like this, but the training you guys are getting sounds like it’s awesome, so I applaud your hard work.”
He nodded to Chad and a couple of others, saying it was good to see familiar faces. “I see we have a good group of females too. That’s encouraging. The track is going to look a whole lot better with you guys out there.”
Jamie looked at Rosa and rolled her eyes, but inside, her heart fluttered.
The driver said some other nice things and told a few stories about races he’d won and some he’d lost at the last second. “It’s great to be on the pole at a race, but I’ve rarely started at the pole and won. Usually the best finishes I’ve had have come from being back a few spots. I won Denver last year from the 33rd spot, so it can be done.”
Jamie remembered that race. Her dad had been leading until the late stages when he had a problem with his coolant and the engine overheated.
The driver ended with, “And I hope to be racing against a few of you in a year or so.”
Somebody raised a hand. “Do you have any ritual you go through before qualifying?”
The man smiled. “I don’t have any lucky underwear or anything like that. If I did, my wife would wash the luck out of it. I wear a chain around my neck with my wife’s and daughter’s names, but that’s not for luck, just to keep me focused on what’s important. I actually don’t believe in luck. You prepare the best you can and use your experience behind the wheel, but when it all comes down to it, God’s the one who’s in control.”
Jamie felt goose bumps. It sounded like something her dad would say. She’d seen this man in chapel services but didn’t consider him a strong Christian. His words seemed genuine to her.
After a few more questions, the driver left.
Bud stepped to the microphone and held his clipboard up. “Here’s the draw for the qualifying heats. We have 11 cars, so you’ll race your laps, then come into the pits and switch out drivers. Top three qualifiers will get a bye into the finals. That leaves nine positions open. Four in each of the two heats. Got it?”
Everybody nodded or said, “Yeah.”
Jamie held her pencil tight, listening for her name. It was better to be at the end of the qualifying run for several reasons. You knew what time you had to beat. The track usually was faster as well. Her name was 12th on the list. Number 22 was Chad Devalon.
Jamie set her sights on winning the pole so she could be assured of the finals and watch the competition battle for the remaining positions. Since there were only 11 cars, 11 people wouldn’t make the finals.
These races were huge in their points placement for the final—where they would discover who would be given the coveted NASCAR license. Failing to qualify or to even get into the final race meant it would be almost impossible to finish on top. And everyone guessed that the top three winners of the race would probably get the prize.
Jamie walked to the track, trying to focus.
Kurt came up beside her. “Can you say pressure ?” He smiled.
“I guess it’s just part of the process,” Jamie said. “To see how we’ll do with it.”
“You’re gonna do great,” Kurt said. “But what happens if one of the cars goes down or has trouble?”
“Bud said they’d rearrange the lineup and maybe drop the bottom drivers,” Jamie said. “The mechanics have been working hard, but you’re right—if there’s a crash, that could cut the field.”
“I hope I can get my rear into that #5 car seat,” Kurt said. “The real cars have molded seats that fit each driver—well, of course you know that because of your dad.”
“Yeah, I’ll admit when I’ve been driving, it’s been a bit roomy in there,” Jamie said. “I’ve had to make sure the harness is as tight as I can get it or I slide around, and that’s not fun in the turns.”
Even though the cars had been tuned to exact specifications and everything was the same—except for the numbers on the
He nodded to Chad and a couple of others, saying it was good to see familiar faces. “I see we have a good group of females too. That’s encouraging. The track is going to look a whole lot better with you guys out there.”
Jamie looked at Rosa and rolled her eyes, but inside, her heart fluttered.
The driver said some other nice things and told a few stories about races he’d won and some he’d lost at the last second. “It’s great to be on the pole at a race, but I’ve rarely started at the pole and won. Usually the best finishes I’ve had have come from being back a few spots. I won Denver last year from the 33rd spot, so it can be done.”
Jamie remembered that race. Her dad had been leading until the late stages when he had a problem with his coolant and the engine overheated.
The driver ended with, “And I hope to be racing against a few of you in a year or so.”
Somebody raised a hand. “Do you have any ritual you go through before qualifying?”
The man smiled. “I don’t have any lucky underwear or anything like that. If I did, my wife would wash the luck out of it. I wear a chain around my neck with my wife’s and daughter’s names, but that’s not for luck, just to keep me focused on what’s important. I actually don’t believe in luck. You prepare the best you can and use your experience behind the wheel, but when it all comes down to it, God’s the one who’s in control.”
Jamie felt goose bumps. It sounded like something her dad would say. She’d seen this man in chapel services but didn’t consider him a strong Christian. His words seemed genuine to her.
After a few more questions, the driver left.
Bud stepped to the microphone and held his clipboard up. “Here’s the draw for the qualifying heats. We have 11 cars, so you’ll race your laps, then come into the pits and switch out drivers. Top three qualifiers will get a bye into the finals. That leaves nine positions open. Four in each of the two heats. Got it?”
Everybody nodded or said, “Yeah.”
Jamie held her pencil tight, listening for her name. It was better to be at the end of the qualifying run for several reasons. You knew what time you had to beat. The track usually was faster as well. Her name was 12th on the list. Number 22 was Chad Devalon.
Jamie set her sights on winning the pole so she could be assured of the finals and watch the competition battle for the remaining positions. Since there were only 11 cars, 11 people wouldn’t make the finals.
These races were huge in their points placement for the final—where they would discover who would be given the coveted NASCAR license. Failing to qualify or to even get into the final race meant it would be almost impossible to finish on top. And everyone guessed that the top three winners of the race would probably get the prize.
Jamie walked to the track, trying to focus.
Kurt came up beside her. “Can you say pressure ?” He smiled.
“I guess it’s just part of the process,” Jamie said. “To see how we’ll do with it.”
“You’re gonna do great,” Kurt said. “But what happens if one of the cars goes down or has trouble?”
“Bud said they’d rearrange the lineup and maybe drop the bottom drivers,” Jamie said. “The mechanics have been working hard, but you’re right—if there’s a crash, that could cut the field.”
“I hope I can get my rear into that #5 car seat,” Kurt said. “The real cars have molded seats that fit each driver—well, of course you know that because of your dad.”
“Yeah, I’ll admit when I’ve been driving, it’s been a bit roomy in there,” Jamie said. “I’ve had to make sure the harness is as tight as I can get it or I slide around, and that’s not fun in the turns.”
Even though the cars had been tuned to exact specifications and everything was the same—except for the numbers on the
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