Page 84 of The Legend
“He getsso nervous.” Looking over at my dad, I shrugged. “That’s what worries me.There’s no room for that.”
“His wantsto outshine that. He’ll do fine. He just needs experience.”
I lookedback to his first USAC season when he was a kid and realized it happen then.The following year when he was comfortable in his ability, he won thechampionship. Axel wasn’t the type of driver to go out and make history when hewasn’t comfortable. If he wasn’t comfortable, he was a nervous wreck when itcame to the feature event. It was something I was unfamiliar with and had beenaround such a diverse group of drivers over the years that I understood it.
Axel hadit. He just wasn’t as headstrong as me at times. Where I bordered on insanityin a race car, he was more methodical and thoughtful about his decision.
Thereagain, no two drivers were the same. Where one had strong points others showedtheir weakness.
The party didn’tstop once Axel and Lily left. We celebrated until the early hours of themorning but what I cherished most that night was the talk with my dad andwatching my son get married. There were a lot of moments that I thought ofwatching Axel tonight, but one in particular stayed with me. The image of meholding him for the first time, knowing that someday, someplace, he would befeeling what I was feeling right now. I felt as if I had won the feature event.
12.Drivers Meeting – Jameson
DriversMeeting – In NASCAR the drivers meeting is held two hours before the race andprovides the officials an opportunity to review important rule changes andother issues that teams must remember throughout the day.
“Why is itthat we are always here, at this very table, trying to decide on punishment forour youngest?”
I groanedrunning my hand through my hair. “Because he’s paying us back for all the shitwe did when we were kids.”
Casten hadonce again been involved in recreational drug use and we had specifically toldhim we didn’t want him involved in that. Logan, Noah and Charlie had been theretoo but I personally felt Casten was old enough to know the difference so mybeef wasn’t with them. I had a feeling Logan was providing the drugs and Iwould be talking to him about that but still, Casten was old enough to know thedifference between right and wrong.
“So...let’s uh...groundhim from going to Frost Nationals with you guys?”
“Greatidea, he wanted to go to that.” I high-fivedSway.“Well done mama.”
Sway winked.“I’m good. Now, go get me coffee.”
“Yes. Onmy way,” I grabbed my keys from the counter and was out the door.
“Anddonuts!” she yelled after me.
I did whatany good husband would do.
When I wasat home during the off-season, it was a normal life. I still felt like I wascoming or maybe I was going, a revolving door to nowhere? Who knows but I tookcomfort in days like today when I was a part of the field. I felt normal.
I saw thisall the time with rookies and Brody was a prime example of it. They flew allaround the world during the week, taking trips to New York and The Hamptons butthat was never me. Even in the beginning. I was never in it for the celebrityall-star lifestyle or the money so that side of the lifestyle never appealed tome. Racing did.
I laterspoke with Casten about his drug use and he listened but decided to spin it tohis advantage and told me that I should reconsider letting him go to FrostNationals for moral support.
Just whenI think that Casten might be maturing he goes and does shit like that. I wasreferring to the drugs rather than the negotiating.
“Stop it.You’re sixteen. Act like it.”
“Well,” helooked at me, a small grin tugged at his lips. “...lastweek I was seventeen. Now I’m sixteen. Which is it? At the way you add I’ll beback in diapers by next Tuesday.”
“Shut upand go clean the kitchen.” I told him heading upstairs to find Sway.
“I thoughtthat was Rosa’s job.” Casten laughed and then snapped his finger pointing atRosa sleeping on the couch. “Oh right, she doesn’t clean because it’s againsther religion.”
He had avery good point.
Swaywasn’t upstairs; instead she was with Alley going over the last minute detailsfor Frost Nationals in Knoxville.
Making myway to the shop, Noah and Charlie were there preparing the cars for the race.They looked nervous but my beef wasn’t with them. Like I said, Casten was oldenough to be making better decisions about the shit he participated in. Heliked to blame it on peer pressure but at some point his fifteen-year old assneeded to claim responsibility.
Grady wasthere too preparing the frame to my car I was taking. Quiet as usual he kepthis head down and worked. Since our conversations at the Monster Million heunderstood, or so I thought, he was on shaky ground with me. I didn’t take wellto people stealing from me but then again I had no actual proof of himstealing. So far there was roughly about $156,000 in parts and an enginemissing.
Deep down,I knew it was Grady but I needed proof before I could believe that someone Igave a chance to steal from me.