Page 68 of The Legend
“Oh...uh...they look the same from up here. Can you see them Kyle?”
“Thick.”Kyle told us. “The thick white line is where you should be slowed. What’s yourrpm’s?”
“4300.”
“Allright, that’s your pit road speed. Remember to get some heat in those brakes onthese pace laps.”
“10-4,”
“One to go at the line.They’re calling a green yellow start.” Aiden told me. “Watch yourshifts and keep distance between you and third.
“What’s agreen yellow?”
“They’regonna start logging laps here on the next time by but you’ll stay at speed.”Kyle said.
“They’redoing what?” I was confused about the format. Since the rain, they changed itagain.
“They aretrying to dry the track so they will waive the green but stay at pit roadspeed, single file with no passing. When the pace car picks up speed, you do.Eventually it will pull off and they will waive the green again letting youknow when to go full speed.”
“10-4.”
I took adeep breath and hoped my car held out for me as I pulled on my belts one lasttime before taking the green flag. I was worried about being too tight but oncethe race started, I had no grip.
Some carsstayed on the high line whereas I was down low on the line. I knew if Iventured up there I’d be kissing the wall. There was no way the car could hangon up there with the green surface we had.
“When I’mnot loose, I’m tight.” I told Kyle once I could have a minute to relax.
“We’ll getit bud. You’re doing great. Do you need lap times?”
“No, not right now.It’s all I can do to keep it out of the wall.”
I was allover the place, brushed the wall every fifty laps or so and was running sixthwith Tate running twelve. If the race ended now, I’d win by one point.
That mademe happy but my car wasn’t happy.
“What’syour temps bud?”
“210-240,”
“Keep aneye on that.” Kyle said concerned, “how’s it feel?”
“It doesn’tfeel like I have the power I did in the beginning.” I shifted into third. “It’svibrating in every gear. When I come out of four, it lagsbad.”
With fiftylaps to go, that’s when I felt the vibration shaking the car down thebackstretch. I closed my eyes knowing it was the end.
“Goddamnit!” I shouted slamming my fists down on the wheel.“Of allthe fucking luck!”
You wantso badly for each win that the letdown can be just as fretting as the buildup.
By thetime I entered three, it let go completely. I didn’t say anything knowing Aidenwould call it out when he saw the smoke and fluid being sprayed from the tower.
“Enginelet go, turn three.” He said moments later.
There wasreally no point with fifty laps to go to try to fix it at this point with itbeing the last race of the season, it didn’t matter anymore.
“Take itto the truck.” Kyle said. I could hear the disappointment in his voice eventhrough the radio.
“Sorryguys,” I said.“Great season.Way to battle back andpull off a good season.”
