Chapter 24~~
“Rusty just ducked on your inside Jr! Careful He’s there by a nose!” Ty half yelled in his earpiece.
Jr wasn’t having any of that. He had gone too long in this race to be beaten now, especially by a Wallace. It was no secret that there was no love lost between the two. They respected each other off the track but on it there was no such things as friends. They are complete rivals and it didn’t help that their sponsors were also in a corporate fight.
He drove the Bud car hard into the corner getting just enough grip to shoot back out ahead of Rusty. Jr ducked down into the lower groove to defend his spot.
“Good move Jr… all cl…” But before Ty could finish his words, he watched Rusty go at it again. This time he was using full force.
The Miller car got a great exit out of turn two and without even considering the consequences of his actions, Rusty rammed into the left back fender of the Bud car. Jr worked like hell inside trying to straighten out his stock car as it lurched sideways threatening the outside wall. With every jerk and wrench of the wheel Jr felt his insides rip apart. Whatever stitches he had left in his stomach were now surely all gone. His brain felt like it was going to throb right out of his ears and every muscle. Especially the ones he strained in the truck crash were screaming.
With a gasp and a whimper, he got the car straightened and fell in line behind Rusty. He was lucky that he only dropped one spot and how he saved that car he had no clue. All he knew was pain as more stars came to his eyes. He was shaking uncontrollably as he clutched his stomach with his left hand.
“Nice save buddy… Go get him! 15 laps to go!” Ty encouraged through the headset. Jr didn’t even have the strength to reply back. And he sure didn’t know how he was gonna finish this race let alone win it.
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Kerry watched with wide eyes. The scene wasn’t pretty and he was sure his younger brother was gonna go right into the wall. When he didn’t and the Bud car straightened its self out he finally took a breath.
Suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder knocking the breath he just took right back out again.
“Its almost time…” Ron said to him while fingering the gun in his belt with his other hand as he held on to Kerry tightly.
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Jr collected his thoughts and worked hard to get control over his body. Throughout the whole race he tried to ignore the pain and keep himself focused on the racecar. It was working well up till now. He couldn’t ignore the fuzziness in his brain and the sudden dizzy spell he was under. He was forced to stay behind Rusty until he was able to actually see clearly. For now he’d just ride around in his tracks… but he couldn’t’ stay there for long.
“Ok… your lap times are dropping off Jr. Something’s wrong isn’t there.” His cousin said. Worry laced his voice.
There was no answer. The Radio remained silent.
“10 laps…” Ty added breaking the quiet.
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“Looks like Rusty got the better of Jr there.” Benny said while never letting his eyes leave the track.
“Yeah he’s so much better in 1 and 2 then Earnhardt. It actually looks like Dale’s dropping back a little.” Wally commented.
Hank shivered inwardly. That damn Rusty Wallace didn’t know what he was doing leading the race with 9 laps to go. It was like he was placing the knife in Ron’s hand.
Hank knew Jr was struggling in the car. He’d seen it bobble and sway so many times. It was only a matter of time before the man inside couldn’t take anymore.
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Jr still wouldn’t’ answer his crew as they attempted to get an answer from the driver. He couldn’t answer them. His mind was to busy trying to work things out.
“8 to go Jr… Come on… Answer us!” his cousin pleaded again.
“Did he unplug the radio?”
“No clue”
“Jr your clear from behind. Tony dropped off a little. You can do this. You can get the 2 car.” Ty said trying to encourage his friend hoping he could still hear him.
Jr needed help. He had nothing left in him. The pain was too much for him to bear anymore and he was tempted to just let unconsciousness take him. He wouldn’t’ even feel it when he hit the wall. He’d be out cold. He had failed his family, his friends… himself. His dad would be so disappointed in him.
“Hey kid… I got a little story for you.” Jr heard his uncle say in his powerful voice. That voice that demanded you listen.
“6 laps” Ty snuck in.
“A week after you won the Winston your dad and I had a little chat… he told me… “Tony that boy’s gonna be invincible someday. There will be nothing he can’t do in a racecar. You watch.” I thought he was over exaggerating and I told him so… I said you were good but prolly will never be invincible. He gave me a look like had lost my mind. He pointed over to your garage and said to me “That boy right there is the future.”
“5 to go…”
“He was right boy. And your almost there. I’ve seen you do things in that car I would never have imagined since then. Four in a row at Dega… that Pepsi 400 where you schooled them all. And driving in that car right now after everything you’ve been through. Your father knew what he was talking about… I finally knew what he was talking about… now you need to realize it. You can do this.” Tony Sr. with a hint of a crack in his voice.
There was no verbal answer from the 8 car… But no one needed one… for the Bud car was now hugging the rear bumper of Rusty’s car.
“3 more laps to go Jr.”
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Teresa caught up with Matt Yocum and a slew of Track security and police officers. They were all keeping a good distance from the #40 pit to avoid being seen.
“Oh good!” Teresa said running up to them. “There are only 3 laps to go now! We have to act fast! He’s waiting for this race to end. We can’t let him get away.”
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The red stock car gave no mercy to the blue one in front of it. Giving bumps and taps causing it to wiggle around on the asphalt.
“2 more laps Junebug”
He had no more time to let himself give up. Something in what his uncle said resurged him. His heart thumped away in his chest as he gripped the wheel tight and laid a bumper to the car in front of him. Rusty’s car wiggled dramatically in front of him leaving a huge gap at the bottom of the track. It was a tempting sight but Jr knew that a Wallace never just gave you the spot… this was a trick… and as soon as the nose of the Bud Chevy took a peek Rusty slammed the hole up tight in such a move that Jr knew he would have taken him out if his car was just a few inches forward.
“That was rotten! Your coming to the white flag!” Ty half shouted in his ear.
This was it… the moment of truth. It was now or never and he was going for it. Once again he rammed the back of the Miller lite car a couple times till it wiggled back up the track leaving that tempting gap again. He knew what Rusty was going to do and was ready for it as he lunched his car into the gap.
Seconds later the Bud and Miller cars connected themselves. Front tire to back tire leaving smoke in its trail. Jr fought like he’d never fought before holding the car steady in the turn. It was either him or Rusty and Jr knew he wasn’t letting this car spin out.
They stayed hooked together coming into the last turn. If Jr had let himself take his eyes off the track he would have seen the waving checkered flag at the flag stand. Beckoning him to get it. Rusty was hanging on surprisingly well. This was Jr’s last shot… and he decided to play it Earnhardt Style.
Before exiting the turn Jr let his wheel disconnect from the Miller car and hugged the bottom line, giving both drivers a breather… till he took his preferred line back. The sudden return of contact did the job. There was a squeal of tires and large puffs of smoke
