Page 73 of Happy Hour

“Oh, I see you now.”

“Well that’s comforting that my spotter just lost me on the track.” Jameson mocked. “How many times does this happen in a race?”

“So what do you think bud, how’s the car?” Kyle asked interrupting them.

“It’s tight coming out of the turns but it’s not terrible.” Jameson told him. “Check the right rear though since Aiden can’t.”

“It was one time, geez.” Aiden let out this apprehensive chuckle as though he knew Jameson was less than amused his spotter lost him on the track.

“Okay boys, pit lanes open—coming next time by. Let’s do four tires, fuel, and a spring adjustment,” Kyle advised the crew. “Keep coming, keep coming, watch your speed...here you go...three...two...one. Wheels straight, foot on the break,”

Jameson swung into his pit stall. I could see him in the car, handing the crew his water bottle and taking the replacement, flipping the visor up to rub his eyes.

“STOP!” Kyle jumped to his feet yelling as Jameson went to pull out of his pit just as Darrin pulled into his pit stall in front of Jameson’s. “Get him out of the way!” Kyle yelled to the crew.

The crew was screaming at Darrin’s crew to push the car forward but Jameson was losing positions fast.

Spencer was beating on the back of Darrin’s car trying to get the crew to move but they were busy performing their stop.

“C’mon! Tell him to get the fuck out of the way!” Jameson revved the engine steadily throwing his arms up. “Let’s go! Move!”

If there hadn’t been crew members in the way, I was sure he would have just rammed into the back of him.

After about thirteen seconds, Darrin pulled out but Jameson was now twenty-sixth.

This also put the two of themrightbeside each other on the restart.

“Jameson,” Kyle warned. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

Jameson didn’t respond.

Here’s the thing about Jameson’s anger, there was no controlling itorpreventing it. You just had to wait out the storm under cover. And knowing how he’ll react is about as easy as predicting the path a tornado would take.

“You’re going to be in some heavy traffic back there.” Aiden advised. “Coming to the green next time by,”

When the cars passed by on the front stretch, Jameson was all over the back of Darrin’s car and silent on the radio.

“I’m serious Jameson,” The warning in Kyle’s tone was clear. “stay calm.”

Again, Jameson was silent and I knew what was about to happen, as did Kyle.

“All right, you’re coming to the green here. Watch yourself. You got the fourteen on the inside.” Aiden said. “Here we go...watch your outside. Harris has a run. Green flag,”

Jameson was on the outside of Darrin when the green flag was thrown; by the time they entered turn one he dropped in behind him but stayed right on his bumper. They stayed like that for a few laps when Jameson got a run on the backstretch with Paul behind him and went to the outside to pass Darrin.

Darrin saw him coming and blocked him right before turn three. There was so much chatter between Aiden and Kyle you couldn’t tell what was happening under your heard it.

Emma and I were watching on the monitor as Darrin pushed Jameson up the track in the wall, hard.

“In the wall, turn three, damage right side. Flat left rear and right rear.”

“Bring it in,” Kyle said. “All right guys, he’s coming in. Four tires...front splitter. Fix the damage on the left front and get him out. Anything you can’t do in twelve seconds we’ll get next time by.”

“Watch your speed...three...two...one.” Kyle remained quiet while he watched the crew.

“Get the hammer out, pull that left front, Shane. Josh, grab the front splitter.” Mason fired orders at the crew while the worked. “Spencer, pull the left rear out while you’re there.”

“Come on, let’s go, let’s go!” Jameson yelled revving the engine, slamming his fists repeatedly on the wheel for the second time today. “What the fuck are you waiting for?LET’S GO!”

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