Page 115 of Trading Paint
I got schooled my first few races on how little I actually knew about stock cars. It was embarrassing.
But like any division I raced in, it was all about experience: logging laps. So that’s what I did. My experience was critical in all this. Every point counted, every turn, every pit stop. The difference between winning and losing is so small and it was easy to take for granted.
19.Carbon Fiber – Jameson
Carbon Fiber – Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum, stronger than steel and expensive material. It’s used to construct chassis or modern open wheeled cars. Sheets of carbon fiber cloth are “laid up” like fiberglass by an expert fabricator using a mold, and then heated and reheated for days in an autoclave, a large, high-tech oven.
Come April, I had won my second career Busch Grand National win atChicagolandSpeedway. So far, I’d won two races. My family wasn’t at any of them besides Spencer who was working on my pit crew as the jack man.
It felt different from winning in sprint cars or even the USAC divisions. I wasn’t sure what the change was but it just felt different. It might have something to do with the fact that this was different. Sway wasn’t around and well, this was bigger. Even though I wasn’t racing in the Cup series yet, this was a NASCAR division and had all the same impediments.
I was still lying in bed around ten that morning, contemplating whether or not I would roll over and go back to sleep. My phone vibrating assured me that wasn’t going to happen but I was pleasantly surprised to see Tommy’s name appear on the screen.
We made small talk to a little while before he finally asked. “How have you been?” I knew he was asking more on a personal level. I never flaunted the fact that I slept around and kept it as discreet as I could but still, Tommy knew and he knew why I did it without even telling him.
“Can’t complain,” I paused and I think he knew right then what I wanted to ask. Tommy had been giving me updates on Sway for a while now. I had to know she was okay and she would only tell me so much.
“She’s fine, Jameson.” I could sense he wanted to say something but he didn’t. So I did.
“Has she...” I could feel the unnerving tension burning in my gut. I hated to even think about it, imagine it. I had no right to even know or say in where she went or who she chose to hang out with but I still felt the pain.
“Abby and I took her to Skagit the other night. They had the I-5 Dirt Late Models there.”
“And how did that go?”
“Good, she got drunk with Abby and well...you know.” He didn’t want to say it any more than I wanted to hear it. Tommy knew me well.
“So she...” I had to sit down. “Did she go home with someone?”
“Jameson,” he paused again and then let out a whoosh of air. “Are you sure you want to torture yourself like this? I know you feel something for her or you wouldn’t be asking.”
“I don’t know what I feel...” I paused. “Did she?”
“Not that I should tell you...but yes.” He finally said and the pain once again shook me to my core. My hands were shaking, my stomach was in knots and my breathing was ragged.
Fucking embarrassing one girl, the only girl, could make me feel like this.
“Why don’t you just tell her?”
“I can’t, Tommy.” I sighed deeply. “I just can’t.”
Tommy knew me well enough to know that if he pushed, he’d regret it, so we went on to talk about his plans after graduation. While Sway had another year, Tommy was graduating in a few weeks.
“So what are your plans?”
“Well I was thinking I’d see if Jimi needs any help...or you.”
“I was thinking of starting my own sprint car team and well, I’d like you as the mechanic.”
“Really?”I don’t know why, but he honestly sounded shocked by this. Tommy was an excellent mechanic and knew sprint car setups better than most in the business.
“I want the best.”
“You barely have time to sleep.” He laughed. “How are you going to run a sprint car team as well?”
“I have no clue but I can’t stop what made me all together, you know? I just can’t walk away from it.” I wasn’t sure if I was making any sense but he seemed to understand.
“No, I get it.” And he did.
