Racers restart your engine!

Chapter 20

A few days later Lightning was aloud out and ready for training.

"Alright rookie, let's start out with your former speed limit." Doc said.

"Alright." Lightning said.

River, Louise, Junior and Smokey were there watching.

"Um Hud?" Junior said.

"Yeah?"

"How is supposed to work on this with dirt here?"

"I've been training him at Radiator Spring for years. Going into his second season. I taught him all my tricks and race him for fun. It's dirt there." he said.

Then he looked at Lightning. "Alright, go!"

So they watched him closely.

Lightning worked hard like he always does. He reminded himself that he would have to show everyone that even he can win.

An hour later they were done.

"Nice job. Let's call it a day." Doc said.

"Alright."

So they went and grabbed a snack.

As the time went on Lightning would work as hard as he could. He had gotten the tricks Doc had taught him years ago down as good as before.

Finally after three months he was ready for his first race of his twenty sixth season.

"Thanks for the help. You're welcome to come to any race you want." Lightning said.

"We plan on going to the first, the one to get to the piston cup and if you make it the piston cup." Louise said.

"Alright."

So he headed to Mack and then was off to Radiator Spring.

When he got home he said hello to everyone.

"Lightning! Dad!" they all said.

"Welcome back." Sheriff said.

"Thanks. Now, I don't want anyone to go to training for the next week. When it's the first race of the season you'll see what I am now."

The next day Lightning and Doc were training each other.

"Alright, let's do it!" Doc said.

So Lightning worked hard as fast as he could.

As the weeks went on they worked as hard as they could. Lightning worked the hardest. He would still get sore like Doc said. So he stretched every morning and before they started training. They race each other and Lightning would use his old speed limit.

Finally after two months they were on their first race.

"Well looks like Lightning McQueen is still going for it this season. We have The Fabulous Hudson Hornet, The King, and Chick Hicks like any other race." Bob said.

"Wait a minute, is that River, Midnight, Barnstormer and Smokey? Former racers and Fabulous Hudson Hornet's crew chief?!"

Everyone looked at them in shock like when Doc was at Lightning's first piston cup.

"It is! They must have come to see the race! I heard Lightning McQueen was there over the break but nobody knows why. Not even his friends, wife and daughter knows." Bob said.

"Well let's hope we find out."

Back with the other four,

"We told you we'd be here for the first race." Smokey said smiling.

"And you know we keep a promise Hud." Louise said.

"Now, let's get going! See what they have this season!" River said.

"Good luck Lightning!" Junior said.

"Thanks guys. I'll try as hard as I can."

"Go get 'em hotrod!" Doc said.

"I'm officially terrified of this season after dad getting this surgery done." Lily said to Flo.

"I'm curious. Don't worry hun. Just focus on yourself." Flo said.

A few minutes later it started. Lightning started with his former speed limit.

"It looks like Lightning McQueen is starting like himself." Bob said.

"Alright hotrod, speed up."

So he sped up and people looked at him in shock.

"Would you look at that! Lightning McQueen got something done to be as fast as the current racers!"

"I can't believe what I'm seeing." Bob said.

"That's it. Now there's an opening on the side. Use your flipping trick."

"Alright."

So he went closer to the wall.

"What trick do we have going today?" Bob said.

"Let's find out. What I really want to know is how they started."

"Don't you remember? The Fabulous Hudson Hornet used these tricks when he raced. So he must have taught him when he became his crew chief." Bob said.

When he got there he put his tire on the side and flipped over. Then he sped up smirking.

"That's my favorite one of your tricks." River said.

As the race went on Lightning was winning. He would use what he needed or wanted. Focused on what he was doing like his rookie year.

Before they knew it they were done. He won.

After that he headed over to get his trophy.

"Lightning, we have a few questions that we've been wanting to know for months. Do you mind if I ask?" someone said.

"Go ahead." he said.

"Where were for the past few months before the beginning of your, twenty fifth season?"

"My twenty sixth season. I've been at Thomasvile getting a surgery done thanks to Doc's crew chief and a young man named John. Doc had talked to Smokey, his former crew chief about someone from the current time. He found someone willing to switch places with me. He now has my old engine and I have his."

"How did you get back so quickly after getting that done?"

"I stayed at Thomasvile and trained. Started out with my former speed limit to the a little faster and you get the idea. After getting that all set I worked on my tricks and got those done. It was a repeat of my rookie year working on those though."

People started laughing a little. Especially his friends.

While he answered questions people were thrilled he was like a rookie again.

When he was done he went to talk to his friends and Lily.

"Dad that was awesome!" she said.

"Look out people, a new Lightning McQueen is here!"

Then they headed home.