Dirt, A Racing Story

-Chapter III-

The next morning I woke up and gently got out of bed so I wouldn't wake Sally. I walked down to the kitchen and set at the table with dad. To my suprise Steve was over talking to dad.
"Aye right in time son. Steve and I have been talking. He wants to see you do some hot laps.
Steve took a sip of his coffee. "Yes sir. Go look outside for me right fast".
"Yes sir".
I got up from the table annD stepped outside. On Steve's trailer was a brand new SUPER dirt late modal and an IMCA Modified. My jaw dropped. I ran over twards them and examined them up and down. They were both painted solid black. No decals on them yet or anything. I was in all. I jumped off the trailer and went back inside.
"Well what did you find Dan"?
  "I  found a late modal and modified. Where did you get them"?
"Well our sponcers bought them for the team. That's not all either. They bought four a piece with replacement engines Tires and Wheels well basically enough to build two more race cars at peace.
About that time Sally came down stairs and joined us.
"Hey gentlemen", she says as she kissed me. Steve told her to go out side and look at what he had brought. So she did. She came back smiling from ear to ear, so Steve, Dad, and I updated her on what was going on.
"That's so cool that the sponcers took care of all that".
Steve smiled. "Yes now Dan we have alot to do. Your dad told me about what ol Mr. Harrison had to offer so we were on ther horn with him earlier. He said that he would have the practice track prepped and ready for us so I'm going to go back to the shop and get everything ready and meat y'all out there in an hour. It's 8:30 right now. We need to be done and loaded ready for the track by one. We have to go register and stick the sponsor decals on the race cars and what number are you going to use"?
"Just like dad. It's our family race number".
"Haha. That's exactly what your dad said. We'll follow me out to the truck and I'll give you your sail, D.O.T. approved racing gear. I already gave your dad his".
"Yes sir thank you so much".
"Dan you are your father's son and I know you're going to do this team proud".
"Yes sir. I'll give you my one hundred percent".
"I know you will Dan. See y'all in an hour".
I walked back inside as he drove off. Sally looked at me and told me how excited she was for my dad and me.
"Well you're apart of it now baby".
She kissed me and nodded. I walked up to my room and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt then put my racing suit on. Then Sally and I walked back downstairs to where Dad was.
"Well son. You ready"?
"Yes sir. Kinda gittery".
"Haha thats normal. I was always like that. Let's go".
"Yes sir".
Sally and I jumped in my car she already had two cigarettes lit for us as usual. I have the windows rolled down waiting for Dad to come out. Once he did he asked me for a cigarette. Said that he had to buy some on the way out. so I gave him one and called him a bum.
"Hey now. Haha". We both laughed. "I'll meet you out there".
"Yes sir".
I turn the key to on and pressed my toggle switch and let my car roar to life. Sally and I Road to mr. Harrison's. singing to music as usual. We made it to Mr. Harrison's. He had some doors opened up and a few factory stocks out and was washing them.
"Hey there Danny. I want you to hop in that double zero. Start packin the track and hi mis Sally. Would you like to do the same in this one"?
"Yes sir. Sounds fun".
"You know how to drive Sally"?
"Regularly".
"Well one day we will teach you a little about racing and see if we can't get you into one of these Factory stocks. You never know you might just have the talent for it".
" yes sir that sounds good".
   Sally hopped in and brought that 87' Monte Carlo to life. She put the steering wheel on out in in low and followed behind me. We intered the track heading clock wise. Best way to pack a track. We started packing it from the middle of the track. We had gone around the track about 3x and then seen Steve and dad pull in. Mr Harrison got on the channel and told us to start packing the lower part of the track. About 15 minutes later we packed the upper part of the track and then we were called in. Sally and I got out out and walked over to dad, Steve, and Mr. Harrison.
   "I want her in that factory stock right now. I want to see if she can drive."
   "Um.. sir. Are you sure you want me to get into a race car? I don't think I'll be able to drive."
   "Have a little faith in yourself. When you get in the corner pitch it and drive out of it. By the time you hit the straight that how you'll be."
   "Yes sir".
   Steve gave her her own racing suit told her to go get dressed. So Sally did. As soon as she was back we helped her into the car, I gave her some pointers and then she was off. Mr. Harrison signaled green next lap around as as she was approaching the 3rd and 4th corners she started pacing real slow Mr. Harrison dropped the green flag and the Malibu came roaring to life. She slowed a little coming into the first turn. She fought the wheel a little bit not bad over all. By the next lap she drove it even harder. She did great in the turns. She had driven 5 laps then Mr. Harrison gave her the white flag. Then she really got on it. We timed her and her times were well within qualifing. She brought her back in. Steve and i helped her out of the car. He asked her to follow her. Then he said wait besidebthe hauler. A few seconds later her pulled out a brand new pink and black  factory stock. He climbed out of the car. "This is what you'll be driving in tonight."
   It was funny. Her jaw dropped. " But what if I wreck it?"
   "You wont. I have faith in you. Now Danny. You and your dad need to get some hit Laps in".
   My dad and I got suited up. Dad got into the cotpit of the super dirt late model and cranked it. Dad pulled onto the track and didn't waist any time. He dropped the hammer and drove that late model around that track as fast as he could. Came in and I went out. This modified was a dream. I warned my tires up a few laps then I raced it getting to know my car seeing what she could take and what would push her a little to hard. Last lap I gave her all she had. Then took her back in. We were ready for tonight. By the time I had came into the pits mom had showed up. She brought us lunch. We cleaned the three cars loaded them up. We were ready to head out.