The Champion (Racing on the Edge) (23 page)

Roll Cage – Sway

I was loading the remaining merchandise boxes into the
back of my Expedition when a familiar voice came from behind me.

“Hey Sway
...
do you
have a second?”

My entire body froze as a chill shuddered through me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just came to show my respect for Charlie. That’s all.”
Mike told me holding up his hands in surrender. “I swear that’s all.” His wide
eyes conveyed his nervousness. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“You shouldn’t have come here.” I whispered shaking my
head. I knew he didn’t mean any harm by the way his eyes darted around the
parking lot. He was scared shitless. “If Jameson finds you
...
” I shook my head not wanting to think of
his reaction to this.

“I’m sorry. I had
to apologize for everything that
happened. I had no idea that’s what Darrin was planning. I swear to you, I
didn’t. I’m not that kind of person.”

“I suggest you leave.” A snarled voice warned echoed
stepping out from the dark cagey shadows of the parking lot.

I wasn’t entirely surprised to see Van walking up and thankful
it wasn’t Jameson.

Mike held his hands up. “I just came to show my respect
for Charlie and tell Sway I’m sorry.”

“Well
...
” Van’s
voice faded stepping closer to Mike, cornering him next to the beer garden and
my truck. “Don’t. Ever. Come. Back. Again
...
and
I’ll
think
about not telling Jameson.”

“I’m sorry.” Mike trembled. “I don’t mean any harm.”

“I do though.” Van ran his hand along his jaw. “You don’t
even want to know how much harm I can cause. And frankly
...
I’m not the one you should be scared of. It’s Jameson. If he
finds out you’re here
...
”

Mike didn’t waste another moment talking before he was
running away,
literally
sprinting away.

Van laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders.

“I can’t let you out of my sight for a moment, can I?”

“Apparently not. Did you install some sort of GPS on me?”
I teased and loaded the last box.

“No, I just know you by now.” I closed the back of the
Expedition and Van smiled. “Now come on
...
your
husband is looking for you.”

Before we reached the pit gates, I stopped him. “Van
...
don’t tell Jameson
...
please
.”

“I won’t Ms. Sway.” He assured me and motioned to the
crowd where Jameson was. “Now get over there. He misses you.”

Jameson still wasn’t over the whole ordeal with Darrin
and Mike for good reason. Hell, I still wasn’t over it and seeing Mike just
then sent me into panic overload but I couldn’t let that break me.

Mama Wizard couldn’t be broken damn it.

Watching my husband amongst a crowd of screaming fans,
all suppliantly idolizing him, I realized how lucky we were. Against all odds,
we had made it. And despite the world trying to tear us apart, we glued
ourselves back together with Dirty Heathen and Mama Wizard super glue. The
edges may have been blurred and distorted, but they were solid.

While I was standing there, Ami approached me holding
Lily in her arms. I smiled at her. “I can’t believe how big she’s getting.”

“I know,” Ami laughed. “It feels like I just had her
yesterday.”

“Well it wasn’t that long ago.” I reminded her. Lily was
only a month old. “Oh, are you and Justin coming over for the barbeque
tomorrow?”

“I think so, then we leave for Knoxville Nationals.”

“Right. It’s that time of year already, huh?”

Ami and I looked over at Justin and Jameson signing
autographs for the fans.

“It never changes, does it?” Ami asked softly kissing
Lily’s tiny hands.

I looked down at Axel for a minute and then smiled. “No,
it doesn’t. But that’s the life we live. We’re racers wives.”

Roll Cage – Jameson

It was around two in the morning before we finally made
it back to the house on Summit Lake. Even though we’d officially moved back to
Mooresville, we kept the house on the lake for times like this when we didn’t
want to fly home right away. We had to leave tomorrow for an appearance in
Jacksonville but it was nice to sleep in my own bed for a night.

As I carried my sleeping son into his bedroom, I
understood a lot about my life looking at his innocent face.

I still believed it was better to dream than to not be
able to dream at all because who would you be without it?

I knew, for me, that there was no such thing as “say
when” because I was always going to want more and most of all, the dreams I
thought would never be, were now my reality.

I couldn’t say when. I couldn’t for the simple fact that I
wanted more. Who wouldn’t?

After my first National Quarter Midget Championship, I
wanted more. After my first Night Before the 500, I wanted more. After the Hut
Hundred, the USAC Triple Crown, Turkey Night, the Chili Bowl
...
I wanted more. Say when wasn’t an option
for me and never would be.

I began to understand that my life was measured in
moments. There were moments that tested you, challenged you, and moments that
could make you fall to your knees, begging for one more moment but you see,
those moments defined you as a person. You need to take them as they come
because before you know it, you’re out of moments.

Peering down at my sleeping son, I remembered the doubts
I had in the beginning. I never thought I was good enough for Sway and all
along she was thinking the same thing.

I remembered a phrase Charlie used to say to us, “It’s
not the track you race at. It’s the high line you chose that takes you to the
victory.”

We all thought he was crazy toward the end, but that’s
when he had the most inspirational words of wisdom. More than likely he got
them off commercials and cereal boxes but they were still helpful.

I padded down the hall into our room where Sway was
waiting for me. She wasn’t sleeping, but wrapped up in the sheets, waiting.

Removing my clothes, I crawled in bed with her and drew
her against my bare chest.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” her eyes glistened, her
breath light and steady. “He would have loved tonight.”

“Anything for you honey,” I murmured against her neck.

“Will you sing for me? I miss the singing.” She rolled
over facing me, the moon light coming into our room reflected off her glowing
ivory skin.

I sang softly to her with just the right amount of drawl
and timber she loved that wouldn’t make Ray Charles cringe
.

These were the moments that I wanted more of. These were
the moments that would make me beg for more.

10.
        
Burn Off – Jameson

Burn off – Burning
fuel during the course of a race. As fuel is burned, the car becomes lighter
and its handling characteristic change, challenging the driver and crew to make
adjustments to achieve balance.

The hot Florida sun was beating down on me inside the
car, blinding me in the apex of turn four, my entire body was sweating from the
physical exertion. Kyle and Aiden’s raucous voices drowned out the vibrations
in the engine that I didn’t want to be feeling in the last race of the season.

My arms and hands burned from gripping the wheel so
tight. These last few races of the series were taking its toll on my body.

The season, much like the year before, had its ups and
downs. In Talladega, Paul and I were caught up in the “big one.”

I flipped my car eight times on the backstretch earning
me a visit to the infield care center and then the hospital. I’ve had more
broken bones in one year then one should receive in their entire lifetime but
still
...
I was unstoppable.

I knew what I wanted.

“Don’t overdrive the car Jameson.” Kyle said. “I know you
want this but don’t push too hard. Just have patience and
feel
the car.”

I knew that already. I wanted to reply with, “Hey thanks
for the advice!” but I kept my mouth shut.

Surprising huh? I like to think I’ve matured since I
turned twenty-four but that’s probably unlikely.

It was the last race of the season and I was running
twelfth. All I needed was a top fifteenth finish to clench the title once
again.

Despite a blown motor in Texas, I ran the car for two
laps with no power to finish the race. I was like a nasty cold, persistent and
unstoppable.

“Maybe try a half round down in wedge.” I suggested when
the pushing into the corner didn’t improve after the last stop. “And I have a
vibration. It’s not bad, but it’s there.”

“All right you heard him boys
...
half round down, four tires and one can. Gentry, pull the hood
pins and take a look.”

“Pit roads open this time by.” Aiden announced.

I slowed my speed coming out of turn three to make our
scheduled green flag stop.

When I pulled down on the apron, Kyle came over the
radio.

“Bring it down
...
second
gear 4200
...
three
...
two
...
one, wheels
straight, foot on the break.”

Mason instructed the crew while I waited for them to
finish.

It’s times like this when I really got hasty because for
one I had no control and as a race car driver, that was the worst feeling.

I think that goes back to my days racing sprint cars when
you made the changes to your car based on your driving. If you were tight, it
was something you were doing and could adjust. Now, I relied on my crew.

Kyle came over the radio again as the race neared the end.

“Twenty laps to go this time by.”

This was about the time in the race where it got intense.
It was a part of the race where you laid it all on the line. If you saw an
opening, you took it and hoped to hell it was the right move.

So many things went through my head when I was in the
car. It’s hard to tell you what I focus more on. I think of pretty much
everything you’d think one would think of when racing and then some.

“That was 30.75 last time by
...
clear by three on the twenty nine.”

I focus on anything from how the car is handling to what
my next move might be and how that particular shift of just an inch could
change everything about the way my car was handling. You had to always be
looking ahead. If not, you’d get boxed in and could forget about your next
move.

“Inside on the line
...
still
inside
...
clear,” Aiden said. “Fourteen
is looking inside. Clear by two.”

“Where are we at in the points?” I asked Kyle once I made
it through the string of lapped cars.

“If the race ended now you’d finish with a thirty-seven
point lead.”

That calmed me down a little but the vibration in the
engine flared up again.

Aside from the many thoughts about my car during the
race—I also heard voices, strange I know, but I do.

“Fifteen to go,” Kyle told me. “Watch your marks. Take it
easy on that engine.”

I heard the voice of my mother telling me it’s all in my
actions and make the best of them.

I heard the voice of my grandpa Casten telling me
everything in life is only worth what you make it.

I heard the voice of my dad telling me his any man worth
his salt speech, which I’d yet to figure out.

“What are your temps now?”

The last few laps, my engine and oil temperatures had
been slowly climbing along with the vibration.

“218—240,” I read off the water and oil pressure to him.

“How’s the splitter working?”

On the last stop, Shane, our front tire changer had
changed out the splitter for a new one. The splitter was an aerodynamic device
fitted to the front of the car that generated down force, creating grip on the
track.

“Seems good
...
I’m
still vibrating on the exit.”

“Ten to go
...
last
lap was a 30 flat, clear by ten.” Kyle said. The radio frequency we were on
kept breaking up garbling his words. “There’s a car slowing—” “on the—” “three—”

We ended up changing channels so I could hear him without
the interruption.

“I can’t run the top anymore. My right rear is sliding on
entry.” I told him as I passed another lapped car.

“Just do what you can bud. Five to go this time by.
You’re running tenth.”

The more I thought about those voices again, my parents
weren’t the only voices I heard. I heard the voice of my wife telling me to
follow my dreams and stand my ground when pushed. I heard her telling me that
champions aren’t made they’re born. And finally, I heard the voice of my son,
saying “Go daddy!” to me on the phone this morning.

“White flag next time by.
Great
job this season,
way to stay focused!”

I drew in a deep breath
...
thankful
the season was finally over.

I loved racing but I also loved that time with my family.

My dad came over the radio next as I crossed the finish
line. “Nice job kid
...
you did awesome!”

“Thanks dad.” I smiled.

There are times in your life when a calm washes over you
in the midst of revelry. Could it be that everything in your mind falls into
place? You see the race for what is was and who wanted it the most. You did.

Burn off – Jimi

It’s hard to envision how your life will turn out let
alone the lives of your children. With Jameson, I knew at a very young age he
would achieve his dreams but I had no idea he would win back-to-back
championships. It’s hard enough to win one in the cup series title let alone
two in a row.