Chapter 23 ~~
“Tony Jr? Can you see anything?! I can’t see anything but the smoke! Dale?!”
“Nothing yet… wait…there!”
Ty breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Red Bud car coast out on the other side of the smoke.
“Start you hearts back up guys. Everything’s fine.” Jr assured them as Tony came into view back behind him. Steve’s car followed.
“Son of a bitch Earnhardt!! Answer me next time would you?!”
“I was a little busy Norris. Sorry.”
“Car ok Jr?” his cousin asked him from the pit box. The happiness in his voice was evident.
“I have flat spots. I’m gonna have to come in.”
“10-4. All the leaders are. Don’t’ know how you got through that. Apparently Rudd spun in front of you and Steve.”
“I saw it. He looked extremely loose and I knew he was gonna go any minute. I just stuck with Steve and pushed him through.”
“Steve wants to say Thank you and that your amazing Jr. But you know that already. So keep an eye on your pit road speed.” Ty said bringing everyone back to the job at hand.
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“That was a close call! Don’t know how Jr missed it!” Wally said. No doubt he was bewildered at what he just saw happen on the track.
“That boy sure can drive even if he’s hurtin.” Benny added with a big grin plastered on his face.
Hank made a slight smirk but couldn’t smile with them. He still knew what was going on and it was far from over. He just hoped Teresa was able to find that Ron asshole and stop him before this race was over.
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After what seemed like forever Teresa and Karla met up behind the #8’s crash cart half out of breath and above all disappointed.
“I don’t see Kerry anywhere Teresa… maybe they aren’t out at pit road?”
“They have to be. He’d want to see what was going on.”
Teresa just stood there scanning the crowds again desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of Kerry somewhere till she realized the field was under caution. She watched as the cars came back down pit road to do their last pit stops. Her time was running out. She had to help both her stepsons. She just needed to find Kerry!
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Jr coasted down pit road again leading the field to their pit boxes when he saw… His fingers fumbled with the radio button. Hopefully she was still standing at his pit box. Hopefully she would understand. Jr realized that this would be the most important pit stop of his life.
He approached the Bud Sign and he couldn’t help but think this was the longest pit road in Nascar history! Finally he wrenched the Large Stock car into its spot and as the crewmembers went at their work he searched for his Step Mother. By some sort of gift from the heavens above Teresa was standing there almost in the same spot as before. This was his only chance.
He let his fingers hit the radio button that he had fumbled to find before making sure he had it right there.
“Sr… Teresa… Tell Teresa that the 12 is in the 40! Tell her now!” he yelled out... hoping his message would be understood by the woman he put a great deal of trust in.
“10-4 right away.” His uncle answered back with a tone in his voice like he knew this was more then just important.
Jr watched as his Uncle got Teresa’s attention when his car dropped to the ground and he shot off pit road again in the lead. Jr couldn’t help but think how lucky he had been in this race so far. With the way he was feeling he should have crashed on the 1st lap. But he was leading the hell out of a race at LOUDEN and wishing he was somewhere else.
He realized after he got back out on the track that yelling wasn’t such a good idea. His head hurt even worse now if that was at all possible and he was shaking uncontrollably. Whether from nerves or the immense amount of pain he was in he didn’t know. Slowly following the pace car he allowed the Bud mobile to bump into it as his daddy use to do. He needed to do something to keep him motivated so he wouldn’t lose it during cautions.
“Ya ok in there buddy?” Ty’s voice filled the earpiece.
“Still alive.” Jr replied not knowing how much those two little words tugged at Ty’s heart. After everything he had been through why couldn’t Little E FINALLY have a break? Instead the poor man was sitting in a hot stock car, bruised and battered. He was also confused at the message he had Tony Sr. Relay to Teresa. Hell he didn’t even know Teresa was there! But he was sure once this was over he’d find out why.
“Um… good. Ok... one to go… You got a LOT of lapped cars on your inside. The 2’s behind you. Tony is third. Don’t know how that all happened.”
“Me neither Ty.” Jr heard Tony’s voice back over the radio. “Don’t know where the hell he came from but be careful.”
Jr looked into his mirror and sighed. “Not my year…” he mouthed to himself. He did not need to mess around with Rusty Wallace today. But it looked like he had a battle on his hands. He just hoped he had enough strength to make it through.
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“12 is in the 40?” Teresa mumbled looking into space.
“That’s what he said.” Tony Sr. said before getting back to his spot on the box.
Teresa was having a brain fart. Why would Jr tell him the 12 is in the….
“HOLY SHIT!” She screamed out. Louder then she had wanted to. She turned to Karla who was still glancing around looking for signs of the oldest Earnhardt. Teresa went for her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Go find Matt again… Tell him 40’s pit stall! Take them to the 40 pit stall!” The girl understood her job and nodded as Teresa let go and ran off down pit road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Crap…” Kerry muttered as he realized who was behind his little brother on the track. Rusty never gave Jr an inch and even if the man didn’t realize that it was Jr driving the Bud car he would still put up a fight to claim the top spot. Rusty seemed to always take pride in passing the “Other” beer cars.
“I couldn’t’ have planned this better myself!” He heard Ron rejoice next to him. The happy tone in his voice sent chills up Kerry’s spin. He tried to ignore him and focus on the restart but Ron was having none of it.
“Why are you so quiet?! You should be happy that your brothers winning! That means your safe.”
Kerry’s eyebrows fused.
“I thought you were gonna kill us all…”
Ron cackled and unconsciously stroked the weapon that was tucked hidden in his waste band.
“I only want one of ya… hell… who knows! After this is all over I might get bored again or seek revenge on more of you Earnhardt’s. I gotta tell ya that this has been one hell of a fun ride! I might wanna do it all over again.!”
Kerry held back as best he could. He wanted to lay this guy out right on his back. Punch him so hard his whole family would feel it. But with the maniac having that gun it kept him pretty helpless. He had an idea forming and just hoped he could pull it off. If not… well he didn’t want to think that far into it.
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Dale Jr sat in his seat, slowly following the pace car and swerving the Bud car gently back and forth to warm up the tires. His mind was racing. He had to win… He had to win for Kerry and his family… he had to win for himself. Pressure was far from the word at this moment. He wasn’t sure there was a word that could describe how he felt and he honestly didn’t have the strength or brainpower to think of one.
Deep down Jr knew that Ron wasn’t going to keep his plan. Ron wanted Jr gone for his own insane reasons and the man was unstoppable. He just hoped Kerry would be ok. He hoped that Teresa understood his cryptic message. He hoped that the path he believed he was about to drive down didn’t lead to the outcome he was expecting. This was probably his last chance to get things out and he was going to take full advantage of it.
“You guys…” Jr said, addressing his whole team at one lap to go.
“Yea buddy…” he heard his cousin say back. Jr sighed and crinkled his face in pain as he kept swerving the car as he continued.
“I have some things to say before we go green again… because I’m afraid I wont be able to get a chance to say this to you guys in the future. Stewart you too…”
Ty’s head shot up. What did he mean by that? He looked down from his spotting position to observe the Bud Crew on pit road. They each looked at each other out of bewilderment.
“I love all you guys. You’ve all made me who I am today. I’ve changed over the years and I know you’ve all noticed it. Well you all played a part in my change and I’m grateful to all of you for being in my life. I would have never gotten through my fathers death without something to keep me going and you’ve all kept me going.”
Every single member of the Bud Team dropped their heads and stared in silence as they listened intently to the man they respected and put their bodies on the line for.
“Sr, Jr, Ty? Hell guys I hope I don’t have to tell you all right now how I feel. If you don’t know already then you never truly will know how much I love ya’ll. Thank you.”
Tears started to stream down Ty’s face. He didn’t care that he was getting weird looks from his fellow spotters next to him. His friend was saying goodbye. He was scared of what was coming next.
“What ever happens in the remaining laps of this race… know that I’m driving today to save the people that I love. You’ll understand all of this later. I’m sorry I put you all through hell for the past couple months. I’m sorry I caused anyone pain but please don’t hurt any longer after this is all said and done.
And Stewart… It was a pleasure to be on the same track as you week in and week out. I feel privileged to have knocked a few fenders with ya.”
“Thanks Jr…” He heard Stewart choke out through his earpiece.
“We love ya buddy…” Ty whispered also…
Jr could here the pain in his voice and he was sure his good friend was crying. He wanted to cry himself… From all the emotions and pain he was going through it seemed like a good thing to do. But not now… now he had to drive.
“Ok guys… “ Jr said as he rounded the turn towards the start/finish line. “Lets kick a little ass.”
And with that Dale Jr mashed the pedal…
