A Journey of One

2019 Champion?

So this is based on the NASCAR 2019 Champion race cause why not. My OCS name is Hunter Lee, youngest female driver for Team Penskes #26 Ford Mustang. Just a little something I put together.

KYLE BUSCH IS YOUR 2019 MONSTER ENERGY CHAMPION!!!

What? I-I failed? No...no, this can't be happening.

I lean my head back against my seat, trying to keep my cool. As we were doing our last lap around, I gave him a thumbs up. I had too; he did good tonight.

"You okay, Hunt?" My crew chief John asked me. Tell the truth or lie?

"I feel embarrassed and like a failure. We were so close." I replied.

"I'm sorry. I know how you feel, I can't believe this is happening." Wrong. You don't know how I feel you never will. You will never experience what I went through.

"I-I feel like I let you guys down."

"You didn't, Hunter; you work so hard to get here. You didn't let anyone down." Yeah right.

I parked my car on pit road and took off the wheel. I don't even bother taking off my helmet, and I just sit in the car. Why? How? Why couldn't I do it? What is wrong with me? John comes up to the car, looking a bit upset.

"You did great tonight. Don't beat yourself up about it." I want to believe him, but I can't. Knowing I let him down. He walks away, patting me on the shoulder.

I take off my helmet and wipe my eyes. I'm trying not to cry, but I feel like I can break at any moment. I slowly got out of my car, the medic asking if I was okay. My PR comes up, giving me my hat and water. I just want to go back to my trailer and be alone for a while. I possibly cry myself to sleep.

"Hey, Hunter. Are you up for an interview?" Jamie Little calls out. I honestly don't want to do this right now—too many thoughts going through my mind. But...I have to, for the fans.

"Yeah. I'm good." I take a deep breath to cool myself. I can't cry on national T.V.

"Alright, Jeff, I'm here with second-place finisher Hunter Lee after that photo finish. Hunter, how are you feeling right now? I know this race meant a lot to you." Woah, straight to the point.

"Uhh, I think it's self-explanatory on how I'm feeling right now. I'm just disappointed in myself that I could have done better. The team did an amazing job with our 26 PPG Ford, helping us to win those two stages. But towards the finish, it was my fault on my end." I tried my best to sound optimistic, but my embarrassment was shining through.

"Do you have any resentment for Kyle or anything like that?"

"No, I don't. I just wished I could've been better. That's what I've been pushing myself to do good for years, I just feel..." I stop talking for a split second to catch my breath. What's been on my mind for months was coming out. Don't cry. DON'T CRY! " Sorry, I just. I feel like an embarrassment to my team and to my last name that I can't do something my father did years ago. I don't feel like I deserve to be here now, but life is crazy like that." My voice was wandering toward the end of that last sentence. I was going to break any moment now.

"Well, you did a fantastic job today representing young women racers. Thank you. Back to you, Jeff." She quickly signs off and moves on to the other racers.

I can't believe I just said that. What is wrong with me? I lean my arms on the top of my car. I hear a lot of cheering going on in the background. I look over and see the whole 18 team getting doused in champagne and Coke. In the back of my mind, I can't help but feel like I should be there.