His Lucky Charm

4 Time Champion

1984

Strip was by his crew chief as they talked about the race. He was sipping on water as he looked at data on the sheets.

"Okay. So for today's strat-" as he was about say something, when he caught a trio in the distance wearing dinoco blue.

He almost died. "Oh my gosh..." his little girls were at the track for the first time, wearing his number and dinoco blue.

And Lynda looked stunning as always. She sunglasses, dinoco blue tank top, and jeans. Strip just held his chiefs shoulder. "I have the most beautiful family."

His chief knew he no longer had strips attention so he decided to just leave him alone. Strip excused himself and made his way over to his family.

He kissed Lynda with a smile. "You look stunning." He said with a smile as the kids tugged on his racing suit.

"I try." She chuckled. "Ah- no. You are stunning regardless." He winked at her as he bend down and picked up his little girls.

"Lily, Sarah. Tell your mother she is beautiful alllll the time."

The little girl didn't hold back their praise and love for their mother. Lynda just kissed their cheeks and chuckled. The group just continued walking to the pits. Strip showed them his car, let them play with his helmet, and let them just run around screaming their little hearts out.

The girls were messing with Strips shoes as he stood and listened to his crew chief. Lynda just couldn't help but laugh. She let the girls do their thing until Strips started to get ready to go.

Chick smoked outside his pits. He glanced over at the Dinoco tent. He breathed in the smoke from his cigarette as he saw strip holding two mini versions of Lynda.

He exhaled as he watched. He could hardly believe it. He had kids now...? They looked at least 6-7 years old.

He just took another huff of smoke. It was the only thing that calmed his nerves now. He probably should've listened to Strip when he told him not to smoke, now he can't help be rely on it.

He just held his head as his crew chief came over and took the cigarette from him. "Time to get into the car."

Chick just nodded and just grabbed his helmet.

Another race where he knew the outcome.

Strip won. He was a four time champion. He climbed onto the top of his car and threw his fists to the sky.

A nickname for him started to spread like wildfire. The King.

He didn't mind it. He actually liked it.

He stood on the podium. Chick was in second, and someone else was in third. Chick glanced at him. "Didn't know you had kids." He said.

Strip looked at him surprised. That was the first words he's heard in a long time. "Oh...uh, yeah. They're Lily and Sarah. Twins."

"How old?" Chick asked.

"They just turned seven." Strip said. Chick felt something inside of him twist. "Congrats."

"Thank you.... I'm assuming that's not for the championship?" He teased a bit. Chick just looked straight ahead.

"No. No it wasn't."

Strip figured.

Sooner than later, Strip went over to his wife and daughters, and just hugged them all. Tex just patted him on the shoulder.

"Congrats baby." Lynda said as she pulled him into a kiss. The girls made audible disgusted noises. The happy couple just laughed after hearing that.

"Papa! Pick me up! Stop kissing mom!" Lily said as she gestured for him to pick her up. He picked her up and kissed her cheek.

"Congrats on winning again dad!" Sarah said as she held onto Lynda and Tex's hand.

"Thank you sweetheart." He said as he let the girls hold the piston cup.

Lynda looked at him. "I saw you talking to chick."

He nodded. "Yep. He didn't know about the girls, he just asked about them."

"How long has it been since you two officially talked?" She asked as everyone walked back to the team.

"13 years." He said as he continued to hold Lily. His expression changed slightly. It looked as if it was disbelief, and acceptance.

Lynda just rubbed his back. "I know..."

Tex then tried to lighten the mood. "So! You hear the new nickname for you?"

Strip just chuckled a bit. "Yeah... The King. A bit pretentious isn't it?" He said curiously

"Nope." Lynda was the first to say. "I think it's perfect."

Strip smiled at her reaction. "So, Mrs. King, you want them to call you the Queen?"

"I mean! If you're the king, I sure hope I'm called the queen." She said with a smile. He just kissed her head. "Then that's how it'll be." 

The family danced in the motorhome. Strip danced with the girls as music played. Lynda just took pictures with her camera.

As the family partied a bit, there was a knock at the motorhome door. Lynda got up to check. She opened the door and stopped in her tracks as she saw Chick there.

"Chick..." she said shocked.

"Hey..." he looked to the side. Lynda didn't know what else to say. "Hold on." She went up the steps and motioned for Strip to go outside.

She danced with the girls, distracting them.

Strip went outside. His eyes widened as he saw Chick sitting there. "Chick?"

Chick looked at him as he sat there. "Hey..."

"What's up?"

Chick just handed him something. "NASCAR accidentally sent this to my team." Strip held the envelope.

Chick just lit a cigarette and started to leave. Strip grabbed his arm.  Chick looked at the hand at that was holding onto him. He looked up and met Strips gaze.

"How are you? What have you been doing? How's life? Are you married?" Strip said trying to simply start a conversation.

Chick just yanked his arm and blew smoke in his face. "You don't care, Strip."

"Why do you say that? If I didn't care I wouldn't be asking these questions..." strip said trying to do anything to keep Chick from leaving.

"Pity. You pity me. The man with a wife, two kids, a nice house, and now! Four championships under his belt." Chick barked at him. "Quit acting like you care.... Cause you know you don't."

"Chick-"

"Goodnight, Strip."

And just like that. He was gone again.