Page 178 of The Legend
“Well hebroke that record that record year after year. But no one else has. Tate Harristried but couldn’t quite reach Jameson’s record number of wins in a season heset in 2013 of twenty-three. Throughout his twenty seasons in the Cup Series,he started eight hundred and sixteen races, snagged two hundred and twelvepoles, one hundred and eighty one top five’s and two hundred and forty sevenwins with fifteen championships. No other driver in the history of the sporthas ever accomplished those numbers. The same one they called Rowdy Rileyfor his temper on and off the track. The same kid who shoved reporters out ofhis way and had his name embroidered in the Big Red Trailer,” Larry shook hishead looking over at Jameson with a smile. “Jameson Riley was undoubtedly apolarizing figure in NASCAR racing. And no one knows this better than the manwho took a chance on him back then, ladies and gentleman, fourteen-time NASCARCup Champion...Tate Harris.”
I lookedover at Jameson when Tate took the stage and his head was bowed as if heactually looked up, he might cry.
Inside Line – Jameson
I wasn’tcomfortable being praised upon. That’s not why I raced. It was never about thatattention but it was inescapable on a night like tonight. As a racer, you knowthere’s a destiny there, a romance to the sport that draws you in but the linesbetween are hard to distinguish. I felt it, the sweat of the triumph if youwill. I understood what people saw but I felt none of it. I couldn’t getoutside of it enough and see my life for what others witnessed. Instead, Iremembered enough along the way to know my own boundaries and imagine theromance for what it was. Personally, that was me and always had been.
Tatesmiled toward me and winked. He leaned against the podium appearing relaxed asthough he was talking to a group of friends outside his transporter. Andreally, he was. “Here’s a kid that given how disposed he is to rattle otherdrivers, he’s the first to make sure you’ve walked away from a crash. He prompteda chorus of alleluias by winning, always has.” Tate said. “That’s what reallyset him apart from the drivers at the Chili Bowl the year I met him. It wasn’tjust that he won; it washowhe won.
“Andhe continued to win that way. I’ve witnessed him at his best and I’ve beenthere with him when it’s all fallen apart for him. In 2003, he proved just howgreat he is. That year snapshot still stands out because it captured Jameson athis absolute bedeviling best. A driver who just wouldn’t quit and could incitefans to rush the catch fence each time he pulled off another victory. He was agod out there and he knew it. It was riveting to watch, the intersection ofgreatness emerge just off the loathing he fed from that year. I honestlybelieve this kid has revolutionized the sport to what it is today. No one couldtouch him that year and probably never will, I know I tried.” He smiled with alow chuckle. “I’ve thought about coming back and seeing if I could go afternumber fifteen, just for the record books.” His smile turned wicked. “But Ialso know Jameson...he’d come out ofretirement too and then we’d constantly be battling it out each week justtrying to one up the other.”
It wasbizarre to me to have these guys talk about how great I was, I was never onefor praise but I also remembered, throughout the twenty years in this series,these were my friends. Given the chance, I’d say the same things about them.
As Tatefinished, he said one thing thatreallygot my attention, his eyesglazed over and he cleared his throat. “He would be proud of you right nowbuddy. Always remember that.”
I didn’tknow Kyle was going to speak, but he did.
“Onlyanother driver can understand him and I always did. I’d worked with otherdrivers before but the important thing was the combination between the driverand the crew chief. If you don’t have a sundry of team members, it doesn’twork. ” Kyle glanced over at me. “To spare myself a breakdown up here...I’m just going to keep this simple. I’vestayed out of the spot light but I’ve been in the heat. You stood by me nomatter what. I remember our first season in cup together when we were fined fora...fuel additive.” He raised his eyebrows indisgust and snorted, the crowd laughed at his sarcasm toward the bullshit fine.“While I remember sitting in that hauler with you getting ready to hear theverdict and you asked me, “How’d it get there.” I gave you my honest answer of,“I don’t know.” And you know what, he never questioned me. Jameson trusted meand that’s what made us the champion we became. He’s really what keptRiley-Simplex racing all these years and as the new owner he will continue tokeep it a winning team.”
I had tolaugh as did the crowd. Kylerattedme out.
I hadn’tannounced it officially but yes, I was the new owner of the team and wouldassume that responsibility next year. Like I said, I was no longer racing withthe series but this team was hand crafted by my father. I couldn’t just let itgo.
BeforeKyle ended his speech he said one thing that pretty much summed up ourrelationship over the years. “He may have been Rowdy Riley or the same guy thatwould punch you if you threatened him but” he looked directly at me. “...there’s a reason why I’ve been your crewchief for the last twenty years. You’re my family, that’s why.”
There wasa short intermission while drivers talked with others and their families but Istayed seated at our table watching.
Axel wasthere with Lily, she looked beautiful as she always did. They were standingnext to Justin and Ami who were also there in support of me. Tommy and Williewere there too since there was free food so of course they came but most ofall, they were here to support and be the friends and brothers that they alwayswere to me over the years. I chuckled to myself thinking back to the time whenwe changed out an engine on the way to Skagit going down the freeway and Tommydropped that wrench on my face.
Spencerand Alley sat side by side with Cole and Lexi near them, teasing Tommy. Aidenand Emma lost in their own bubble together sat next to them across from all ofthe crew guys from back home. Noah and Charlie, behaving for once, they allcame as well and even congratulated me at one point. I think they were scarednow that I had more time on my hands they wouldn’t have jobs but even thoughthey were still shitheads, no one could build engines like the Gomez boys.
Easton andArie were here and all smiles. It was a good feeling seeing her smile thesedays and being with a guy that I was sure wouldn’t break her heart.
AndCasten, my crazy kid that found entertainment in everything life had to offerhim. He was here, laughing at me but he was here.
“What areyou laughing at?” I finally asked him when he chuckled beside me. Sway hadgotten up to use the bathroom so he stole her seat next to me.
“Nothingof substance...” then he laughed again when Tommy stuffed abeer in his suit jacket. Casten nodded toward him. “I don’t know what’s moreentertaining to me...Tommy in a suit or himstealing free beer.”
I laughedas Tommy stashed another one. “Definitely the suit, he steals free beer all thetime.”
Swayreturned and had a good laugh with us until the intermission was over and thestage went dark.
I knew whatwas coming and I wasn’t prepared for how emotional it would be for me.
It wastime for me to speak.
Theyintroduced me to the audience after that and played a short video of my careerto which the entire venue went ballistic with cheers when they saw a picture ofme at five years old racing quarter midgets. I was sure my mom was behind thatone. There were pictures of me and Jimi laughing together sitting on the pitwall prior to races over the years. There were various snap shots of usthroughout my career, some of Axel with us and then the last picture of Jimiand me. I remember that day clearly though it was years ago; it was the night Iwon my tenth championship. In the black and white photo Jimi had his burly armwrapped around me but was pulled back, looking directly at me with a widesmile. He was there for every championship I had ever won.
When thepicture faded to black, the phrase “Legends of our Time” covered the screen.
“Ladiesand gentleman, the fifteen time NASCAR Cup Series champion...Jameson Riley.”
With aquick kiss on my wife’s cheek, I took the stage for the last time as race cardriver in NASCAR.
I didn’tsay anything for a long moment, just stared at the screen that still had thephrase plastered upon it.
“Werewelegends?” I asked rhetorically looking out into the crowd, whistles and cheersroused. “Well he was undoubtedly a legend but me...Idon’t know about that.” I shook my head and looked down at the podium beforegazing into the crowd at Spencer, Aiden and Kyle sitting next to my mom. Iwinked at her and she smiled holding Spencer’s hand. “But I’ll tell yousomething else...” I began slowly. “I set out to accomplishone thing in my career and that was to be known as Jameson Riley, not the sonof Jimi Riley. Somewhere along the way, I accomplished that. But I alsodiscovered that it was far more rewarding to me that I washisson. Hetaught me everything I knew about racing, life and love. Now that I know what Ido now, I don’t know why I fought so hard to separate myself from him in racingwhen all along, he molded me to the driver I became and I am honored now whensomeone says, “Hey there’s Jimi Riley’s son.” I looked back at thescreen one last time. “This one’s for you dad.”
