Chapter 4 ~ The Scramble ~
“Hey Tony… if you drink any more soda you’ll be floating during the race!” Tony Sr. said to his son while checking his watch.
“Cant help it. Nothing else to do.”
The elder man sighed and tapped his foot while looking over the car. There really was nothing to do and something like this only came around once in a lifetime.
“Well then I guess I’ll go get something to eat. You want something?”
“No thanks. I’m content with this.” He said, raising the can high in the air and then bringing it back down to his lips.
“Alright then… “ And with that he turned to walk out of the garage area. He didn’t get 5 feet out when all the sudden he could hear loud running footsteps behind him. Tony Sr. swung around to see what was going on when he was almost knocked over by Tony Stewart.
“Hey Home Depot… If you run like that much longer you’ll give yourself a heart attack. Pace yourself or something…”
“Tony! You have to come with me!” The frantic out of breath driver said while trying not to be too loud.
“Why?” Tony Sr. said with fused eyebrows.
“Its Junior…” And that was all he said. The look in the young drivers eyes told the older man all he needed to know…. Something wasn’t right.
Both men headed off in the direction of the buses at break neck speed. But they did not go unseen. Two eyes had watched the whole thing and was now also in a full sprint.
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When the Police Officer that Tony had found before he headed for the garages finally made it to the bus, Dale Jarrett was already covered in red. His hand placed firmly over a once white towel trying desperately to hold in the red liquid. The police officer stopped in his tracks as he took in the sight before him.
“Hey! We need help in here! Call someone now!” Jarrett screamed while placing two fingers from his free hand into the wrist of his young friend. Checking again for the 100th time for a pulse. So far still finding a weak one.
The police officer grabbed for the radio on his belt and started barking orders to anyone who would listen.
Meanwhile the bus started to shake from another body entering it. Everyone turned to see a white shocked face belonging to Kevin Harvick.
“I… I heard screaming and… I … Oh my god.” He mumbled while walking passed a shaking Danny Earnhardt and a still yelling police officer.
“Kevin go in to the bathroom and get more towels!”
Kevin nodded absentmindedly and entered the bathroom, coming out three seconds later with an arm full of towels.
After handing them to Dale he took in the sight in front of him. There was blood everywhere. All over both Dales. And it seemed never ending. Juniors face was as white as a ghost.
“Is… is he… ummm…” He couldn’t’ finish and didn’t have to.
“Not yet… Here.” He said handing him one of the towels. “Put this under his head and hold it. I noticed he’s bleeding from there too.”
Kevin took the towel and without even thinking of the blood, lifted his friends head up gingerly and placed the towel under it, holding it in place.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. I have absolutely no idea… I came in here and I found that knife there in his hands.” The UPS driver said while motioning to the side of him with his eyes.
Kevin’s eyes got wide. “You don’t think…. Well HE didn’t do this to himself did he??” Kevin’s voice started to sound like a young child’s.
Jarrett’s eyes connected with Kevin’s in an “I have no clue” Stare. But Jarrett knew deep down that Jr would never do something like this to himself. They remained silent for what seemed like an eternity when the bus rocked again with the arrival of the paramedics.
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It took them longer then planned to get through the crowded pit area back to the buses. When they finally got there, there was a small group forming around the door of Crew members, drivers and drivers families.
“What the Hell?” Tony Eury said as he pushed through the barricade of people and entered the bus.
By that time, the paramedics already had Junior up onto a stretcher and were about to rush him out of the door.
“Holy Shit! Junior? What the hell happened to him?!” he said while looking down at him with tear filled eyes.
A voice from the door startled them all. Maybe it was from its calmness or maybe just its unexpectedness but it made everyone jump.
“I think I might know…”
