Rodeo

8)

Kylie's POV

"Alright Griffin. Let's bring in that fifteenth position today." Donnie says over the coms. "Command is given." I flipped the switch, listening to the roar of the engine. This was what gave me that rush of adrenaline through every vein in my body. It was what I lived for. I hadn't felt this good in a week, and I was ready to take on the world to get more than just a fifteenth finish.

"Let's see how far we can get up there, Griffin." I put the car in gear as soon as the pace car took off leaving us all lined up to get through that restart zone. Steadily, I put my foot to the pedal, slowly applying pressure as the car accelerated.

"Easy. Easy. Easy." Larry says, "Seven on your bumper. Seven on your bumper."

We locked up on the inside line, pushing past that outside line and flew threw turns one and two with ease. Once we reached the backstretch, everyone fanned out like we were racing for the last lap. Everything was going to hell in a handbasket behind me, but I was ready.

I knew I could ride the wall, not as good as Larson, but pretty damn close. It was a little trick he used to show me when he did iracing. And it just so happened to be the Atlanta track, if I remember correctly.

"How are you holding up, Griff?" Donnie asks with a stern tone. Ever since my first race, my boss made it mandatory to have them track my vitals the entire race in case there was actually something wrong with my body.

"I'm feelin great!"

"Not too hot?"

"Not right now, no. The extra ice packs you gave me are helping."

"Good."

Stage one happened so fast, but I guess it's true what they say. Time flies when you're having fun, and I was having a blast.

"Everyone's impressed with your speed. Keep it up."

"10-4." I kept close to the wall, especially through the straightaways. I found myself falling into a pattern, and before I knew it, Noah, Ty, and Brandon were all right behind me in a line.

"Your boys wanna race. What do you say, Griff?" Donnie chuckled. Technically he wasn't supposed to be entertaining this idea at all, let alone during the actual race itself.

"Tell em bring it on fuckers!" I laughed, pressing my foot down harder after letting up in the corners. Noah was trying to get around me, but I wasn't having it. Block after block, Noah couldn't get around me. Meanwhile Ty and Brandon were having their own battle.

"Kylie, you're in first position! You've got five laps and this stage win is yours." There was only one other time I heard Donnie sound this excited, and it was when Mr. Gibbs announced that we would be having pancake Saturdays in the breakroom at JGR HQ.

I laughed, driving the thing harder than ever. The other day, Noah had been giving me shit about how I wasn't as competitive as he was. Well it was about damn time I showed the fucker how competitive I really was. If he wanted this stage win, he was going to have to earn it, and I wasn't willingly going to make it easy on him.

"Three laps."

"Two laps."

"Last lap. You got this Griffin!" Donnie's face was probably the same shade of red as a ripe tomato with how loud he was yelling. Noah fought hard on that last lap, but I fought harder. I drove past the finish line as that green and white checkered flag wove in the air. "That's what I'm fuckin talking about! Let's go!" Donnie screamed in my ears. I laughed, bringing it down pit road so they could change the tires and give me more fuel, along with extra water and ice packs to make sure I didn't end up throwing up.