Over eight thousand RPMs coursed through the car, and I was launched off the line at over five Gs. The half a second it took for me to look from the tree to the track, I had already gone fifty feet and I didn’t even blink.
Almost halfway down the track, I knew I had it right. I had it off the line, and I felt the constant pull of power course through me the whole way.
As much as I wanted to look over to check on Rodgers, I didn’t. I was focused on exactly where I wanted to go. Exactly down the groove. If I looked over in the other lane, I would’ve driven over there.
Within fifty feet of the finish line, I shut down. I punched the parachute button and stepped off the throttle. Once my foot was off the pedal, I had crossed the line and I could breathe again.
The two parachutes deployed, and I was hit with over five Gs of deceleration. The back end got extremely light, and I could feel the car wanting to hop around. My hand held the hand break, but the parachutes slowed me down to where I didn’t need to pull it.
The final pop-pop signaled the engine is cut-off, and I toggled the ignition and switch to turn off the computer.
It was eerily quiet, and I took a deep breath.
Roc’s cheer sounded through my earpiece, and I smiled.
I did it.
*
Frankie
No matter how many times the car you worked on crossed the finish line first, you still jumped for joy and screamed like a lunatic.
When it all fell into place perfectly, you couldn’t help but pump your fist in the air and scream. I may not have been in the car, but without me and the eight guys shouting with me, it never would have made it there.
Jay and Remy hopped on their scooters and raced down the side lane to Brooks, and I couldn’t help but have a huge ass smile on my face.
“There’s that smile.”
I looked over at Ronald who started up the golf cart. “We won.”
“Sure as shit did. Didn’t have any doubts about it.” He cranked the cart around and headed back to pit row.
A few crew members from other teams offered shouts of congratulations as we drove back, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
That was why I loved my job.
Except we couldn’t celebrate too much right now. We may have won that round, but we had for sure one more pass. If we won that one, then we had to go again.
If everything went right, we would have to make four total passes today.
I spotted the car being pulled by the pit car with Jay and Remy following behind.
“Ready to get back to work, girlie?”
I glanced over at Ronald. “I was born for this shit, Ronnie.”
*
Chapter Twenty
Brooks
“How does it feel to win your first Sundown Nationals, Brooks?”
I was in my third interview of the night, and I was ready to be done. I celebrated with the team for a whole fifteen minutes before Blain whisked me away. That had been over two hours ago, and my adrenaline was still running high. “Uh, it feels amazing, Susan. No matter how many times I get in the driver’s seat, the rush of having that many Gs pulling at you never wains. Winning is the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.”
“This is only your second season in the Cummings Racing funny car. Does it feel like home now?”
“Cummings Racing is where I’m meant to be. I have an amazing crew chief, and a pit crew who set me up to win every race.”
“One has to wonder what happened last week then when you didn’t even manage to make it past qualifying.”
Damn. This chick knew how to hit me right where it hurt. “I was having a few staffing issues, and my head wasn’t were it should have been when I strapped into the car.”
“You obviously fixed whatever problems you were having though, right? At least for Sundown.”
I nodded. “Cummings Racing is back, and this weekend shows exactly what we have in store for the rest of the season.”
She thankfully wrapped up her grilling, and I yanked the microphone off my shirt.
“Thanks so much, Brooks.” She batted her eyes at me, and the viperous woman who had been sitting before me disappeared, replaced with someone I could instantly tell was about to try to get in my pants.
“Not a problem.” I wasn’t going to give her anything more than that. I wasn’t interested in whatever she had to say. I had caught her chatting with Don and Ted, the two announcers of most of the big races, and she never had anything good to say about Cummings Racing.
Hell, most people really didn’t have any nice things to say. “What are your plans for the night?” She flipped her hair off her shoulder and smiled. “I was going to grab a drink up in the press box if you want to join me.”
I shook my head and handed the microphone to her. “I’m gonna hang with the crew and head back to Leeds Square in the morning.”
“You’re sure you don’t need company tonight?”
I looked around and caught the camera guy shaking his head. One had to wonder if this was a typical routine with her. “Got enough company, Susan. Thanks for the offer, though.”
She scowled at me, and I was able to make it out of the press tent before she tried to sink her claws into me again. Blain was standing outside the tent on the phone. “Brooks,” he called. He muttered something into the phone and ended the call. “You’re all done for the day. You might have an over the phone interview with Dragster Weekly tomorrow. I was just on the phone with them letting them know they needed to snag some time with you before you won the whole AC Cup Series.”
At least it was good to know that Blain had faith in me. Though I wasn’t as optimistic I was going to win the whole series. Even if you had the best car on the track, that only went so far. I needed to keep my head on straight and focus on the next race. “Just let me know a time, and I’ll make sure to be available.”
He nodded and ducked into the press tent.
My phone rang in my pocket, and I was surprised to see Susan’s number on the screen. “Hello?” I put the phone to my ear and ducked off to the side of the press tent.
“Mr. Cummings?”
“Yeah. What’s going on, Susan?”
“We’re having a little bit of a problem right now.”
I clenched the phone in my hand, and my heart sank. “What’s wrong?”
“Your mother and I were watching TV, and I’m not sure what happened. She looked over at me and asked who I was. I explained that I was her friend staying with her for the weekend while you were away.”
“What did she say?”
She cleared her throat. “She told me she had no idea who I was and that I needed to get out until her son got home. She’s in her room right now with the door locked. I tried to talk to her, but she’s refusing to come out.”
I instantly started jogging in the direction of my trailer. “Is she okay right now?”
“She doesn’t seem scared, just agitated that I’m here. I’m unsure of what you would like me to do. I don’t want to upset her any more than I have.”
“Brooks!” Roc hollered to me, and I waved him over as I continued to make my way to my car I had parked next to my trailer.