Short Track Lovin' ✅

Chapter 59: Bristol

Wednesday, August 17 – Bristol Motor Speedway

With both practices in the books, Sarina found herself leaning against the truck, awaiting for qualifying to begin. She kept glancing at her watch, checking the time, remembering the latest text from Chase – he was supposed to be on his way. She couldn't help but glance towards the gates to see whether he was walking through them. She knew within five minutes of the session, the gates would close and he would be stuck on the outside until the session was over.

Crossing her fingers, she wanted to see her man before then.

She was trying not to be nervous, but she couldn't help but remember the words chance to win, playoffs, short track queen, your wheel house that had been repeated by crew members, Marcus, Kyle, and the media entering the day. It was like everybody expected her to come in, run well, and battle Kyle for the win – just like her late model short track days.

Nobody understood the difference between the trucks and late models, it seemed. Nobody understood that she was a rookie still trying to learn. Nobody understood that pressure would drive her insane.

"Surprise!" She hears as a pair of arms wrap around her waist, instantly pulling her close. She immediately smiles as she recognized the voice and feeling right away. It was like every bit of anxiety she was feeling escaped immediately, too.

"Thank you...." She then spins around, facing him, wrapping her arms around him. It certainly wasn't the initial greeting you'd expect to hear, but her self-well being knew that was what resonated.

"Did you really need me that badly?" She nods her head as he keeps her held close, knowing if that's what she needed, he'd deliver every bit of it.

"You wouldn't believe the questions in the media center...." He then steps back, looking at her surprised. He could only connect those questions to everything going on with Chris and Allison. What else would they want to talk about? "Everybody just assumes that I'm going to be in contention to win because I know short tracks, and it's Kyle Busch Motorsports equipment. Like, I didn't need to hear that. I can do that enough myself!" Chase then pulls her back close, running his hands up and down her back.

"Take a deep breath, relax...." He then pauses, looking into her eyes. He could see the anxiousness she expressed, and could only think about their conversation yesterday. The feelings didn't surprise him, though, in having seen the scene around her lately. "What did we talk about this week? What have we talked about every time something like this comes up?" She closes her eyes, remembering their conversations.

"Take a deep breath, relax, be calm, forget the outside world, focus on myself, and just do my thing because no matter what, it'll play out how it is supposed to." He nods his head as he pulls her back close, rubbing her back once again. It was simple advice, but it was better than going absolutely nuts.

"Don't let it eat at you. Your belief in yourself is all you need. Just focus on that, Marcus and everything will work out. You've had a great rookie season, showing improvement every week. Just keep doing that, and you'll eventually get to where everybody thinks you should be. They keep forgetting that you're just fresh out of late models, and it's not just going to come to you. Not everybody is a William Byron." She then glances at him, catching the reference right away, but knowing another much needed example.

"....or a Chase Elliot-"

"Hey now, I made some costly mistakes when I first moved up, too, and tore up some equipment. I wasn't no angel by any means." She shrugs her shoulders, not too sure about that, as she remembered always hearing amazing things. "Look at Joey Logano, though. Look at Truex. Look at Keselowski. Heck, look at your car owner or even Bell. Those guys took time to come into their own. Bell had a bunch of horrendous moments last year, but came into his own as the year closed. Kyle got sent from one team to another due to how he was. It'll come..."