Page 57 of The Legend
When weinformed him, he was having a discussion with Brody about who knows what and itdidn’t seem to be going well for either of them. Brody was a kid and I thinkJameson forgot that sometimes. The legal age to race in the Cup series waseighteen. Nowadays is seemed they scouted drivers right out of high school andthere was probably seven fulltime drivers on the circuit now under twenty-one,Brody included. Drivers who are eighteen have a much different driving stylethan veteran drivers like Jameson, Tate, and Bobby. Just like the veterandrivers used to do to Jameson, they let those young drivers know about thegentleman’s agreement and what you do and don’t do on the track. I had asneaking suspicion that Brody was being informed of the gentleman’s agreement.
“Hey, payattention!” Kyle said when Jameson returned all stormy eyed and swearing underhis breath. He took a seat on the edge of the pit wall as the NASCAR officialsexplained the running order for the trophy dashes.
“Sorry, fuck,he’s a fucking jerk.”
“Yeahwell,” Kyle point to the laptop that told him what race Jameson was in. “You’rein the second trophy dash with him, Nadia, and Bobby. Keep it clean.”
Jamesonscrunched his nose and glared. “Keep it clean.” He repeated in a mocking tonethat caused the group surrounding him to laugh.
Looking upto the pit box, we made eye contact and I winked taking his gesture away.Giving me a goofy grin, he gave me a head nod and bit the corner of his lipseductively. Little shit.
What did Ido?
I revertedback to pit lizard days and grabbed my funbags with both hands.
I won. Hethrew his head back in laughter.
Teasingwas our thing. We were good at it.
Jamesonwon his trophy dash which helped his mood for the main events. With the start ofthe first main, I put the headset back on and took my place next to Jimi andNancy again. Jameson started in right away with the trash talking. “This littleshit is going down. I want the million dollars.” He said with amusement whenBrody bumped him from behind.
Jimichuckled. “Why’s that Jameson? Because yougottapayfor all that shit your kids broke?”
“Somethinglike that old man.” My favorite part about listening to his in-car audio camethrough, the radio cracked.
“One to goat the line,” Aiden announced, “Watch you shift there.”
“Paysbacks for all that shit you broke when you were younger.” Jimi added.
“Whatever.”Jameson laughed lightly. “Let’s get some focus here. I got a million to win.”
Jimi letKyle take over and they talked race format for a moment before the green flagwaved. Cars shuffled quickly, all searching for a quick opening to gain a spotor two and darting to the preferred line the rain had washed away from theirpractice session to now. It seemed the only grip was up top which wasbeneficial for Jameson, he always loved running the high side.
Startingninth, Jameson had seventh secured by lap ten and gaining on Brody and Paul infront of him. “Outside clear, there you go. P6 right there, keep coming bud.”Aiden said. “That’s P5 right there in front of you for position. Two back onyou.”
“Where’sBobby running?”
“He’stenth.”
Paul andBrody battled for fifth in front of Jameson when Paul got loose, Brody clearedthe position but smacked his right rear quarter panel on the outside wall. Onething about the Monster Mile, it wasn’t forgiving. This allowed Jameson toclear Brody too but then the caution flag came out and we knew why. Brody wasin front of Jameson now and I wasn’t sure how that would go.
“Why didthey call the caution?”
“Rain”
“Oh damnit.” He huffed. “I’m gonna kick this kids ass after the race. He’s pissing meoff.”
Brody andJameson were nudging each other during the pace laps as they waited for therain to clear, the lightening rumbled across the dark sky.
“It’stalking out there.” Nancy said snuggling into Jimi. He wrapped his burly armsaround her.
The mediascrambled for cover as the sky opened up and poured for a few minutes. Theyleft the cars on the track waiting for the rain to stop.
“Have Iever mentioned how much I hate rain delays?” Jameson asked.
Kylekicked his legs on the other side of me wrapping his arm around me when Ishivered from the wind. “You may have mentioned it a time or two.”
“Feelingsare still the same.”
