AN: I am a little perturbed over the fact that there are people out there that can watch Cars 3 right now (it could even be you, dear reader) because they can get the digital copy, but seeing as I live in an area so remote I'm pretty sure Thomasville could seem more technically advanced, I have to wait another two weeks to purchase the DVD! D:
I jest, but still...
"Am I seeing this correctly, Darrell?"
"I am not the one to be asking, Bob, because I'm not believing my own eyes right now!"
"McQueen seems to have found himself a substitute car and a substitute driver!"
"I'm not sure this has actually ever been done!" Cartrip's voice had taken on his usual enthusiasm and it was obvious he was loving what he was seeing.
"For clarification for folks at home, this play is completely legal, it just has been used very rarely in the history of Piston Cup to it's full extent. While substitute drivers are used often, subbing a car and driver together has only ever happened a handful of times."
Cartrip was still on his own tangent, even commenting to camera crew and sound techs in the booth. "-and Jackson Storm of all people!"
There wasn't time to complain but Jackson couldn't just get back in the car without making a comment. "What did you do!"
"We made it a Rust-eze car." Lightning grinned and thanked Ramone again.
"Hey, you take what you can get, man." Ramone directed toward Jackson. "You wanted #95 to race, #95 is gunna race!"
Somehow nearly all the blue on the next gen vehicle had been dubbed out for a bright red to match the stock car that had been rolled behind the wall. Every single #2.0 had been covered with #95 or Rust-eze or something to do with Piston Cup. It was impressive, but it was startling to Storm when he realized suddenly just exactly what he had offered and agreed to. He couldn't back out now, even if he'd wanted. There'd be no coming back from that kind of fall out. He'd seen what moves like that could do to a career, Chick Hicks was one that sprang to mind.
"Yeah, ok-" Jackson shook his head, feeling a little dazed as it all sank in, and went to climb back in the car.
"Wait!" Lightning stopped him, holding a hand up that he nearly walked in to. He held up his personal red #95 helmet. "We don't have time to redo helmets, you'll have to take this one."
Jackson actually practiced a little self control and held back an eye roll and a huff of irritation as he took the item. It made sense though, still had to switch out the #2.0 for #95, even helmets. He tilted his head back and forth once he was in the car and helmet on, having to get at least one dig in through all of this. "This thing weighs a ton, McQueen, and how big is your head anyway?"
"Funny. Get out of this pit space."
"I'm really feeling the appreciation here."
"No seriously. If you don't you'll probably end up a lap down!"
Lightning slapped the side of the car once Storm had gotten everything situated and sped off. He couldn't help but mutter something about keeping it slow enough until crossing the line on to the track, though.
Sally stood beside him, staring at the now black and red car. "What just happened?"
"I...I really am not sure..." Lightning turned to get back behind the wall and nearly collided with Smokey.
The former crew chief pulled the headset off, holding it out to Lightning. "Think you need this."
Lightning blinked a few times but took the offered item quickly, Storm couldn't go too long without some form of communication from them. The convenient thing with Jackson having to wear his helmet was that they didn't need to find a new channel.
"Uh- ok-"
Smokey only gestured to the track and moved away from the ladder of the pit box. He knew the kid knew what he was doing, he'd watched him for close to a week and there was nothing Lightning would say in to that headset that he wouldn't have said himself. He'd had his time to shine, back when he was even younger than McQueen was currently, but now it was the kid's turn. There was nothing he could see that could hold the kid back. He deserved to wear that headset, for more reasons than one.
Lightning glanced toward Sally, adjusting the mic even as she gestured up to the box encouragingly. He nodded with a sigh and climbed up to take in the track.
It was surreal, he'd of course stood in a pit box before but never during a race, and certainly never during a race that Rust-eze was driving in.
He couldn't help but comment on the first thing he noticed. "You have noticed that wall on your right, right?"
"Of course I know there's a- wait, you're-"
"Yeah, I am. Surprise!"
With each lap Lightning seemed to grow more comfortable in the position he found himself in. For the longest time Sally could tell he didn't really know what to do with himself. That was a lot of sitting still compared to the traveling at 200 mph he was so used to. He'd stood with his arms crossed, he'd leaned against the support and safety bar, he'd sat in the chair with his hands linked over his head. He just could not find what worked for him until around lap 425.
Sally had kept a close eye on what was happening that race. They weren't kidding when they said that Storm was in a class of his own, but with the comments and certain things she was catching Lightning sharing from his vantage point. The IGNTR (no, Rust-eze) driver seemed to be dominating even more than usual. Maybe he always had and she was just paying closer attention now that Lightning wasn't on the track, but she had an inkling of hope that it had something to do with Lightning's own knowledge and experience.
"You better not need tires or anything too specific the rest of the time you're out there, that'd be pretty rough to coordinate with your usual crew." The cars were too different, there wasn't much the rest of them could do at this point but hope that there wasn't a repeat of McQueen's rookie year.
Sally waited to see what his reaction to Jackson's response would be, and she couldn't help but feel a smile break through when he laughed at whatever the kid had said.
"Boy does that sound familiar- watch-! what you're doing...I did tell you how many car lengths, you just weren't listening."
Sally could only grin again, taking in his profile as the lights around the track were coming on. He wasn't wrong, it did sound familiar. Her cautious hope was growing steadily as the race continued. He might not be driving, he may never drive again because of this particular race but she could tell he was seeing another side to it. He didn't have to bow out just because he wasn't behind the wheel. Maybe he'd realize he could transition his role, that this didn't necessarily have to be a one time thing. She desperately hoped he did, because she hadn't seen him so comfortable at a race since before the Next-Gens had started showing up. Maybe standing still and watching someone else travel over 200 mph would be good for him.
There was a radio near Mater and she could hear Cutlass and Cartrip. She caught herself listening in despite the fact that she could see what was going on with her own eyes.
"Treadless and Swervez both looking to make a move. They drop to the inside but Storm's not letting anyone get around him today."
She glanced up toward Lightning and could tell he wasn't taking the competition lightly either.
"#28 Treadless still looking for his opening-"
"This late in the race is not the time to be up and down the track. This is when the mistakes are made."
Sally couldn't see exactly what was happening but she listened as the announcers both spoke at once.
"Treadless against the wall-!"
"Spinner, Swervez, and Racelott tangled in the mayhem-"
"Laney coming up across the track, tags Cam Spinner again."
"Caution out on lap 438..."
She glanced up at Lightning again quickly to see he was all business. It was strange being able to see him during a race, she was so used to just staring at a car as it went in circles and getting information second hand, now he was right there.
"No, you'll have to come back." She heard him say. "It's going to take a while to clean up the track..."
