Page 30 of The Champion
Kyle kept yelling for me to keep myself in check becauseI was extraordinarily aggressive the rest of the race, as were Cole and Harris.I couldn’t help it and neither could they. First race of the season and thisShuman asshole was already trying to take me out like Darrin.
Cole and Harris, well after last season, were protectiveof me on the track. It explained their aggression on the track.
Anytime you add a new driver into the Cup series, theyearned that rookie strip to be taken off their car. At this rate, Shuman wasn’tearning his.
Gibson Racing really knew how to pick drivers.
Cole, Harris and I made it to the front but it wasn’tenough to compete with Paul Leighty.
“Good job bud. Way to pull through with a good finish.”Kyle said as we crossed the finish line.
We managed to snag a fourth place finish and just as Iexpected, NASCAR officials along with Tate, Bobby and Colin Shuman immediatelysurrounded me.
I knew I was driving like an asshole. I was all overother drivers being intentionally antagonistic so I was not at all surprisedwhen I parked the car after that and Colin started mouthing off.
Tate shook his head next to me knowing what my reactionwould be to this.
I flashed a quick smile at him and pulled myself from thecar, all the while Shuman wouldn’t shut up. Like I said, Gibson knows how topick em’.
“I see marriage hasn’t calmed you down.” he smarted off.“Looks like your girl needs to put out for you, relieve some of that pressureso you don’t drive like an asshole all the time.”
I didn’t say anything, just walked toward Tate as aNASCAR official followed close behind me. I knew I’d get myself in trouble if Isaid anything. I don’t know why he would feel the need to bring my wife intothis but the mere thought of it had me seeing red and worse was the fact thatthis eighteen-year old kid didn’t seem to realize I was about to kick the shitout of him if he didn’t shut his mouth.
“Don’t tell me she stopped putting out already?” hesnorted as he smiled cockily following me.
The red overruled and I stopped thinking and startedacting. I ripped my gloves and helmet off and started throwing punches at him.This kid was clearly an asshole and needed to be put in his place, I felt the needto do that with my fists just to show him how much I appreciate his commentaryand thoughts on my private life.
I was only trying to teach him a lesson, school him offthe track.
Tate did nothing but stand-back and watch while anofficial pulled me off him. When I looked back at him, I realized I did somepretty decent damage too. I’m sure I’d broken his nose with the amount of bloodcoming from it and maybe bruised his ribs a little. I was hoping I had crackeda couple after his comment about my wife putting out.
Along with the ever present reporters, the NASCARofficial was in my face instantly, threatening to suspend me, which then causedme to start yelling back at him because, goddamn it, he was standing there theentire time. He was close enough to hear him taunting me.
Apparently, in NASCAR’s rules, taunting doesn’t equal asass kicking, who knew. I guess I didn’t read that section of the rulebook. Itmust be under detrimental to the sport, but taunting was not. But I’ll tell youwhat. That detrimental to the sport shit was sure beneficial for them as thescreaming fans still in their seats right now watching this will attest.
Kyle and Spencer pulled me away from the official who Iwas about to show the same lesson to. It took both of them to pull me away,forcing me toward the NASCAR Hauler.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kyle snapped pushingme forward.
“He...that...he was saying shit...and I...fuck!” Icouldn’t even string a damn sentence together and I noticed that most of mywords were coming out in the form of profanity. I’d lost it once again. Justwhen you think you have control over yourself and everything you learned hadtaught you something you realize once again, you’re no different than any otheranimal and always fighting for survival.
“Stop this shit!” Kyle said incredulously, yelling in myface. “I thought you would have learned with Darrin!”
Kyle knew better than to get in my face, or maybe hedidn’t. Either way, it just riled me up even further.
The fact that I was away from Sway, that it was the firstrace of the season and some kid tried to fuck with me by talking shit about mywife, had me in somewhat of an emotional, hormonal, testosterone and adrenalinemess.
“Don’t ever mention his name around me again, Kyle.” Iwarned jerking my arm away from him.
“Calm down,” he huffed and stalked inside the hauler.
After a few deep breaths, I headed inside to face thefire.
Shuman was leaving just as I walked inside. We exchangeda heated glare but other than that, he avoided me and for good reason.
I chuckled to myself that he was holding a towel to hisface.
After a few minutes there fuming with Kyle, Lisa openedthe door and motioned for me to come in. Kyle waited as she didn’t want to seehim yet.
