Page 77 of The Champion
My dad came over the radio next as I crossed the finishline. “Nice job kid...you did awesome!”
“Thanks dad.” I smiled.
There are times in your life when a calm washes over youin the midst of revelry. Could it be that everything in your mind falls intoplace? You see the race for what is was and who wanted it the most. You did.
Burn off – Jimi
It’s hard to envision how your life will turn out letalone the lives of your children. With Jameson, I knew at a very young age hewould achieve his dreams but I had no idea he would win back-to-backchampionships. It’s hard enough to win one in the cup series title let alonetwo in a row.
Jameson had always been incredibly talented at everythinghe did but with racing...it was easy tosee it came naturally to him. I remember the first time he got inside a racecar and actually raced with other drivers.
Up until that point, he would spend hours sitting insidemy cars, just sitting there.
It was two weeks after his fourth birthday and aftercareful consideration, and wanting to have my spare car back, I bought him aquarter-midget. Within a week of buying the car, we took it down to GraysHarbor where he broke the track-record. At four fucking years old, this rustyhaired little shit brokemyrecord!
Talk about feeling inadequate. I guess you also had torealize this kid was not your ordinary four-year old. He had the street smartsof a goddamn ten-year old. His mother and I were no match for him and learnedwhen he wanted something, he’d stop at nothing to get it.
From that point on, I knew he’d be up here someday. But Inever imagined how I would feel about that. Proud yes, but it was more thanthat. It was everything.
Being a driver myself, I knew what he was feeling.Jameson had one quality you rarely saw in drivers though. We all second-guessedourselves at some point in our careers but not Jameson. Sure, he was out ofcontrol and completely reckless on the track but bordering on the edge of hissanity was where he always shined the most.
Today, his smirk told it all. He didn’t want to let onhow much this all meant to him. I knew though. I also knew how much he wasgiving up for this. He was giving up a chance to see his son grow up, as did I.The moment you’re handed that trophy though—not that those sacrifices stilldon’t hurt to make—they seem less like sacrifices and more like opportunities.
Burn off – Jameson
“How does it feel to win your second Cup Championship andthe first Nextel Cup Championship?” Neil asked me standing next to me as Iwiped away the sweat and the champagne Kyle and Spencer just drenched me in.
“It feels good...againI don’t even know what to say...I’mgonna need to work on my speeches.” I teased while the crowd around mechuckled. “I need to thank my family...mywife, Sway. I honestly wouldn’t be half the man I am today without you.” Ibowed my head and looked down at the trophy in my hands. “I don’t reallydeserve this...my family does. This isfor you Charlie.” I said and held the trophy up to the sky.
My parents taught me very early on you pay respect whererespect is due, and with Charlie, I owed him everything and I wished like hellhe was here to see this.
The last few races of the season Sway was at home withEmma, who was ready to pop any day now. Since Emma had been there every step ofthe way for Sway and me during her pregnancy, she felt the need to be there forEmma since Aiden couldn’t.
I knew when I married Sway that there would be times whenshe wouldn’t be able to follow me around like I wanted. It was part of the lifewe’d chosen. What I didn’t realize was how much it’d hurt to win my secondchampionship without her by my side again. What was best for one of us wouldn’tnecessarily be best for the other but that’s marriage, right?
After the loads of press and photos I was finally on aplane home to Mooresville.
When I made it home around one the next morning, thehouse was dark and quiet. I smiled at the note on the counter from Sway askingme to wake her when I returned home. I smiled again once inside the room at thesight of the two halves of my heart sleeping on our bed.
Sway was curled up with Axel in her arms. His pacifierhad fallen out beside him, his cheeks flushed from the heat of our fireplace.Sway had dressed him in Jameson Riley pajamas that had my sponsor logo and mynumber plastered all over them.
I stood there leaning against the doorframe, watchingthem sleep for a good fifteen minutes before I made my way inside the room.
Slipping off my shoes and jacket, I crawled into bedbeside Sway, kissing her shoulder softly.
I knew she said to wake her but looking at her now, Icouldn’t. Instead, I watched them sleep and wondered how I got so lucky to havethe dream and the wish.
Burn off – Sway
I was in a deep peaceful sleep. The kind where you are sorelaxed that you are actually smiling in your sleep. It might have something todo with the fact that my dirty heathen was finally home and we’d just made slowpassionate love with each other and now, I was now peaceful in my champion’sarms.
As soon as my eyes fluttered closed that night, Axelstarted crying. Knowing Jameson wouldn’t wake up, I made my way across the hallto his room.
When I opened the door, his tears said it all—or maybe itwas the quivering lip.
He’d recently been doing this at night. He would do greatfor the first half of the night and then around three in the morning, he’d wakeup crying hysterically.
“Mamama,” he babbled and reached his tiny arms up to me,which melted my heart.
