapse into his drivers seat.
Steve started to walk away but turned back around.
“Dale… I’m suggesting this… as a friend… Fix your attitude. Its not gonna help ok?”
All Steve’s answer was a grunt and the sound of the number 8’s engine being started.
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Junior had a lot of time in that car that afternoon to think of what Steve said. He WAS being an asshole and didn’t care who it was to. He did need to change his attitude. So he had to tell Mike Helton about some crazy man writing him letters… so what. Once he does it he won’t have to worry about it anymore. It will be all their problem…. If his dad could handle this guy… so could he.
He went to Steve trusting him and now he’s treating him like shit. He would have to apologize to him as soon as his head stopped feeling like it was going to split in two.
Even though his head still hurt climbing out of the car he felt a feeling of content. He would tell Mike Helton and Nascar about this tomorrow right before the race. And then he would be able to enjoy and maybe win tomorrow’s 400 miles.
“How was the car? It looked really good out there… 3rd fastest!”
Junior placed a smile on his face to chat with Tony Stewert.
“Yeah it’s handling great Tony. Thanks.”
“Does this mean I’ll have to be fighting with you tomorrow for the lead?”
Junior chuckled.
“HA! You wont be able to catch me!”
“Ok then… But when I bump your ass up the track and take the led don’t complain that rubbing isn’t racin!”
“Oh don’t go there… you’ll start something… or get fined again.”
“I don’t care… its to much fun… BRING IT ON!”
Junior winced at his outburst but tried to hide it. It was time to cut the convo short and get a Motrin in him.
“Ok Tony I’ll catch ya tomorrow. I’m gonna crash.”
“Alright Dale. Get rid of that hang over!”
And with that Tony walked away leaving Junior a tad stunned. How’d he know he had a hangover? Was it that noticeable?
“Great” He muttered…
And he headed off to his bus.
