His Lucky Charm

3 Time Champion

1978

Strip sat by his car. He was bouncing his leg. He was nervous. He could possibly be a champion again.

Tex wasn't there at the track with him yet, and neither was Lynda. He just had his eyes closed tight as he focused as he ran through the race again and again.

He did this every single time. It helped calm him. It helped lower the shock factor of racing this race.

His crew chief walked over to him. "You okay?"

Strip just opened his eyes and lowered his hands. "Yeah... just a bit worried."

"Howcome?"

"I don't think I can do this." He said quietly. His crew chief tried his hardest to get Strip out of his head, but he just couldn't.

Eventually Tex and Lynda arrived. She was in a flowy dress and had some simple jewelry on. Strip didn't notice her, his was too stuck in his head.

The crew chief explained to the two what was going on. Tex was surprised by his behavior.

Lynda looked at her husband as the other two spoke. She walked over to him and knelt down in front of him. She put his hands into hers. He didn't flinch, he just squeezed her hand.

"Strip?"

"I can't do this..." he said quietly. He opened his eyes and met hers. She just chuckled and shook her head.

"Where is this doubt coming from? My two time, soon to be three time champ."

"I don't know..."

She stayed a bit quiet. "Don't think of this as a championship deciding race." He looked at her confused.

"Think of this... as any other race. Imagine this race is Daytona." She said with a smile.

"And you're gonna win it. Like every other race. And I'll be right here cheering for you." She said reassuring him. He took a deep breath and nodded as he squeezed her hand. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her ring finger.

"Thank you, sunshine." He said as he stood, he helped her up.

The team got him ready. "Chief, get her a beer she deserves one." Strip said as he got his helmet on.

"Oh no. No drinking for me." She said as she made her way to her chair. Everyone looked at her confused.

She looked at them. "Not in the mood." She said with a smile. Strip just nodded and went over to his car.

Everyone looked at Tex who just had a smile on his face as he went to go sit next to her.

"Need anything?" Tex asked.

"Just my husband to win this race." She said as she watched him drive off.

The race ended as fast as it started. Strip won the race. Five years after his second he is a three time champion.

He smiled brightly as he was sprayed with champagne on the podium. Chick didn't place in the top three this time, so he was no where to be found.

Tex cheered for his kid. Strip looked down at him and smiled. He then noticed Lynda wasn't there.

He made his way down to the team and showed them the trophy. They all cheered and jumped around as strip motioned for Tex.

"Where's Lynda?"

"She's at the motorhome." Tex said saying nothing else.

"Ah gotcha." Strip said a bit confused. "Go see her. I bet she wants to see the trophy."

Strip walked back to the motorhome. He saw the lights off again, so he didn't turn them on. He peeked in and saw Lynda sitting on the couch, under a blanket looking out the window.

"Sunshine?" He said as he closed the door. She looked at him. She smiled tiredly.

"Ah I knew you'd get your third." She said with a knowing smile.

"You told me to." He said as he sat next to her. He showed her his Piston Cup. She smiled softly as she held it.

"Another one to put above the fireplace." She said as she kissed his cheek. He looked at her with a smile.

"Yes ma'am." He looked at her and then leaned against the wall as she stared at him. There was something in her eyes saying she had something to say.

"What's wrong?" He said curiously.

"Oh nothings wrong." She said with a soft smile. She stood up. "Close your eyes for me." She said as she walked to their room.

He did as he was told. He heard her walk around and then sit back down besides him. "Open your hands."

He sat up straight and did just that. She placed a box in his hands. "Open your eyes." She said.
He opened them and saw a box with a bow on it.

"What's this?"

"It's my gift to you for getting a championship." She said starting to tear up.

He opened the box and then looked at what was in it. He froze and didn't move. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"W-what is this?" He said in a whisper. Her tears fell as she pulled a pregnancy test out of the box.

"We're gonna have a little ole family." She said with a teary chuckle.

Strip just stood up and tried to hold back his tears. He was so happy he just couldn't help but cry. Lynda stood up and walked over to him.

He wrapped his arms around her and cried into her shoulder. "You're gonna be a daddy." She said as she cried with him.

He kissed her cheeks and her face a bunch. She just chuckled and laughed as he did. He stopped and put his forehead against hers. "Thank you."

He said as his voice broke. She just held his face ever so gently in her hands and kissed him. He kissed her back.

"We're going to be parents." Strip said with a chuckle. Lynda just giggled a bit as she smiled.

"Isn't it exciting." She said with a bright smile.

"Extremely." He says looking at her as if she had given him the whole world.