I want to thank everyone who has read this story, and truly hope you've enjoyed it.
Here is the last part, a race that has been on hold for decades, and one that might not happen because of promises made.
The Grudge Match
The hum of over forty engines shakes the entire stadium with a grand noise, filling the hearts of racing fans with their last taste of this power for two months, as the season ends with this next checkered flag.
The Piston Cup is not even a thought, as Lightning's perfect 32-0 record ended the short lived Chick Hicks era with twelve races still left on the schedule. However, that is not what is keeping every car on the edge of their parking spots.
A young hot-rod, making his career debut this year for Dinaco, is now closing in on the rear bumper of the Rusteez champ, making this finish the most dramatic all season. No one has even come close to beating McQueen, not even last year's champ, as Chick not only lost every sponsor he had, but his nerve to drive hard as well.
However, on the last day of the season, Dinaco's newest star, and rookie of the year, is trying to win the race that was dedicated to his father...the King.
"Keep pullin' him in son, you got the advantage now!" Strip Sr. yells out from high up in the Dinaco luxury box, cheering with pride all year for his oldest son. His wife and Tex are staring on with the same anxiousness when the customized Dodge Viper catches Lightning as the white flag drops.
"Three more turns to keep draftin' off his speed, then you pull inside on that last turn and take 'em!"
However his eyes open wide, hearing a different call from Dinaco's Crew Chief.
"Junior, fake to the inside on turn four and make Lightning bite..." Winston barks out into his head set, knowing McQueen has not been pushed all year, and will just block out a rookie driver.
"...then take him on the outside!"
"WHAT!" The angry father barks, knowing that is the more dangerous route and could lead to a hard impact against the concrete wall that protects the fans up front.
"Isn't that dangerous, Chief?" Junior replies.
"YOU'RE DANG RIGHT IT IS SON!" The King yells inside the luxury box high above the oval, with no one but his wife and Tex to hear a father's rage
"It sure is Junior..." Winston replies quickly. "...that's why I'm gonna make it your first call!"
The King settles hearing the final decision given to his son with the Crew Chief's last order. He watches intently as McQueen and his child zip down the back stretch heading for turn three, then becomes nervous as his son takes the path he does not want him to.
"I'm gonna go for it Winston!" He says with confidence, reeling in McQueen and setting up the fake.
"I believe in you buddy, but if you feel you can't hold that turn...then don't do it!" The chief of the Dinaco crew replies, perched high on a lift to see the action better, and loving the perfect line Strip Jr. has taken behind McQueen.
Everyone's eyes in the Las Angeles Motor Speedway open wide as the powerful young Viper makes a cut inside on the last turn, believing he is going to end Lightning's perfect record.
McQueen also notices the move, and does what his instincts tell him to do; block the way inside while keeping and eye on the outside. However, The new Piston Cup champ is helpless to stop what he sees, as Junior pulls hard to the outside and sling-shots himself around his passenger side.
"Oh no you don't!" McQueen yelps, but his eyes open wide with fear, as his good friend's son loses footing on the drastic move, slipping slightly on his front passenger tire, and smacking the wall with a bit of force.
"NO!" The King barks out, as time begins to slow down in his eyes. His concerns become worse as McQueen brakes hard before his sliding son, and watches helplessly as his path turns toward the infield grass.
Junior's young life flashes before his father's eyes, seeing him head toward the concrete barrier that protects pit row, the one he just missed when Chick clipped him from behind last year. The entire crash plays out in a blur, seeing his son tumble like himself, then striking the inner wall. However, The King snaps back to reality, as the entire stadium rumbles with the noise of astonishment. His eyes refocus upon his son, whom already pulled out of the skid, and returned to a straight path directly in front of the braking McQueen, leaving him helpless to catch the young Viper.
"YES!" Junior barks with pride, as the checker flag drops before his eyes, and the crowd erupts with a noise that shakes the ground like an earthquake.
"WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY OR SOMETHING?" McQueen barks, as he zips up beside the first time winner, scaring the young car with his anger. Junior slows down, suddenly feeling bad about his win, and begins to apologize, but Lightning quickly smiles and cuts the young driver off from speaking.
"That reminded me of another crazy driver I know." He says, tapping the young car's fender with a victory salute.
"A driver who just lost his only race this year, on the best move I've seen in a long time. Way to go Kid!"
"Wow!" Junior replies, suddenly understanding the Piston Cup Champion is complimenting him greatly. "Thank you Mr McQueen!"
"NO, little man...Thank you!" He remarks, slowing down to let Junior have his moment alone with the capacity crowd.
"I cannot wait for next year. I'll finally have the competition I've missed since your father left!"
The young King's heart fills with pride, and he looks up at Dinaco's box to show his winning smile to Mom and Dad, however, he can see one smile is not there, and his mind begins to race.
"Why is he angry?" The young Viper says to himself, seeing his father's rage, but noticing he is not looking at him, instead his attention is towards pit row. It takes a moment for the King to realize his boy is looking up at him, and he quickly shifts gears, showing the smile Junior was waiting for.
The slightly dented Viper doesn't even have to glance at pit-row, knowing his father is staring angrily at his crew chief Winston. The young car knows all about the rivalry between his father and the now Dinaco blue and black '67 Mustang he used to race back home. He shakes his head at his father, before showing another huge smile, then heading completely around the track to the start/finish line.
Strip Jr. is handed the checkered flag and thousands of flash bulbs go off, commemorating the King's son's first win. He waves it several times before the rambunctious fans, performing a series of doughnuts in the infield and tarring off down the track for his first ever victory lap.
The blue and black striped Viper starts playing to the rowdy fans, weaving around and dragging out this moment for himself and the crowd, whom don't seem to mind the long lap...as they believe it to be the last of the year. He shows off the gratitude that made his father famous, and should be given by the winner, allowing the 200,000 strong to cheer today's hero.
"I can't believe this feels!" Junior says to himself, however, his eyes soon lock upon his mother and father, as they now pull into pit row. His slow speed ends there, picking up the pace to be with his family at this most joyful moment in his life.
"Did you see that move Dad?" He says with exuberance, sliding to a stop before his father, and holding the Checker flag he promised to win on his Dad's Day
"Yeah...I saw that!" The King snidely remarks, looking into his rear view at Winston and the Dianco crew, celebrating the come back win for their rookie driver.
"What on earth where you thinking?"
"WHAT?" Junior remarks with shock, knowing his father has taught him this move since he could roll.
"Why did you go on the outside? You could have been killed if you lost control against that wall!"
Junior suddenly notices his father eyes are back on Winston, and he quickly begins to laugh. The Blue Viper taps his dad's side and whispers into his ear.
"Because my dad, whom I consider the best driver in the world, has told me a thousand times...rubbing is racing!"
Junior rolls past his father, leaving the checkered flag in his grasp, and heads for his mom. He gives the blue Town & Country wagon a quick peck on the fender, and shows the minimal damage that is not even an issue to him. They both proceed to the victory circle joining Winston and the winning Dinaco crew.
However, the King stays put in the same position, looking at the flag his son promised him, and feeling a sudden rush of emotions overwhelming him. He can see a replay in his head of Junior hitting the wall, and the possible end that could have been. His frame begins to tremble thinking his son could have lost complete control, and instead of heading to victory row, they could have been heading to the hospital.
His heart begins to pound, making his powerful engine misfire a few times, and quickly another crew chief is by the King's side
"Are you OK Strip?" An old voice asks, and the King turns his eyes to see the Hudson Hornet is sitting by his side, already doing a diagnosis on the sputtering car.
"He almost wrecked where I did this same day last year!" The King remarks with a pain in his voice, one the Hudson knows all too well.
"Yeah...I saw that Strip." Doc replies with the same somber voice, then changes his tune in the next comment, making sure the great car hears his joy.
"However! I also notice that he did not wreck, and actually won the race with a move that reminded me...of his Father!"
The King shows a look of surprise in his eyes, and they suddenly focuses on the crowd. All are still talking amongst themselves about the greatest finish they've seen in years, and just hoping for an encore.
"He did win the race...Didn't he?" The King suddenly says with shock, looking around to his boy as they drape a bed of roses over his hood, and watching the tears of joy fill his wife's eyes. Strip quickly realizes his emotional anger was not directed towards anyone in particular, but only because his oldest is becoming a man, and is no longer his little Viper anymore.
"His life will fly by fast my friend...but only if you're not paying attention to it." Doc remarks somberly, knowing how much time he lost with his family. He can see his nephew Winston celebrating with the pit crew in the victory circle, putting himself in gear to head over to the party.
"I plan on paying as much attention to my family as I can...because you never know when that time will come to end!"
The King's eyes open wide, seeing his family staring over to their patriarch, and not rejoicing in the victory without him.
"Thanks Doc, I feel a lot better now!" The King says with a clearer voice, however he sees the anger starting to form in his son's eyes, as he holds up the trophy presentation waiting for his father to arrive.
"But I'm gonna be feeling worse if I don't get over there, and celebrate my son's first win."
The Hudson shows a smile, seeing a new look of pride filling the King's eyes, and hearing the steadying beat of his powerful engine.
Both cars head to the winner's circle, and drive the old Superbird has made hundreds of time, however, the butterflies he begins to feel in his gas tank are more powerful than he has ever felt.
His smile becomes permanently glued upon his face, as two small sports cars kiss Junior on the side of his dented fender, making him blush heavily. The proud father knows his son has made it to the top, and nothing could make him feel bad at this moment.
That is until Winston pulls alongside of his old rival.
"Wow Strip, you must be getting really old!" the pony car remarks aloud, as The King finally makes his way to the trophy presentation, and his eye pop open hearing the first part of this insult.
"I didn't think your wife could beat you down here, but I guess she's the one with all the power now!"
Everyone in the winner's circle balks, except Tex Dinaco, who begins laughing right away. He warned Winston not to provoke the King, because he was angry with him for the last call in the race, however that only added to the fire in Winston's heart.
The old rivals look at each other for a second, but the King just smiles, and replies with his own insult.
"Well, when you win as many races as I have, slow poke, you kinda start feeling the stress of holding up all them trophies! You know...the ones you didn't win!" The King pauses, and locks eyes with his former rival, showing a very cheeky smirk.
"Ain't that right...MY LITTLE PONY!"
The convertible Mustang shoots The King a very annoyed stare, knowing he never beat him in a race they both entered, and then hearing the taunting name he would call out when he passed him on the last lap every time.
"DAD! WINSTON!" Junior remarks with his own annoyed stare, waiting for both to stop bickering before taking the trophy named in The King's honor.
"If you guy are finished arguing..." He says to his father and his most trusted crew member, before clearing his throat and rolling up to a small podium microphone.
"I would like to accept this trophy on behalf of Dinaco, my great pit crew, and my incredible family that has inspired me to achieve everything I have throughout this year."
The pride he has inside is easily heard by the capacity crowd, all cheering the words of the young racer as he accepts the trophy from the Piston Cup Champion.
"I also want to thank you Lightning McQueen..." Junior remarks, after taking the large gold bowl from the red custom racer. "...I owe you me life, for not wrecking me on that final turn, which you could have done easily...and that is what sportsmanship is all about!"
The crowd suddenly cheers for Lightning, as he backs away from the young racer, who never questioned pulling a dangerous move like that in front of McQueen, knowing he would never hurt another car on purpose.
Junior allows the crowd to settle, making sure The Rusteez Champ is given his due, before returning his eyes to his crew chief.
"I first want to say thanks to you...Winston Stangley!" Junior remarks, pausing for a moment to keep his composure. "You taught me that life is very precious, and to live for the day...because it could all end in an instant!"
The crowd becomes silent, as they know all about the Dinaco crew chief's accident, and the way in which Radiator Springs helped pull him back from the brink. They applaud the blue and black Mustang, whose humbleness is shown with an embarrassed grin, and a faint wave of his front tire.
Junior's teary eyes then focus on his mom and dad, and he pauses again, trying to hold back a flood of emotions.
"To my Mom and Dad, who taught me everything else..." Junior cries, unable to stop his feelings. "...I present you with this trophy that has already been named for the greatest driver in the history of the Piston Cup..."
The young Dodge Viper pauses again, as they both roll forward, accepting the trophy their son just won. However, Junior quickly parks himself between his mother and father in a hard embrace, whispering the real reason he is awarding them the trophy.
"...but mostly, I want you to have this for being the best parents a car could ever have."
Everyone in the stadium is in tears, as the King pushes his son out for another victory lap, escorted by the proudest dad in the world. BOth cars wave to the crowd as they drive by, but the fans become simply an after thought. Father and son focus on themselves, taking a slow path around the huge two-mile oval, giving them a chance to talk for a moment alone.
"I can't believe you held that turn son!" The King remarks, and Junior rubs his damaged fender against his father.
"I didn't Dad..." He remarks with a snide tone, flexing his right tire to express the pain he feels. "...and to tell you the honest truth. That scared the heck out of me for a moment!"
The King nods his head, but then starts to chuckle, seeing the seriousness in his son's eyes.
"I can't believe I just heard you say that..." The King remarks, knowing how his son would always play off the danger, like a superhero doing his job.
"...are you telling me that the great fearless 'Viper' is afraid."
Junior can hear the taunting tone in his dad's voice, and stops dead on the back straight. The King also pauses and turns around to face his boy.
"I was afraid Dad...I could have really messed myself up if I lost control..." The young racer replies quickly, knowing he almost lost a lot more than a race.
"...but that's not what's scaring me."
The King balks hearing a tone of dead seriousness, and a look of concern in his son's eyes.
"What were you afraid of then?"
"I knew what I was doing when I made the move outside, and I knew I was going to hit the wall when I did it...and yet, I still I did it, just to win."
The King smiles again, seeing a look on his boy that reminds him of his own reflection in the mirror.
"You did it because you trust your friends will be there if you fail, and that is not something to be afraid of son, that is something to be proud of." The King replies, making a loop around his oldest and pulling beside him.
"It is the reason I would never back down from a challenge, since I knew my friends would be there if I wrecked." Strip continues, then looks across the infield to his old rival and son's crew chief.
"It's also the reason I get angry with Winston!"
Junior balks for a second, suddenly hearing why his old man and the head of his head pit crew have been going at each others throat all year.
"He will make my son take a dangerous route, but won't take that route himself now."
"That's messed up Dad! What if he flipped over?" Junior quips with surprise, looking over to Winston, and knowing the convertible's handicap. "Winston can't race anymore, "
"Oh yes he can son! That roll cage attached to his frame is stronger than yours, and he could probably show you how to take that turn without losing grip and slamming into the wall."
The King knows the ability of the firm footed Mustang on asphalt from days past, but he was always unsure of his power for most of his young life. And of course after his wreck on Wheel Well's lookout, Winston truly lost more than just his back bone. Even with a complete Overhaulin' by the best designer in the world, and the assurances of Vic Edelbrock himself, Winston still lost his nerve to race. The pony car only closes his roof in the rain, not letting the abundant amount of horsepower out of its stable, keeping the strength his engine has in a dormant state.
"He just chooses not to race anymore."
"That's sad dad." Junior replies, understanding more about his friend in a one minute conversation with his father, then he learned form a year of good stories told by his crew chief.
"I know Junior, it is sad..." The King remarks, suddenly having a grand idea on this last day of racing, hoping to get an old rivalry he has missed, rekindled.
He revs his engine loud, startling his son and the entire crowd in one quick show of his power.
"...but what's sadder is if you lose to your old man!"
Junior is flabbergasted as his dad leaves him in a wake of exhaust, and quickly gets on his throttle. The King smiles seeing his boy creep up in his rear view, however, he looks over to the stunned crews in pit row. His eyes lock on Winston, staring intently at the blue and black Mustang, and seeing his heart race with the action.
"I will show you us old cars can still do this Winston!"
Father and son hit turn three at the same moment, as Junior's powerful V-10 takes no time to get him behind his older dad, and the crowd is shocked into a frenzy. Not only are they watching The King race again, but he is being reeled in quickly by a determined Viper with his stronger engine, taking the inside line like he just did against McQueen.
His father moves slightly inside to keep him back, and watches without shock as the young car breaks hard outside.
"Oh Nooo...not against me son!" He says to himself, pulling in front of his boy, and boxing him out perfectly. However, shock fills his eyes, as Junior makes an impossible second cut inside and starts passing him on the driver's side.
The young Viper, and his father, know he's gonna lose traction again, and Junior smiles as his front tire breaks free into his dad's side.
"Rubbing's racing Pop!" He remarks with a grin, slowing his father with the aggressive move to regain his footing, then passing him by half a length as they cross the finish line.
The King is shocked that his son pulled another move he has done in his past, one he must have been told by Winston, as he did it several times to the more stable footed car in his early career. He looks over to Lightning and the rest of the group gathered by pit row.
"You better enjoy that Cup McQueen..." He says to himself with a great deal of pride. "...Cause my boy's gonna take it from you next year!"
Both cars spin around and are greeted with smiles, as both the Dinaco and the Rusteez crews have watched this half lap from the infield.
"Wow you still got it Strip." Tex remarks with pride in his old racer
"Thank you sir." The King says with pride, then suddenly looks at the Dinaco crew chief with an arrogant grin. "And it's a good thing I'm here to teach my son these moves, because his crew chief can only tell him him how to make that turn...and not show him!"
Winston's eyes open wide, hearing the King calling him out, and the restored Mustang rolls forward to the multiple Piston Cup winner's face.
"What's that supposed to mean...your highness!" Winston replies with anger, seeing the hatred he saw from the sky box before.
"I'm just saying you should show your racer how to take an outside line, before you make him hit the wall!"
Winston becomes angry and fires up his engine, releasing a barrage of four letter words under its volume. His engine is only at half power, as Winston's roof has been open in the glorious sun all day, but it is still loud enough to draw the attention of departing fans. They stop quickly, seeing the King and Dinaco's crew chief at each other throats, knowing only a portion of the story behind this argument.
Everyone begins rolling back to their seats as a thirty five year rivalry begins to melt down in the infield. Both cars revving their engines in a heated exchange of slurs.
Mater and McQueen look at each other in shock, as The King and Winston continue barking with no end in sight, however they are more surprised at Tex Dinaco's reaction.
"Why on earth are you smiling Mr. Dinaco?" McQueen asks, barely taking the gold Cadillac's attention from the argument.
"Because these two have been doing this since before you were even a thought young man..." Tex replies, smiling wider as The King presses his old rival and good friend harder.
"...and I've been waiting for this exchange for thirty-six years, Lightning!"
Both Dinaco cars suddenly realize they are making a scene, and Winston looks over at Junior with a sad set of eyes.
"I guess if that's the way you feel about my abilities as your son's crew chief..." Winston finally remarks with a quieter and more somber tone in his voice, removing the head-gear that allows him to speak to Junior during a race. "...then I guess I should step down now, before the next season even starts!"
Winston rolls away to the sound of shock, as the crowd watches the Dianco crew chief drive away without his gear, however the soap opera is not over as The King give chase quickly.
"STOP WINSTON!" Everyone hears, as the silence becomes eerie throughout the stands.
"I didn't mean to push you like that!" The King remarks, truly realizing he may have gone too far in trying to relight an old rivalry.
"I was just hoping to get my good friend back on the track once more, hoping he'd find that willingness to try racing again!"
"I can't race again!" Winston replies, looking away for a moment, before returning his eyes to the King. "I'm sorry Strip...but I just can't."
"NO! Please, don't be sorry Winston. I completely understand your fear...
"I'M NOT AFRAID!"
The blue Mustang looks around, as thousands of eyes turn towards him, knowing they all heard his last comment barked with pure rage.
"I'm tired of everyone thinking I'm afraid, Strip...because I'm not!"
The King rolls up to Winston's grille, looking deep into his eyes and seeing only the truth told within.
"If it's not fear, then why won't you race?"
The blue and black Mustang looks up to the sky, and then down to the ground, recalling the exact moment he made this life changing decision
"Because I made a promise to my father the day I got home from Radiator Springs" He replies with a broken voice, looking back at the King with tears in his eyes
"I found something in the box my Mom had packed with my stuff, laying next to the one she had to fill when my Dad died!"
The King can feel a pain in his heart, as Winston tells him about his most terrifying moment in his life.
"I found a funeral card Strip...and it had my name on it."
Winston looks up to the crowd to find his mother, but sees only an empty space where she was sitting the whole day. He knows she must have left, after seeing him arguing with the King, and believing he would break this promise he made to her and his father's spirit.
"Regardless of how much I loved this sport...I knew at that exact moment, I could never chance racing, and force my mother to go through something like that ever again!"
"I truly understand Winston, and I'm so sorry that happened."
The King allows the blue Mustang to start pulling away before making one more appeal, but not to Winston himself.
"Hey Ranger!" he barks, and the blue and black mustang comes to a dead stop in the infield again, looking back in shock at his old rival.
"What did you call me?"
"I'm not talking to you anymore Winston. You made up your mind already." The old Plymouth says as he rolls up to his custom painted trunk, and the one thing that was not changed when Winston was dressed in Dinaco blue.
"I'm talking to your father!"
The blue Mustang can see The King's eyes locked upon the single star Chip Foose highlighted on his trunk lid.
"Your son has remarkable friends that will never allow his fate to repeat, and I know this for a fact, because I am one of them." Strip says, never taking his eyes from the detailed scenery painted on Winston's back, and making sure his words are well expressed, making his feelings known to a living car and his father above.
"I give you my word; Never again shall your son be alone to face such a tragedy, and neither will your wife!" He says rolling around to face Winston, and showing no break in his determined eyes.
"He is a big part of my family Ranger, and I swear this to you now, as a proud father of a young race car myself. I will watch over him like he is mine, and I promise...he will always make it home to his mother!"
Winston begins to tear up, hearing such a promise to his father, but it doesn't change his attitude in the least.
"I'm honored you would even say such a thing..." He replies, looking once more for his mother, and not finding her anywhere in the crowd. "...but I can't break this promise to my Mom."
"WHY NOT?" An older female voice remarks, and Winston doesn't even have to turn around, knowing exactly who just questioned him.
"MOM!"
"Your father and I knew full well about the dangers of racing Winston, but that didn't stop us from making you the strongest car we could."
Nashly drives up to her son, making sure her eyes never leave his.
"I know how much that promise means to you, baby..." She says as tears begin dripping from her windshield. "...but I also see the pain it brings everyday, watching the life you were destined to have playing out before you, and not able to do anything about it!"
Nashly hugs her son tightly, holding him from shaking with the powerful emotions she is showing him.
"I was always afraid that you could be killed in a bad accident on the track" She says with great pain, then looks deep into Winston's eyes, and forces a small grin across her face.
"But it wasn't the track that almost took you from me...was it?"
Nashly looks up at the sky, knowing her husband is looking down at her.
"I can't ask him to end his life while he's still alive, Ranger!" She says, then looks down at her son, with a wider smile. "So you go out there and show the world your passion for racing...the same passion that your father and I saw the day we brought you home."
Winston holds his Mom tightly, breaking down with pride and pain, knowing how hard it was for her to say what she did.
"Are you sure Mom?" He says, and Nashly holds him tighter than ever.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life!"
Winston's black trunk slowly opens in the opposite direction, allowing his blue hard top to come out of its resting place, and seal tightly along his windshield and roll bar. His engine fires to full power the minute his roof locks in place, and his mother smiles feeling a rumble in his heart she hasn't felt in thirty-six years.
"Now you go out there and show this worthless Plymouth that FORD stands for First On Race Day!"
The King's eyes open wide hearing the same passion for racing from and old Nash Rambler, and smiles as Winston leads her back behind the protection of the pit row wall. The blue and black Mustang suddenly fires his engine louder, clearing out his intake, and making sure the heart he was given a year ago is ready to go full-out.
"OK Strip!" He barks, rolling out towards the start/finish line. "It's high time I show you how lucky you were!"
"LUCKY!?" The King remarks, rolling alongside the Dianco Crew Chief, wondering what his old rival means by this comment. The King revs his engine loud, making the crowd go crazy in anticipation, watching both cars line up for an impromptu race
"How am I the lucky one here?"
"Well if I didn't crash so long ago..." The pony car replies, looking around the stadium and seeing thousands of King signs, and no Winston signs. "...I would be the one these fans would be screaming for now, and you would be doing...what ever the pace car does at this moment."
Strip Weather's eyes open wide and a huge grin fills his face, as both cars line up for a race they both been waiting a near lifetime for.
"Pace car! I'm not the convertible here Winston!" Strip retorts, taking in a deep inhale from his engine, and positioning himself alongside his old friend and greatest rival.
Winston chuckles hearing the taunting words he is accustom to from the car that always seemed to be by his side at the pole position. He readies himself to launch, awaiting a startled Motor Speedway employee, who is slowly driving back up to the starter's position.
"Is twenty-five laps enough for me to pound on you?" The King asks, watching the yellow and blue pick-up grasping a green flag from its holder, then look down to see if the racers are ready to go.
"What are you getting to old for a full race two hundred laps, Your Highness?" Winston replies with pure sarcasm, then nods his head to the small truck holding up the green flag, letting him know he is ready to go.
"Yes!" The King replies with a nod of his head, signaling his readiness as well, and the flag is dropped.
Both cars take off to the sounds of over thousand horses being unleashed, and the rumble of 200,000 fans screaming like maniacs.
"I got the edge here Strip!" Winston barks, taking the first lead into turn one, and laying on his throttle.
"You got nothing!" The King replies, quickly whipping around Winston's left, and pulling alongside the blue and black Mustang on the back stretch.
Everyone in the stadium is in awe as they posture back and forth, never able to pull away from each other, and staying side by side for forty-eight miles. However, as the white flag is dropped, both cars take it to a new level.
They scream around turn one and two, holding as much speed as possible down the final straight.
"GIVE IT UP WINSTON..." The King barks out against the loud wake of wind, making sure his friend can hear another taunt. "...YOU CAN'T BEAT THE KING!" He says lowering down to the inside, and readying to pull off the same trick his son just did to beat McQueen, and the move that Winston called from the pits.
"NOT A CHANCE!" The Mustang yelps, cutting in front of the King, and forcing to him to make the other move he wants him to try.
"You know you want that inside line, Strip!"
The King smirks seeing his opening and pulls inside holding this turn at a speed he knows will make him lose his footing. He is going to use Winston to keep his grip on the track, and beat him out like he has a dozen times. However, the wise Mustang is not only anticipating this, but planned a way to defeat a move he never could in the past.
As the King's right front tire begins to slip in turn four, Winston slams on his brakes, allowing the Dinaco hero to slide right in front of his grille and into the concrete wall. Winston holds his brake, as Strip bounces back towards the inside, spinning completely around as he heads across the track. They lock eyes for a moment, and the King sees a smile begin to fill Winston's face as he slides further off the track and into the infield grass.
The blue Mustang comes to a complete stop just yards from the finish line, and looks back at the broke-down Superbird, who just shakes his head with disappointment.
"OOPS...DID YOU MISS SOMETHING YOUR HIGHNESS?" He remarks sarcastically, laughing hysterically as he backs up a few feet to cross the finish line first.
Winston then quickly rolls over to the King, making sure his old friend, who is still trying to restart his engine after a hard impact to the wall, is not badly damaged.
"Are You OK Strip?" The Mustang remarks.
"Yeah! I think the only thing I broke is my right side upper control arm..." The King replies, shaking his blown tire with pain, before returning a humbled set of eyes to his old rival
"...and my pride!"
Winston leans against the King's right side, allowing him to drive straight on his broken leg.
"Where did you come up with that crazy idea?" Strip continues, showing a certain joy in Winston's victory, as he help him cross the finish line in second.
"I never thought in a million years you would think of stopping short like that."
Winston gives a quick nod towards the heavens, then looks back to the King with a very wry smirk.
"Actually...It only took thirty-five years to come up with that idea!"
The End...this time I mean it!
I want to hear your feedback on this chapter, because, Just Maybe, another story could come from this. Any Suggestions? Please PM me
Anyway...thanks again for reading my story. I have had so much fun seeing the world from a car's eyes, and hope I've been descriptive enough for you to see it as well. I think all the Pixar movies are Incredible...PUN INTENDED...but Cars is the best. It took seconds for an idea to pop into my head, and only a month to type up almost 90 pages.
I also must say thanks for the amount of reviews and hits I have received over this past month. I love feedback, and there has been an abundant amount to take in. Plus my other stories...I know a quite a few people have been hitting the Spyro Side of my life, and I appreciate that as well.
Allinol...LOL...Oops...All in all, this has been a very agreeable experience, and I look forward to starting another.
