Chapter Ten

"GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!"

After hearing those words, Bo's hand went to the keys in the egnition and soon the General's powerful engine was turned on and revved up.

The line started to move, following the pace car for several laps until the green flag started to wave.

"Green flag, Green flag, go,go,go,go." Russel said into Bo's radio.

"Roger that, see ya on the flip side." Bo said as he floored the General.

Since the race was only 60 laps long, it was expected to be only an hour long, which was exactly how long it would take to transport Luke from the hospital to the track.

So, just as soon as it commenced, Jesse, against the advice of the doctors, loaded Luke up and headed off towards Atlanta.

Daisy, who had taken the day off, would be there waiting for them, and once everything was done, they would all head for home, one big happy family.

"I jes' hope Bo don't crash the General before we get there." Luke said as they pulled on to the highway and got up to speed.

"Give Bo more credit than that, Luke. It's not often that he does wreck the General." Jesse replied.

Luke shot his Uncle a look and said,"You havn't ridden with him all the time, Uncle Jesse."

Uncle Jesse let out one of his hearty laughs that filled the entire cab of the truck.

"I've ridden with that cousin o' yers enough Luke." Jesse replied.

Luke smiled and turned towards the window, all the while praying that Bo would at least finish the race.

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"He's high...still there...still there...ok, you're clear." Russel said into Bo's helmet radio as Bo past the car for second place.

The General rounded turn 2 just in time to see two cars in the back of the pack strike each other and fly into the wall, spewing parts all over the track!

"Bo..watch it!" Russel warned as the General entered the carnage.

If it was Bo's excellent driving skills or the grace of God, no one would know, but within seconds the General was clear of the wreck and getting back up to speed.

"Ok, Bo, yer clear, yer clear." Russel said.

Bo sighed and relaxed a little bit, as he inched closer to the leader of the pack.

"Take it easy Bo, ya still have 15 laps ta pass this guy." Russel said to his driver.

"Isn't it best ta jus' get it over with?" Bo asked.

"Give th' fans a show Bo!" Russel said.

"Right, a show." Bo muttered, but he eased off on the accelerator, just enough for the leader to stay ahead of him as they passed the start/finish line.

Lap after lap passed, until finally Russel said, "Alright Bo, have at em'."

Bo smiled and took the General out of second gear.

The car shot forward as if flung from a sling!

Within seconds Bo had caught up to and passed the leader of the pack!

Clearly, Bo heard the announcer say, "It's the 01 car, the General Lee has caught to...and passed the 00 car!"

"YEEHAW!" Bo said as the General put on a fresh burst of speed and widened the gap between first and second, with only four laps to go.

Suddenly, just as before, two cars just ahead of Bo crashed, and made Bo lose control of the General and go into a spin!

The crowd gasped at this and stood up, trying to see what would happen.

Since the two cars crashed, the yellow flag had been brought out, so Bo remained in first place, even though the General smacked the wall hard enough to leave an orange streak of paint on the wall.

The General skidded to a halt and the engine cut out.

Cars whizzed by the General Lee as Bo held his injured head.

Even though he had been wearing his helmet, he still cut his forhead on the steering wheel of the car.

"Bo, Bo, ya ok?" Russel asked.

Bo didn't answer as the realization of what had happened sank in.

He had failed, he would never see Luke, his Uncle Jesse, or Daisy again.

Suddenly a new voice broke through on his radio.

"Bo? Ya need ta finish this race buddy, so we can all go home."

Bo raised his head and looked at the pits, which were on his left.

"Luke?" He asked into the radio.

"It's me cuz.' Ya have ta finish the race! I know ya can do it, cuz." Luke said.

"Can't Luke. The General's shot. There ain't no way he'd be able ta finish." Bo replied.

"Ya won't know that until ya try. I have faith in ya Bo. Please try." Luke begged him.

Swallowing his fear, Bo reached for the key to the egnition.

Slowly he turned the key and the powerful engine sputtered the roared to life.

A smile of relief washed over Bo's face.

"Now, finish the race cuz." Luke said.

"Yes sir!" Bo said as he kicked the car into gear and joined the pack and the very back.

When the race got the green flag again, there were only two laps to go!

"Punch it, Bo, punch it!" Luke said into the microphone as he watched the pack go whizzing by.

Bo didn't answer, but the General sped up and passed car after car as if they were standing still!

"It's gonna be close!" Russel said as he gritted his teeth as the white flag came out and the announcer said, "It's the final lap!"

The General passed three more cars and soon was in second place.

Slowly, it inched up to the leader, just as they turned the last corner of the track.

"Come on Bo, come on!" Luke whispered.

Suddenly, the General inched past and swerved in front of the leader just as they past the start/finish line.

"IT'S THE GENERAL LEE! THE GENERAL LEE HAS TAKEN THE CHECKERD FLAG!" The announcer said.

Everyone in Bo's pitcrew jumped up for joy and gave each other back slaps and handshakes.

"Good job Bo!" Luke said into the mic.

"Thanks' cuz'!" Bo replied as he slowed the car down as he came into turn 1.

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As Bo came into second place, he didn't think the General had any more in him, not with the time that they had left, but, Bo prayed he was wrong as he applied a little more pressure to the gas pedal.

Slowly at first the General inched ahead of the double zero car, and finally it had passed it.

Up ahead loomed the finish line, so Bo swerved the General, cutting off any chance of the double zero trying to get in front of him, and then it was over.

The General Lee had won!

The biggest smile broke out on Bo's face as he slowed the car down. After another lap he entered the pits and killed the engine.

Helping hands appeared out of nowhere to help him out of the General, but Bo took hold of the hands he knew so well, they were the hands of his cousin, Luke.

Within seconds Bo had ingulfed Luke in a tight hug, Luke though not as tightly, hugged Bo back.

Finally, Bo turned back to Russel and said, "I won th' race, now let me go."

Russel seemed to concider this, but the evil smile appeared on his face.

"No, I don't think so." He replied.

"You swore that ya would!" Bo said, getting angry.

"I lied!" Russel said as he withdrew his gun and pointed it and Bo.

By this time, Bo was seething at Russel, who was grinning wickedly at him.

Suddenly, Daisy stepped out from the booth and snuck over to Russel, in her hand she held a frying pan!

"Now, so goodnight boys." Russel said as he kocked his gun and prepared to fire.

From behind him, Daisy raised her frying pan and smacked Russel over the head with it!

As Russel crumpled to the ground, Daisy said, "Goodnight!"

Smiles broke out on Bo and Luke's faces as Daisy walked over to them.

"Daisy, that was amazing!" Luke said to his cousin.

"Well thank you cousin!" Daisy replied with a smile as she faced Bo and hugged him.

Bo hugged her back greatfully.

Jesse, who had been watching this little family reunion, cleared his throat and said, "Come on kids, let's go home."

"I'm all for that, what 'bout you, Bo?" Luke asked.

"Yes, sir, definitly!" Bo replied.

Luke clapped his hands then walked carefully over to the passanger side of the General, with Daisy following.

He waited as Daisy slipped in first and then scooted over a little enough for Luke to get in.

Bo got in through the driver's side of the car.

"Ya ok, Luke?" Bo asked when he saw Luke grimace in pain.

"Yeah, I just need more pain killers." Luke replied with a small smile.

Bo nodded his understanding as he started the General and roared off.

He found the exit and left the track and headed for the open road, Hazzard County and the ever loving Duke Farm.