Page 169 of The Legend
“See!”Casten cackled. “I told you I heard something.”
Spencer, holdingMadison, stood beside Jameson nodding arrogantly like he was proud of hislittle brother that my bra was outside. Hey, we may be pushing mid-forties butwe still found ways to make the dyno testing interesting.
Madison,Logan’s daughter, reached out to grab a handful of Jameson’s hair. Onlyproblem, she had her sucker in that hand which was now in his hair.
He wasless than amused.
Castenslumped forward at the table laughing again.
“She doesthat on purpose.” Jameson complained of Madison. This wasn’t the first time sheput something in his hair. Madison was definitely Logan’s daughter.
Like Isaid, I loved mornings like this. My family was literally crazy but it was whatI loved. It made me feel normal because there were people just like me.
We couldn’tgo a day without making fun of each other or someone calling someone an assholebut that was us. It was our way of a four wide salute.
When weleft that afternoon for Pocono, an interesting article caught my attention aswe sat on the plane that summed up what Jameson’s decision meant. If I wasbeing honest, yes, I was relieved to hear him say the words “I’m retiring,”because it meant that I would have a little more of the morning like today, anda little less of afternoon’s like this, flying around the country.
But I alsoknew what he was leaving behind for this. And the article painted a vividdisplay of that dream that was captured.
CHARLOTTENC – SPEED NEWS
BryceKulton
FASTTIME
Jameson Riley. It’sa name our sport knows very well, fear even. He was so fast, so agile, that noone knew how good he really was and no one wanted to find out. Back in hisrookie year, 2003, they found out what that fear meant.
A quick pit stop, agood pass, triumphantly in the clear and then looking up and seeing that blackand red number nine Ford coming for you. Then there was that feeling you knewthat anything you and your team could do, Jameson and his Rowdy Ring of boyscould do better.
Jameson not onlyhad the chops on the track but he with that razor sharp wit and an attitudethat made you want to smack him and a numbing reputation in the garage, animperial manner and that clout to back it.A rooted displayof skill and an opportunist when faced with decisions.It had to do withwhat he did and he didn’t have to do because of who he was and how he did it.
He was a rare racerand someone whose effect on the sport was far greater than any statisticalcontribution he made in the record books or even the points standing. Jamesoncame to the track, whether it is your local dirt track or the superspeedways ofTalladega and Daytona, the attitude around the pits changed. Standing besidehim, you could feel it, see it charging, growing restrained and powerful,respecting him as though everyone was waiting to see what he could do.
Some drivers heldhim, and still do, with such awe, treating him with an almost fawning respectthat they seemed to abandon their style of racing when around him and any hopeof winning. You saw it in their faces knowing their chance at victory was nowgone.
Jameson is a driverthat can rattle even the toughest. He’s a driver that is rare with a rawtalent. He’s the racer fans follow when they prefer their hero’s flawed.
Was he ahero?Without a doubt.
Was heflawed? More than most liked to see.
It washard to grasp the fact that he was retiring and reading articles like this madeit even harder because it was real. On the plane, after reading the article, Iglanced over at him to see a man, a champion, a legend, relaxed with hisdecision. He was staring out the window of the plane watching the clouds as heusually did. Who knew what he was thinking at times like this but for me, Iknew. He was more than likely thinking of racing and maybe even our night lastnight but not far from his thoughts was his decision to retire and what itmeant to him.
Four WideSalute– Jameson
It took mea while but come Michigan in late August, I had a conversation with Eastonabout his intentions with my daughter. It went something like, “You fuck up,you’re out of a ride next year and I’ll make sure you never walk again.”
He wassmart and responded with, “I respect your daughter and you. I would never doanything to hurt her.”
EastonLevi was a good kid. At nineteen, he had a promising future in the Cup seriesand with Arie. They liked each other and that’s really all that mattered to mein the end, that and her safety. After getting to know him, he had her bestintentions in mind.
That’s allI could ask for.
“You tookthat well.” Casten said to me when Easton left the hauler Friday night.
“Yeah,she’s a big girl.” I said contemptuously. “I can’t tell her who to date.”
Casten letout a laugh and a snort at the same. “He’s good to her. If he wasn’t, I’d killhim.”
