The race was now down to 12 laps, and Cruz was still in the lead. Storm still wasn't fighting back, with his eyes glazed over. It seemed that although he was physically on the track racing, his mind was far, far away from the track. His crew chief, Ray, had given up on trying to get Storm's cab back in the game and had opted to stay silent apart from giving a few tips and info on the positions or the other racers.


Storm was meanwhile thinking about Ace and how he fit into all of this, assuming he fit into this at all. He could've sworn he felt something hit his door when he was in pit row getting his tires changed. Then, he had shrugged it off as a stray pebble or some other miscellaneous thing he couldn't think of.

Now however, Storm was getting more suspicious.

He decided to go take a car wash after the race to see if whatever hit his door would get off of him.


Ace was glad that he remembered to make sure the bots were waterproof, seeing as he thought of the possibility that Storm and Ramirez would feel the hit and try to take a car wash to remove it. He knew those bots wouldn't be budged by a little water. He finally got down to the ground floor and drove out of the building.


Storm finally finished his train of thought and realized that his cab was far from the game at that point in time. He accelerated, putting his heart into his driving.

"Well lookie here, Bob! Storm's cab is finally back in the game! He's back on Ramirez's tail, and from the looks of it, the fierce rivalry has finally been renewed!"

"Yes, Darell it appears that Storm is actually putting his heart into his driving ever since Ramirez passed him!"


"Cruz, Storm's cab is back in the game! Make sure he stays in your rearview mirror.", said Lightning, once again anxious now that Storm had started to attempt to overtake Ramirez.

"On it, Mr. McQueen! Wish me luck!"