After a very long day they were finally able to get the teens to go to bed so that the adults could also go to bed. Again, Hardcastle stayed on the couch where he could keep an eye and an ear open for sounds of tampering which, as predicted by McCormick, never came.
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One thing Mark was sure of, Hardcastle had never practiced being quiet. He was awake at Hardcastle's first stomps through the trailer and began to stretch.
This was returned by Kiki's attempt to snuggle closer.
McCormick wrapped his arms around her and decided to snuggle just a while longer as Hardcastle bellowed, "Hey, kid, you've got a busy day today."
Mark swore again, silently, at the judge's timing. "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"
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Sunday started off pretty much as Saturday had with getting Kiki set to race. If she was lucky and the car held together she'd be in the final races.
With only one blown hose, which Mark and the class had quickly replaced, by noon Kiki had eliminated all the competition in her class. It had come down to her and a Chevy Nova with a driver who just knew a woman would be no competition. They lined up, the lights were on, the over confident driver left the starting line a fraction of a second to soon which eliminated himself, as Kiki left the line to take the win.
As Mark was unhooking her safety belts she was ecstatic, "Did you see that? He beat himself!"
"See I told you, winning is attitude and confidence. But, the over confidence is what can hang you!" he said, half helping half hugging her as she got out of the car. They were now totally surrounded by the class that had built the car.
When she was given the check and trophy, Kiki said, "This belongs to the ones that did the work on the car. I was only the driver. My nephews class built this car. Class, this belongs to you." She then handed the check and trophy to Danny and Pete who were the closest to her.
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Mark and Kiki left the others to load the car as they moved down to the dirt track so that Mark would be ready when they called for the Coyote to race.
McCormick was giving the Coyote one last look. He knew they would be calling the cars onto the track soon, in fact, they should have already called for them. Mark turned to see Bonnie, the track owner, pull in at the trailers. A red flag immediately went up in his head. She should be a hundred other places other than paying a social visit to a driver right before the race.
Bonnie got off the four wheeler and walked toward McCormick. "Skid where's Miss Johnson?"
Barbara also had seen Bonnie and headed toward Mark, "I'm right here. What can I do for you?"
Bonnie cut right to the point, "I have a team. Actually, it's Hamilton's team, challenging that both your cars are running illegally. They have paid the money for the challenge. Before I can let you race either car, I'll have to get a tech man up here to check them out, with your permission of course."
Hardcastle saw steam coming from Mark's ears.
McCormick looked at Barbara, who silently turned the matter over to him. "Get you guy up here. I'm legal."
Bonnie radioed for the tech man to come inspect the cars, then said, "I don't like this, but ..."
McCormick simply replied, "No problem. You can look them over end to end, they are within the specs."
Both cars were cleared after a quick but thorough inspection.
As McCormick was getting into the Coyote, he said to Barbara, Kiki, and Hardcastle, "You want three guesses who's behind Hamilton challenging these cars? Judge, keep your eyes open."
Hardcastle said gruffly, "I've got it here. Just watch yourself out there."
"Oh, this one isn't a problem. Hamilton is in the next race." McCormick said as he started the Coyote.
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McCormick made short order of the first race in the Coyote, coming in first place. Then, he lined up the new car into the pole position of the starting line up for the second race.
Hamilton's car had been repaired, but was pretty close to the back of the pack. McCormick figured that he would only have to worry about Hamilton in lap traffic. The green flag dropped as thirty cars leapt forward down the front stretch. The second and third place starters challenged Mark on either side going into turn one. The third place car went to the upper side of the track into the loose dirt and found the guard rail came up really quick. It was all he could do to keep the car out of the rail and Mark. The second place car had dropped to the lower side of the track and found himself on the slick mud that remained down low. Fortunately for McCormick, he had slid toward the tires that made up the inside of the track, rather than toward him. All the cars made the next few laps without incident, until Hamilton, who had been moving up in the field, looked up and saw McCormick in his mirror. Mark had moved around the lap traffic to put most of the field a lap down. When Hamilton saw McCormick start around him, Hamilton dropped down on the track like Mark had expected him to do. Mark looked for Hamilton to try to make him hit the inner wall, so McCormick was prepared to hold his position. When Hamilton dropped down, there was a bit of bumper tag and paint trading as Mark pulled away from him, moving up another position.
Barbara was not happy at the paint exchange, but knew it was all part of racing.
By the end of the race, Mark had again taken the checkered flag and headed for the post race inspection, which he again passes.
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As Mark got out of the car, O'Connell yelled, "Think you are hot, don't you?"
Barbara and Milt both looked at each other a minute before moving to Mark's side.
Kiki had also moved close enough to jump in the middle if needed.
Mark found he'd taken enough, and met O'Connell face to face, as he replied, "Hotter than you! And, I didn't have to cheat or try to kill anyone to win either!"
"You all are just scared to race against a real champion," replied Sammy.
McCormick said evenly, "I've never been afraid of you. On or off the track. I've got access to three cars in three classes. Find a ride, I'll set up the rest," then started to walk away. Almost as an after thought Mark turn back to Sammy, "If you want to make things interesting, we've beaten each other on straight and narrow. Care to join me in the dirt?"
"Arrange it! I'll have a ride." Sammy shouted back.
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It was a short walk to the infield, where much of the crowd waited to see the checks and trophies passed out. While the pictures were being taken of the earlier race winners, Mark got Bonnie's attention, "Would you like to give this crowd something else to look at?"
Sceptical, Bonnie asked, "Like what?"
"A dirt race between myself and Sammy O'Connell," Mark stated.
"You are kidding?" Bonnie asked. Then she saw he was not kidding. "He's been barred from racing."
"He's been barred from sanctioned competition. I'm talking about one on one, him and me, track rules, ten laps for, let's say, 'bragging rights'. No points and no money," Mark explained.
The older woman smiled, "Skid, I know I'll probably regret this, but I'll let him on my track for you."
He hugged Bonnie and said full of excitement, "Make your announcement, hold the checks and trophies, I'll get them later."
Mark hurried back off the track as the fans wondered where he was going and the loud speaker came to life, "Ladies and Gentlemen, don't leave yet. We've added another event to the racing schedule this afternoon. Old rivals, Mark McCormick, our race winner in two events, and former NDRA Champion, Sammy O'Connell, will line up against each other, one more time. This time right here, on our dirt track. I'll announce the details shortly."
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With the details worked out and announced, the two lined up side by side at the starting line. Sammy in Hamilton's car on the inside of the track, Mark in Barbara's new car on the outer side. They had flipped a coin for the inside spot.
Barbara was more than a little nervous, "Does he know what he's doing?"
From either side she heard the response, "I hope so," from both Milt and Kiki.
"Thanks. That makes me feel much better," Barbara said as the yellow flag and light were displayed.
They would take two laps under yellow, then race ten laps. Mark was pretty confident in both his and the car's ability. Sammy knew he was a little out of his league. He hadn't done much dirt racing ever, and certainly none in years, but he had been far too stubborn to back out.
As the green flag dropped, both hammered the gas pedal. Coming into turn one dead even, Mark breaked just before the turn, Sammy came out in front, Mark slide the car into the turn and stepped on the gas, while Sammy momentarily in the lead tried to steer the car through the turn without breaking. He crossed the track right in front of Mark as he headed toward the guardrail. Sammy bounced off the guardrail but held the car without causing a caution to come out. Mark was now in the lead and heading down the back stretch.
Hardcastle took a moment to look at Kiki. Her eyes were glued to the track and though she could see the whole track from her position, it was obvious that she was watching McCormick.
With McCormick out safely in front, the laps progressed without incident as Sammy got the feel of the track and car. McCormick came out of turn four to see the crossed flags signalling two laps to go. As Mark passed the flag stand, he saw the yellow light come on in turn one and slowed. Coming down the back stretch he saw that O'Connell had spun into the wall in turn three but had the car turned around ready to race.
They would line back up with McCormick in front of O'Connell and take another caution lap before the green would come out. When it did, O'Connell floored the car and came up beside Mark. They bumped each other and traded paint for the entire lap, after the white flag signalled the last lap, McCormick took turn one purposely too fast. It caused him to slide up the track connecting with O'Connell's front end which caused both to spin. Though it looked accidental, McCormick had stuck Sammy in the guardrail. Both managed to restart the cars and line back up.
Milt, Barbara and Kiki said in unison as they watched both cars spin, "Ohhh, Shit!"
As the green flag came out, the bumper tag and paint trading continued into turn four, with Mark on the upper side of the track, Sammy was pushing him further upward, hoping that he'd spin out. McCormick, who had been holding out on his speed, now floored the gas and pulled away from Sammy. As the two cars separated, with Sammy turning into Mark, it made O'Connell's car slide quickly across the track near the outer guardrail. O'Connell tried to correct the slide and went into a spin, landing against the inside tires just after McCormick had taken the win. O'Connell was steaming as he managed to get the car moving slowly around the track. McCormick had been inspected and returned to the track to make his way around the track back to the trailer. When Sammy saw McCormick come back onto the track, he floored his car, though the caution flag was out, bumping Mark hard from the behind. He then dropped down on the track and came around Mark, who then managed to do the same thing to Sammy. As McCormick came by O'Connell, Mark bumped him sending him into to the guardrail to wait for the wrecker to tow it off the track.
From the hand-held scanner that Barbara had the track officials frequency in, came the voice of a track official, "Hey, Bonnie. You got any security around here?"
"Yeah, what's the problem?" she asked.
The reply was very short, "You do know those two are parked beside each other in turn three don't you?"
Obviously, in the after race commotion, it had slipped her mind, "I'll send them that way," was Bonnie's reply.
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As Mark got out of the car and took off his helmet he said to Barbara, "Guess I sort of owe you a paint job and a little sheet metal."
"No, you don't," she replied, smiling, "I'll take it out of your third of the winnings."
"Deal!" Mark laughed as both Barbara and Kiki hugged him as the kids surrounded them.
Hardcastle had kept his eye on the track, "I hate to break this up, Kid, but you got a problem heading your way," he said as he pointed over his shoulder.
McCormick let go of both girls, "Yeah, sort of thought I might. You all need to get the kids out of here."
Both Kiki and Barbara wanted to protest but knew Mark had a point. They began to herd the kids back to the trailers.
The track wrecker had hooked to Hamilton's car and was bringing it and Sammy off the track as several of Bonnie's security guards came hurrying toward both trailers. Bonnie pulled in quickly on her four wheeler.
Kiki had rejoined Milt and Mark. She handed Mark a cold Pepsi as they both tried to appear more relaxed than they were.
When Sammy got out of the car, Mark gently moved Kiki behind him and stepped in front of Hardcastle. He only moved a couple of steps forward and took a drink of pop. Sammy was parked about fifteen feet from Mark and crossed the distance quickly. Clearly Sammy was the aggressor in this. As he closed the distance the security guards stepped in between Sammy and Mark, who calmly stood drinking his Pepsi, not moving toward Sammy.
Mark spoke up, "He's fine guys. Let him go. We've raced against each other to long too let what happens on the track get between us."
Not knowing their history, security let Sammy go and backed off. O'Connell leaped forward swinging at McCormick who blocked the swing as security grabbed them both separating them.
The large security guard holding O'Connell's arms asked, "Do you want to press battery charges? I'm also LAPD."
To everyone's surprise, Mark smiled, "Yeah, ... and you can also throw in a parole violation while you're at it," Mark took another drink of Pepsi and continued, "Remember, Sammy, 'with half a push, you're going to be right back in prison'. Consider yourself pushed."
Sammy was cuffed and escorted away.
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Okay, how about some reactions? Last chapter will follow!