Page 7 of Black Flag

Crew member for the No. 14, Jason Sole, wasplaced on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation ofSection 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in an altercationon pit road after the completion of the race, use of improper language).

Crew member for the No. 14, Mike Daniel,was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation ofSection 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in analtercation on pit road after the completion of the race, throwing an object atanother competitor, improper use of language).

Kyle Wade, crew chief for Riley’s No. 9Ford, was issued a $5,000 fine for use of improper language, which is inviolation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing).

Crew member for No. 9, Spencer Riley wasplaced on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation ofSection 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in analtercation on pit road after the completion of the race, throwing an object atanother competitor, improper use of language).

Cole and Harris fined and placed onprobation.

Drivers Bobby Cole, driver of the No. 90Riley Simplex Racing Ayers Manufacturing and Tate Harris, driver of the No. 10Banner Racing andDoncoOil, along with their crewchiefs, received varying penalties for their involvement in a garage areaaltercation following last Sunday’s race at Pocono International Raceway.

Cole, driver of the No. 90 Ford, andHarris, driver of the No. 10 Dodge, were fined $10,000 each and placed onprobation until Dec. 31. Ben Willing, crew chief for Cole, and Jeff Johnson,crew chief for Harris, were fined $5,000 each and placed on probation until Dec.31.

All parties involved were in violation ofSection 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in analtercation with another competitor in the garage area after the completion of therace) of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rule Book. Willing and Johnsoninfractions under 9-4-A also included the crew chief assumes responsibility forthe actions of his or her driver, car owner and team members.

NASCAR later released a statement saying…“If any other driver is involved in an action deemed by NASCAR as detrimentalto the stock car racing or NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct ofan event, the competitor will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR.”

After reading the articlefor the hundredth time that morning, I came to the distinct conclusionnothingwould be enough.

Nothing would ever beenough for what he did to Jameson.

In the past,drivers had taken Jameson out, if you want to call it that. Intentionallywrecking him, approaching his pit after the race, things like that. Butneverhad it gone this far.

Trying to kill anotherdriver was not right. Join a fight club or hockey if that’s your intention. Tome, this was unacceptable. Something like this should haveneverbeenallowed to happen.

I’d been sitting in hishospital room all afternoon, most of which was spent in the bathroom, throwingup that insanely mammoth style breakfast I demolished.

Jameson was in and out.Sometimes he was alert and aware of who was in the room. Other times he wasjust downright lethargic. They assured us this was just the medication tryingto help him heal faster.

Around nine o’clockMonday night his eyes were fluttering open again.

I was looking over aPeoplemagazine next to his bed emerged in the lifestyles of others. I’m not gonnalie, this was just a cover. I was intently watching some ridiculouslycaptivating reality show as well.

Jameson groaned, “Fuck...”

At least he can stillarticulate his favorite word.

“Sway...” he croaked and then sighed. I couldtell he was still heavily sedated from the narcotics.

I silently wished I hadaccess to the same narcotics. They’d come in handy for this emotionalrollercoaster I found myself riding.

Tossing the magazine onthe floor, I leaned forward reaching for his hand.

His rough fingersgrazed lightly back and forth under my palm.

“I’m right here,sweetie.” I soothed pulling his hand toward mine.

“Come here.” He beggedwith hooded eyes. A faint smile flickered across his lips.

“I’m here,”

“No...closer.” His eyes fell closedagain trying to move over but winced in pain. Instead, he patted the spacebeside him. “Please...I need you...closer.”

I knew what he wanted.He wanted me in bed with him.

Wanting that just asmuch as he did, I cautiously maneuvered myself in bed. This was an extremelydifficult task to do with the many broken bones covering most of his left side.

I snuggled as close asI could get, without being too close. Jameson wasn’t having it and tugged mewith his good arm even closer. Gently I laid my head against his chest,listening to his strained breathing.