Page 152 of The Champion
“You’re an asshole.” She mumbled and walked away,finallywalked away.
You’re an asshole meant nothing these days. I heard it sooften it barely phased me anymore.
The following weekend, I caught up with Bobby just beforewe began driver introductions for the Daytona 500 and asked about hisinteractions with Ashley.
“Ashley caught up with me last week...” my voice trailed off hoping he’dunderstand.
“Let me guess...shetold you.”
I groaned. “Bobby, why would you do that?”
Bobby leaned closer for privacy as we filed through thegates to the stage. “I don’t know why. It just sorta happened one night.”
“Were you married then?”
He didn’t say anything and that pretty much answered myquestion for me. I knew this happened with other drivers. The temptation wasthere and was readily available for us if we wanted it. Not once had I everacted, or been tempted to act on it. Sway was everything to me. It just wasn’tan option for me. The fact that Bobby had cheated on Kelly was sickening to me.
I always thought that eventually the nerves of standingon the grid of the Daytona 500 would fade, but no. I was fine all morning butwhen I stepped on pit road the morning of my tenth career Daytona 500, thenerves hit me.
“Jameson, how are you feeling this morning?” a reporterwith ESPN asked while I talked with Tate and Bobby by my car.
“Oh...I’m feelinggood.” I replied laughing at the joke Tate has just told.
“I hear both your boys couldn’t be here today, racinghuh?”
“Yeah,” I hated talking to the media about my kids. Itwas none of their fucking business but it was part of the game. “They raced inthe Duel in the Desert yesterday and won their divisions.” I smiled. “Casten isjust getting started but he’s taken really well to it. Axel helps him along.”
“Speaking of Axel, he’s really tearing it up in thequarter midget series. Heard he’s won two district Championships and a handfulof Regional and track championships.”
I laughed leaning back against my car. “He did,” Iagreed. “He’s nine now and chomping at the bit to get into the full sizedmidgets but you have to be twelve these days.”
Back when I started, age wasn’t enforced as much butafter a few kids were killed in the series the age restrictions were strictlyenforced. Hell, I was racing a full sized sprint car by the time I was twelvebut looking at Axel’s size compared to a full size sprint car—I had no problemwith the age enforcements now.
“Hothead in the making I hear. Didn’t he throw his helmetat a USAC official last weekend?”
Another laugh escaped. “Yeah, he’s worse than me attimes. Doesn’t like to finish second,” I shrugged. I was considered calm on thetrack compared to Axel. After he threw the helmet at the official, he wassuspended for a race. It took him being suspended to realize he had to controlthe temper or they wouldn’t let him race.
Sound familiar?
I’d cooled my jets these days, being a father humbles youand when you see their reaction to a fit you’d thrown on or off the track, itreally makes you think about that image you’re creating for them. Not only didyou face the ramifications, but your kids had to as well.
That’s not to say I didn’t have my fair share of drama atthe track. Colin Shuman, Shelby Clausen and I had spent enough time in “the bigred hauler” last season that we had assigned seats. Even with all the argumentsand wrecks we got into, we usually ended up throwing back a few beersafterwards. That’s when I felt I grew up.
“Well, good luck today.” The announcer said finally andleft me to get ready.
Once I was inside my car, the pre-race jitters werewearing off and I finally began to relax when I realized why I’d been so ampedup this morning. Sway wasn’t here.
She’d only missed three of my eight starts here and thosewere from having my babies but now she was with our babies. We made a ruleearly on that at least one parent had to be present when the boys raced. Thisusually meant Sway but occasionally I was able to attend when time permitted,not often, but every once in a while I could.
Arie decided to come with me to Speedweeks and stayed forthe 500 race. There my little angel was standing beside my car handing me agood luck charm she made me.
“Here daddy, I made this for you.” Arie beamed handing mea beaded bracelet she made.
“You did,” I looked down at her wide and excited emeraldgreen eyes thinking of Sway. “I’m sure I’ll win now.”
“You will.” That’s one trait my little angel possessed.She believed in her daddy and if anyone told her differently, well she told herbig brother and when that happened, it was over.
My kids were definitely Riley kids, Axel and Arie more sothan Casten. Axel would do just about anything to prove you wrong and hisdetermination never wavered when it came to protecting his family’s name, asdid Arie. But with Axel, he seemed to be a mixture of Sway and me together. Hecould be cocky, arrogant and indomitable but he could also be relaxed, amiable,and blasé. The kid was wise beyond his years and a force to be reckoned with.By the time he was four it became apparent Sway and I were in over our heads.
