Page 179 of The Legend
I couldhave said more and I did but that was the speech that came from my heart as itwas true.
Thatnight, when we left with one phrase stuck in my head. “You’ve made a lot ofmoney in your career.” I couldn’t get passed that particular phrase being saidto me. As if that’swhyI did all this.
Well yeah,I was never hurting on money but it wasn’t what I wanted out of life.
It wasnever about the money. Looking back to my first midget race, it was about theadrenaline, the competition. That’s what drove me.
I racedbecause Ilovedit, not because of the money.
You rarelyfind guys like me walk away when they’re on top of their career like I was butI did. I came back from a nearly fatal accident because I needed to prove Icould. That right there should tell you how much this sport meant to me overthe years. As I said, it was never about the money.
If youasked me now what my happiest memories were, sure most were racing.
But thenthere were the years spent with my dad at Lernerville, Terra Haute, Skagit, andElma...all vivid memories.
When I metSway, our summer together, those three weeks together after Charlotte, gettingmarried, our kids, all that was some of the best memories I had. The tie toracing was strong. I loved them both. Both made me who I was today. And I tookpride in knowing I was still that same person I was back when I started racing...Jameson Riley.
I rememberwhere I came from, what made me, and I would always consider myself the kidfrom Elma Washington.
30.Bench Racing – Sway
Bench Racing– When a group of guys sit around talking about racing.
You wouldthink that I would know better than having everyone over for Christmas, but Ididn’t. I mean really, I’ve done it before and every year I tell myself that itwas a stupid idea.
This yearwasn’t any different.
ChristmasEve was usually the holiday that brought everyone together. Christmas Day wasspent with in-laws or whatever else all the various families had going on.
So thisyear, the year Jameson retired, we had everyone over for Christmas Eve. Mostyears we did this at Jimi and Nancy’s house but since Jimi passed away, Nancywanted it somewhere else.
The daybefore Jameson was supposed to be coming home from Nashville where he’d beendoing an appearance but he wasn’t at the Nashville airport where Axel waswaiting for him.
“Where areyou?”
He soundedslightly out of breath, which had me a little concerned. Casten who was sittingnext to me smiled and looked down at his phone when I glared at him.
“I’m at theairport.” He sighed. “Why did I fly commercial?”
“Because Itold you, we gave the flight staff the week off for Christmas. What airport areyou at?”
Jamesongrunted out a snort. “I don’t see why they get the week off and I don’t. I’msupposed to be retired.”
“Youscheduled the meeting before you announced your retirement.” I pointed out.“But really, what airport are you at?”
“Memphis.Why?”
Castenstarted laughing when he overheard that. “Jameson, how did you get to Memphis?”
“Uh...that’s kind of a dumb question honey.”
“No, it’snot.”
“Well okaythen, I flew here on this thing called a plane. It’s a great source of travel.”
“Heyasshole,” Casten was laughing so hard he was turning red at this point. “I knowwhat a fucking airplane is, Jameson. What I’m asking is, whyareyouin Memphis when Axel is supposed to meet you in Nashville. Why didyou switch planes?”
Jamesonwas quiet for a moment before he spoke. “Shit. I got the gates confused.”
