Page 75 of The Champion
Peering down at my sleeping son, I remembered the doubtsI had in the beginning. I never thought I was good enough for Sway and allalong she was thinking the same thing.
I remembered a phrase Charlie used to say to us, “It’snot the track you race at. It’s the high line you chose that takes you to thevictory.”
We all thought he was crazy toward the end, but that’swhen he had the most inspirational words of wisdom. More than likely he gotthem off commercials and cereal boxes but they were still helpful.
I padded down the hall into our room where Sway waswaiting for me. She wasn’t sleeping, but wrapped up in the sheets, waiting.
Removing my clothes, I crawled in bed with her and drewher against my bare chest.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” her eyes glistened, herbreath light and steady. “He would have loved tonight.”
“Anything for you honey,” I murmured against her neck.
“Will you sing for me? I miss the singing.” She rolledover facing me, the moon light coming into our room reflected off her glowingivory skin.
I sang softly to her with just the right amount of drawland timber she loved that wouldn’t make Ray Charles cringe.
These were the moments that I wanted more of. These werethe moments that would make me beg for more.
10.Burn Off – Jameson
Burn off – Burningfuel during the course of a race. As fuel is burned, the car becomes lighterand its handling characteristic change, challenging the driver and crew to makeadjustments to achieve balance.
The hot Florida sun was beating down on me inside thecar, blinding me in the apex of turn four, my entire body was sweating from thephysical exertion. Kyle and Aiden’s raucous voices drowned out the vibrationsin the engine that I didn’t want to be feeling in the last race of the season.
My arms and hands burned from gripping the wheel sotight. These last few races of the series were taking its toll on my body.
The season, much like the year before, had its ups anddowns. In Talladega, Paul and I were caught up in the “big one.”
I flipped my car eight times on the backstretch earningme a visit to the infield care center and then the hospital. I’ve had morebroken bones in one year then one should receive in their entire lifetime butstill...I was unstoppable.
I knew what I wanted.
“Don’t overdrive the car Jameson.” Kyle said. “I know youwant this but don’t push too hard. Just have patience andfeelthe car.”
I knew that already. I wanted to reply with, “Hey thanksfor the advice!” but I kept my mouth shut.
Surprising huh? I like to think I’ve matured since Iturned twenty-four but that’s probably unlikely.
It was the last race of the season and I was runningtwelfth. All I needed was a top fifteenth finish to clench the title onceagain.
Despite a blown motor in Texas, I ran the car for twolaps with no power to finish the race. I was like a nasty cold, persistent andunstoppable.
“Maybe try a half round down in wedge.” I suggested whenthe pushing into the corner didn’t improve after the last stop. “And I have avibration. It’s not bad, but it’s there.”
“All right you heard him boys...half round down, four tires and one can. Gentry, pull the hoodpins and take a look.”
“Pit roads open this time by.” Aiden announced.
I slowed my speed coming out of turn three to make ourscheduled green flag stop.
When I pulled down on the apron, Kyle came over theradio.
“Bring it down...secondgear 4200...three...two...one, wheelsstraight, foot on the break.”
Mason instructed the crew while I waited for them tofinish.
It’s times like this when I really got hasty because forone I had no control and as a race car driver, that was the worst feeling.
