Chapter 20 ~~
Jr sat quietly in his racecar as his team pushed him out to pit lane. His mind was everywhere. It didn't take a genius to realize he was in a bad situation.
Ron had told him that he had to win the race in true Earnhardt fashion or Hank and Kerry wouldn't ever be going home again. What a thing to put on someone. Obviously this man expected him to lose so he had a reason to hurt the people he loved.
Nerves rippled though his stomach as the crew guided the car onto pit road. He was used to stress every weekend and lately it was a friend of his but this was a different situation. He had someone else's life in his hands not to mention his own.
The car was backed into its spot and hooked up in all the right places. People wandered by peering into the car wondering why the driver was already in it. Jr leaned his head back onto the headrest and sighed. It was gonna be a long day. The car already felt like more then a hundred degrees and even though he knew he should have, he never ate anything.
10 minutes went by of pre-race activities when he heard Hanks name being called over the speaker a few times. Finally someone must have told the announcer because he said the next name and continued on.
His head started to droop as the heat and lack of food started to hit him. He felt like he could fall asleep right there and not wake up for a week. He was thrown from his thoughts when a hand landed on his shoulder. He flinched at the shock.
“I'm sorry I didn't meant to scare you!”
Jr looked up at the man standing in front of him and his heart leaped. Ty Norris…. Someone who could help… all he had to do was tell him. He could help!
“Hank? What are you doin in the car so early??! I was about to get myself up on the tower when I noticed you weren't going up on the stage for introductions. What's wrong?”
Jr just stared up at him. Thoughts ran through his head. Should he tell him? Should he lift his visor and expose who he is and get him to send help?
“Hello? Are you ok?”
Jr nodded his head.
“Alright…” Ty gave him a suspicious look and leaned back from the car window.
Jr looked away from Ty till he heard a familiar voice.
“Hey Ty? How are you?”
“Kerry! I didn't know you were here? What's up man?!”
“I'm here helping with a few things.” Kerry glanced into the race car at Jr as he slowly shook his head at Kerry's words.
“Well I have to get to my position Good Luck Hank, talk to you later Kerry.”
And with that… Jr's chance walked away…
“Damn it” he mumbled.
Kerry leaned into the race car.
“I know you wanted to tell him…”
Jr looked everywhere but at Kerry. His anger boiled up inside of him.
“Jr I have to tell you something… I didn't want to tell you cause I didn't think that I deserved any pity from you but It needs to be said.”
Kerry paused like he was waiting for a reply but obviously got none.
“Well…. Umm… ok… I know you wanted to tell Ty… but there is more to this then you think. Ron doesn't just have Hank… He has Rene and the boys.”
This got Jr's attention and his head shot in Kerry's direction.
“There's more. Please don't' hate me for what I'm about to say.”
Jr was in shock. That madman had his nephews and sister in law! Now not only was he racing for Hank and Kerry's lives not to mention his own he had to worry have 4 other lives that were on the line.
“This is hard to say but I have to get it out before you go and risk your neck out there. You know how we didn't meet until later on in our lives? Well… I still knew about you. And… I… I hated you.”
There was a pause from Kerry when he witnessed Jr's shoulders tense up.
“I shouldn't' say hate… I'm sorry… ummm… I was jealous of you. I envied you like you wouldn't believe. I was his first-born but apparently he didn't think I was good enough to carry his name! You got to see him all the time! You got opportunities that I knew I'd never get. He loved you Dale... He excepted your faults and differences.”
Jr looked anywhere he could that was not Kerry. He couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth. He wanted no more then to get out of the car and run away from his words. But he was trapped, a prisoner in his car to the harsh reality flowing from his so-called brother.
“About a year ago I was in a bar just after you won Dega again. I had too many and started babbling about you to this guy. He said he'd help me with my problems… Jr I didn't want him to hurt you! I was drunk! I didn't know his intentions!”
Kerry was quick to wipe away the tears starting to leak from his eyes that Jr never saw.
“He never told me he was sending you letters but he did constantly remind me that if I didn't help him with his plan that he would hurt Rene and the boys! I had no choice! I thought I could figure out some way out of it! He asked me to… to get him into the garage area at Lowe's… I had to do it! I was hoping you wouldn't be around or he'd get caught and this would all be over.”
Jr heard Kerry sniff as he knelt at the car window.
“When I had heard… that you had been… I wanted to take my life right there. I couldn't look at you at the hospital… its why I left. I turned down driving your car for you while you were gone because it felt to me that I was replacing you… and that I had got what I wanted. That wasn't the case. I didn't want what I envied you for anymore. It never was mine to have….”
Kerry stopped talking as he heard the command to start the engines. He had talked right through the pre-race stuff. Jr's hand hesitated before reaching over and igniting the horsepower under the hood. The sound of the car drowned out anymore possible whispering and Jr sighed, happy he didn't have to hear Kerry any more.
Kerry stepped back as crew members fussed around the car. Jr glanced at him through the window net before he left pit row.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin looked ahead of him at the line of cars that had better qualifying runs. His only focus was the red 8 as it roared around the pace laps. He knew it… Something was up and it was even more noticeable when Hank didn't come up on the stage or come to drivers instructions.
“That Earnhardts in there… I know it.” He said out loud to absolutely no one.
He had watched Kerry in deep conversation and wanted more then anything to walk over there and rip off the helmet to find out who was inside. He was actually surprised Tony didn't do it! He was only a few cars in front of the Bud car. Obviously eyeing it in the same manner.
Kevin got on his mic to his crew.
“Hey guys? Do me a favor. Keep an eye on the Bud car for me!? Let me know what its doing too ok?”
“Ummm... 10-4 Kevin but why…?”
“I'll tell ya later.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jr tried clearing his head but Kerry's words still stung in all the right places. He never knew he had such harsh feelings about him.
“NO!” he screamed. “MUST CONCENTRATE!”
He made sure his safety stuff was hooked right and fixed his gloves.
“I gotta win this race…. I gotta win this race… DAMN IT! How am I gonna win this race?!”
Jr pounded his fist into the steering wheel just as a voice rung in his ears.
“Check… Hank can you hear me?”
Ty… oh how much he wanted to tell Ty.
“Hank? Can you hear me?”
Frustration filled his whole being. He wanted to answer Ty back to let him know he was in the car. To help him do something. But he wasn't sure if Ron was listening or not.
“Crap… Tony Jr can YOU hear me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Then something's wrong with his radio.”
“No there isn't.” a new voice chimed in.
“Huh? Then why isn't he answering Sr.?”
Jr listened longing to say something till he heard his uncle. The calmness in his voice soothed him somewhat. Yet… there was something else that stood out to him. His tone… He knew…
“Ty… You ain't callin him by his real name.”
“WHAT?!” Ty said in confusion. “Then what am I supposed to call him… Parker? Lil Hank?”
“How about calling him Jr.”
There was a long pause.
“Hank Jr?”
“Nope… Just call him Jr Ty… Now lets knock this off. He can hear us… just concentrate on what your supposed to do… Green is almost out.”
“Ummm ok… “
“Need to drop to the back of the field there kid. Missed the drivers meeting.” Sr. said over the earpiece.
Ty stood back a few seconds as he watched the 8 car drop to the back of the field because of missing drivers instructions.
“Naw…” He said out loud. “It cant be…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
“8 car is dropping to the back Kevin.”
“Thanks I see him coming.”
Kevin watched as he got closer to the red car. Just when he got close enough he lurched his car sideways till it was door to door, almost touching.
He reached his hand out of the side of the window net and gave a thumbs up.
Suddenly he felt his car get hit as he was branded with something.
“Earnhardt Doughnut… I knew it was you ya sneaky bastard…”
He turned his thumb's up into a wave and watched the 8 car drop back to the back of the field.
“What the hell was that Kevin? Is the car ok?”
“Cars fine… We were just talking.”
Kevin had a large Cheshire cat grin on his face as he saw the green flag ahead of him. This was gonna be interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jr's head was already bamming from just 3 pace laps. Sharp bolts stabbed at his brain, causing his eyes to squint. Not only was his head starting to hurt but he now saw why the doctors didn't want him in a car yet. His stomach was on fire.
“This didn't happen the other day when I drove.” He mumbled remembering when his friends made him get back in his car. He covered his stomach protectively with this left hand when he heard three words yelled into his ear.
“Green Green Green!”
Instinctively, pain or not, his right foot mashed the gas pedal. In one jolt Jr felt several hundred horses under the hood come to life.
“At least Kevin and Tony Sr. know.” He spoke out loud. Normally he wouldn't' talk to himself in the car but today was different. It was the only thing keeping him awake.
“Wish I could tell them what the problem is.”
The cars rounded the first turn. Jr noticed right away that the car was tight. That was gonna be tough on him. Something had to be done. He would HAVE to say something. But the car was fast and in just that one lap he had passed three cars.
“Still high… Still there… Clear” Ty informed as he passed his forth car.
It was a long way to the front but he was slowly making ground and he tried to shake off the aches and pains threatening to take over him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Dad!”
“What!” Tony Sr. screamed over the engines at his son who poked him to get his attention and speak to him without the head phones.
“What's going on?”
“What do you mean?”
His only answer was his son pointing at his head phones with a confused face.
“Give it time.” He mouthed. Tony Jr nodded and they both turned their attention back to the cars on the track.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tight… way too tight. That's all he could think about as he launched into the corners holding on for all he was worth. He had passed two more cars which was a feat in its self. One of the cars was Jimmy Spencer and that guy gave up spots to no one without a battle royal. He had almost lost it in turn two.
He couldn't hang on to this car much longer. Not with the pain he was feeling in his stomach. If he didn't have all the safety equipment on he would have curled up to try and relieve the pulling feeling. Instead he was forced to sit up straight and stiff.
He had to tell them. He had to talk. If anything but to just fix the car right on the first pit stop. The fright of Ron possibly listening in was keeping his mouth firmly shut. His thoughts focused on Hank. The look of surprise and happiness he had when he first saw him standing in the coach then replaced with utter fear. God knows what that man would do to his friend if he got mad.
But what was he supposed to do…
~~~~~~
“Zippy! Got a question!” Tony said over his mike as he chased down Jeff Gordon who started on the pole and had lead all the laps so far.
“What's that Smoke?”
“Is it possible for me to talk to any other driver on the radio right now?”
There was a pause from the other end. Tony saw what happened with Kevin and the Bud car earlier and his suspicions seemed to have been true. He had to talk to someone.
“Uh… Tony that's something we should have thought about before the race. Who you looking to talk to. Mark can pass messages for you.
“Was kinda hoping to talk to the driver of the Bud car. No offense Mark.”
"Non taken. Car low." His spotter said in one breath.
“Why do you wanna talk to Hank?”
Tony was silent for several seconds before answering. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to say anything over the radio.
“Tony? Why do you want to speak to him? Although I'd like to know why he wasn't at the meeting and didn't go up for drivers intros…”
“Its not Hank, Zippy… “
“Huh?”
“Hank isn't driving the car today. It's someone else.”
An exasperated sigh came from the other end. “ Then who is it Tony!”
“Did you see the mishape with Harvick and that Bud car before we went green?”
“Yeah… left Harvick with a big doughnut…” The home depot crew chief stopped mid sentence in realization.
“Holy Shit…”
“Please find a way for me to talk to him.” Tony said while taking the lead away from Jeff Gordon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony's car was strong in the lead 60 laps later but the focus wasn't on the orange car at the front.
A red blur kept the attention of the thousands in attendence as it passed cars left and right. It didn't take long for it to be in the top ten and still coming on strong.
"Somebody lit a fire under your ass huh boy?" Jr heard his uncle say as he passed the 8th place car of Bill Elliot."
If only he really knew what was going on in that car.
The tight car was getting tighter. It might have been somewhat tolerable if he wasn't so banged up. His muscles were on fire. The tingling sensation in his stomach were mixed with pains so unbearable that he would zone out while trying not to concentrate on the fire in his body. His pounding head was getting worse. It was so bad that he was now seeing shooting flashes in his eyes.
"Clear low Jr..." Ty said as he passed Steve.
Jr's senses perked up at the use of his name. When Ty said it, his voice was strong and sure. Ty knew. He had to have and if they were using his name and obviously knew who he was then maybe... just maybe Ron wasn't listening in.
He had to say something. The tightness was getting worse and so was his pain. He needed a break... and his prayers were answered.
"Cautions out. Spin in turn two... Kurt Busch." Ty relayed.
"Thank god" Jr whispered as he downshifted.
"Alright kid... Tell us. What are we doin to this car?"
His uncle expected him to answer... somehow... he knew he would answer him back. Jr followed behind Mikey as they got closer to pit road.
"Jr..." His uncles voice was stern.
"Tony just leave him alone." Ty said with a sigh. "Its obvious no ones gonna say anything."
"Its up to you Jr... let us know. Car looks a lil tight out there. Need us to fix it?"
Jr wanted to cry. He wanted to just ball his eyes out from the stress and frustration and pain inside of him.
His hand hovered over the mic button. Iching to press it. He wanted nothing more then to tell each and everyone one of his crew the pain he was feeling. And to help him get Ron and save the people he loved.
The Bud team froze as they heard a crackling and then the sound of the 8 cars motor as it got closer to them on pit road.
"...tight..."
Tony Jr looked up at his father with a whip of his head as he held the air gun. Their eyes connected, so full of hope and joy that he answered and that it indeed WAS him. He was ok and in that car! Not hurt somewhere from his truck accident that they had worried about for the passed 24 hours. They didn't even care to think why is was in the car right now.
It seems like several minutes ticked by as each crew memeber looked and smiled at each other until everyone got thrown back into reality.
"Alright! 4 tires and Gas! Take a round out in the left! We'll take care of ya Jr!" His cousin said in obvious excitement as the cars made their way down into their pits.
