His Lucky Charm

Lucky Charm

The next day was race day. Lynda was doing much better and was discharged that morning. Strip helped her down to the car.

He had an arm wrapped around her waist, and was holding her hand. He helped her into the car and got into the back seat.

They got to the pits and she was sat down in her normal spot, except she had a fan and more water than usual.

Strip was getting geared up. He pulled his helmet on and was getting briefed by his crew chief and engineer.

Lynda watched him and felt her heart rate pick up. She didn't even bother to hide the fact she was staring a bit.

Strip nodded and then dismissed himself from the people he was talking to. He walked over to Tex.

"They said it's gonna rain." He said as he fiddled with his visor.

"That shouldn't be a problem." Tex and him had a conversation about how the odds were not in his favor. Lynda kept her eyes on him.

Strip looked up, his eyes met hers from under his helmet. "I won't anticipate a win."
Tex said as he looked at Strip. Strip was looking at Lynda.

"What do you think sunshine?" Strip said as his crew chief told him to get into the car.

"You'll win." Tex looked at her stunned. A slight smile appeared on strips face as she said that. "Yes ma'am."

He lowered his visor and headed to his car. Tex looked at her. "You better be one hell of a lucky charm."

Lynda just prayed. She wanted him to win. That's all she wanted.

Strip pulled up behind the pack. People had teased and made fun of him as he walked through the paddock. He was called the one race wonder cause of his stint the day before.

No one believed he was going to win.

He gripped the wheel as he took a deep breath. The green flag flew, and then it was time.

On around lap 130, he had made his way through half of the pack. He was exhausted. They had a yellow due to accident behind him so they all had to chill behind the safety car.

Oh he was tired.

The crew chief was talking to him. The chief got exasperated. "Lynda!" The chief yelled. She looked at him confused.

"Yeah?" He motioned for her to come over. She quickly made her way over. "Talk to him." He took the headset off and put it on her.

"Strip?" She said.

"Hey sunshine... we got rain coming right?" She looked at the clouds, and that's definitely what it looked like.

"Yes. But the chief said it'll be getting here around the final lap." She said as she adjusted the headset.

"Can I win this?" He asked her. She nodded.

"Yes. Oh yes you can. Keeping pushing. You have fresh tires. Keep a good pace." She said as the safety car pulled away.

"Since when do you talk like a crew chief?" He chuckled as he prepared to go full speed.

"Since I met you. Now's heres your actual crew chief."

"Bye sunshine." She smiled as she took her headset off and handed it to the chief. He looked at her hopeful.

"He's got it." She smiled.

The crew chief just nodded and stayed talking to him.

She walked back over to Tex. He raised a brow with a smile. "You know what's funny?"

"Hm?" She Said as she drank some water. "He risked his whole career because of you." He said as he looked back at the cars. She looked at him suddenly.

"He told me yesterday, that if I wanted to fire him, do it. He even said I won't find another rookie like him." He said as he sipped on his beer.

"I- what!? Why?" She said shocked.

"Cause... he didn't want you to feel alone again."

Lynda paused. She then just looked back at the track. She didn't say another word.

Strip was on his final lap. He was in second behind the guy who bumped him the day before. He pulled up beside the guy. The guy went to bump him but he let off the gas, swung around to the other side and took first.

He defended first for two laps. The checkered flag waved and Strip was the race winner.

The Dinoco tent went wild. The first rookie since the Hornet to win a race in their first season. Tex and Lynda were screaming and cheering.

Strip was yelling in his car with excitement. Chick came in second and the man who messed up came in third.

The winners stepped onto the podium. Strip held his trophy to the sky as he smiled. He was sprayed with champagne as he stood there.

He sprayed the others as well but laughed as chick wrapped an arm around his neck. "The future king of NASCAR!" Chick yelled.

Tex stood off to the side watching. The rain came a little bit late. Tex had an umbrella over his head, watching his kid.

Strip was doing an interview in the rain. He didn't care, he was happy. He was actually being bombarded by the interviewers.

"Strip! How did you go from last all the way to first!? The chances of you winning were extremely slim." Strip chuckled a bit as he thought of Lynda.

"I had a lucky charm. That's for sure."

He waved as he walked toward the Dinoco team. They all cheered as he walked over. The first Dinoco winner since his father.

Tex walked over and hugged the boy. "Proud of you kid." Strip hugged him tightly. "Thanks..."

Tex sighed. He chuckled. "Ms. Sunshine is at the pits. She wasn't feeling too good. She did try to walk over here but... you know she's still recovering. So she's just enjoying the rain."

Strip nodded and made his way over.

Strip got closer and saw her sitting under the umbrella, wrapped up in a blanket. He smiled a bit as he saw her getting up as he closed.

"Told you you'd win." She said as she covered her head in the rain.

"I didn't doubt you." He chuckled as she wobbled over under the blanket.

"I know." She said as she stopped in front of him. He showed her the trophy. She smiled a bit at that. "Being a race winner looks good on you." She said wiping the water off his face.

"I have a gift for you, for winning of course." She said as she put her blanket on the team platform carefully.

"A gift?"

"Yeah. Close your eyes." She smiled brightly. He raised a brow.

"Oh my gosh strip. Do you want it or not?"

He just chuckled and closed his eyes.

She flicked his hat off, and then gently she pulled him down by his collar and kissed him. He froze but immediately kissed her back. He pulled her a bit closer by her waist.

He smiled against the kiss.

They both knew this felt right. Hell this was perfect.

Lynda smiled as well. She broke the kiss a bit. Rain fell Down his face as he just looked at her. "My lucky charm... with you I'll be a champion." He said as he carefully wiped rain off of her cheek.

"And I'll be right here, happily, being your lucky charm." She said with a bright smile.

That smile that got him hooked from the beginning.

"Sounds good to me."