Page 28 of The Champion
“How many more these do you have?”
“Just sign them asshole.” She replied with a smilehanding over another.
Standing outside my hauler, I looked down the row ofeighteen-wheelers lined up along the paddock. It was nice not to have to walkas far this year.
All the haulers in the paddock were lined up by theprevious season’s points. This meant I was now first in line instead of lastlike I was last year. Made for less walking that’s for sure.
I had some time to kill after my interview with ESPNbefore the race started so I sent Sway a text message, which she didn’t return.It just made me miss her even more because I imagined she was incredibly busywith Axel and it made me want to be there for them.
Speedweek flew by just the same as it did last year. TheBudweiser shootout seemed to blur right into the Duel 125’s with all thesponsorship commitments I had along with the unending amount of press. I wasnever alone these past few weeks and if I was, I was sleeping, alone.
Sway couldn’t bring Axel to the race so she stayed home,which was incredibly frustrating but I knew I needed to get used to it.
I think I’ve said this before but each season, ruleschanged, drivers changed, owners changed and sponsors changed. The beginning ofthe season was a time for change.
Even the name of the series had changed sponsorship.
Since 1972, the cup series had always been referred to asWinston Cup. Now it was being called the Nextel Cup series.
The new season brought with it new rookies needing toprove themselves. I went easy on them because not only was I in their shoeslast year, but I was trying to be the better man this season and not be such ahothead.
That newfound optimism ended when I had a run-in withGibson Racing’s new driver, Colin Shuman.
His first remark to me when we met at the drivers meetingwas, “So you’re the chump that couldn’t stand up against Darrin?”
“Don’t pay him any mind.” Bobby Cole, my teammate withRiley Racing, told me.
Not only was I appalled by the irreverence of ColinShuman, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach at the mention ofDarrin’s name, and reacted as such.
“Shut the fuck up.” I told him as I took a few steps inhis direction. Bobby and Tate had to grab me by the arms. “You have no ideawhat happened so I suggest you keep your goddamn mouth shut.”
Kyle was by my side in an instance along with Mason,Aiden and Spencer.
Immediately, I was thinking that this season would be arepeat of the shit I went through last season with Darrin but it wouldn’t be...I refused to let it be.
The reporters were relentless with the questions aboutDarrin, and how I’d dealt with it over the off-season. The questions alsoswirled around my personal life and marriage with Sway, all of which I answeredwith the same answer.
“It’s great.”
As far as I was concerned, that was all they needed toknow.
Before long, I found myself inside the car waiting forthe green flag.
“Let’s have a good day out here bud. We are the defendingchampions. Let’s show them what we’re made of and start this season off right.”Kyle, my crew chief, said as I finished adjusting my belts.
“10-4,”
“Pull your belts tight. It’s a long race. We’ve got fivehundred miles so take your time.”
Envisioning the race in my head as I always did, mythoughts drifted to Sway and the baby. I wondered what they were doing rightabout now and frustrated that I wasn’t able to hear her voice this morning.
Last season during my rookie year, I had something toprove to everyone coming into the Daytona 500. Though that hadn’t changed, itwas a different kind of establishment. It was showing everyone I was achampion.
I wasn’t optimistic and I certainly wasn’t hopeful as youcan’t be in racing. Instead, I was sure.
When you think about it, as a race car driver—youreducation never ends. Other drivers would school you any chance they got so youalways had to be on your game. Every race, every track, every turn was a testof endurance, skill and disposition, a chance for you to demonstrate how muchyou knew and how much you have left to learn.
On tracks like Daytona and Talladega, you would runwide-open, holding the throttle down the entire lap. The only way for you to gofaster was by drafting. The lead car will cut a hole in the air while the othercars draft behind. You can either ride the free air all day—using less fuel—oryou can use it as a passing tool.
