Still don't own Cars. Probably never will.
"And it's newcomer Marina Stryder with the win!" Bob Cutlass announced.
"I KNEW IT, BOB! I KNEW SHE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHIN'!" Darrell Cartrip was going ballistic with excitement. Marina couldn't help the enormous smile that spread on her face as she crossed that line and felt the wind from that checkered flag. She could even hear, scattered around the crowd, chants of "Stryder! Stryder! Stryder!" She couldn't help it, her heart swelled with pride, especially when she looked over at the pits and saw Doc's smile matching her own. She'd vowed to herself to make sure he wouldn't regret teaching her, and judging by his face, he didn't.
"Atta girl, Marina." Doc said over the comm, "That was REAL racing."
"I did it for you, Doc." she said.
"Hey Marina, you should've seen Chick's face when you did that." McQueen chimed in with a laugh, "That was the funniest thing I've ever seen!"
"Well, I don't like people calling me sissy names." Marina said as she slowed down, drifting toward the infield and Victory Lane, where she could see Doc and her friends/sponsors waiting for her.
As soon as she got into Victory Lane, she was swarmed by photographers, and one news camera accompanied by a sedan she recognized as Kori Turbowitz.
"Marina, how does it feel to win your professional debut race?" Kori asked, pointing the microphone at her.
"Well, Kori, it feels amazing, of course. It's a huge accomplishment for me, but I honestly can't take all the credit." Marina noted the confused looks she was getting, "If it weren't for Lightning McQueen, Doc Hudson, and everyone else in Radiator Springs, I wouldn't be here." She could feel tears forming as she said it, 'So I think they deserve just as much credit for this win as I do. It's a team effort. As Strip Weathers once said, 'this ain't a one-man deal. You need a good team.' And Kori..." She glanced at them with misty eyes and her heartfelt smile, "...I have the best team there is."
"That was a very touching statement from Marina Stryder herself. Coming to you live from Victory Lane, I'm Kori Turbowitz..." Marina didn't hear whatever else the reporter said as she drove up onto the raised platform where the owner of the racetrack awarded her a small trophy and a check that, while small by Piston Cup organization standards, was the largest she had ever received for anything.
"Congratulations, Miss Stryder." he said.
"Thank you very much, sir." She turned to the cameras, still unable to do anything but smile as her picture was taken, even when Doc and McQueen and eventually everyone else got in the picture with her.
The two exhausted racers slept all the way home, even when everyone else stopped for gas and Sheriff ran off to issue a speeding ticket. Doc looked over at the trailer where the red racer and the black Hornet slept. Surprisingly, he felt a slight urge to join them. Not in the trailer, but on the track. He couldn't explain why, but something about watching Marina race against other professionals and the way she seemed genuinely grateful for the experience reminded him of what he thought was gone from the racing world. But seeing her gave him just the slightest glimmer of hope. Maybe they would even let HIM back in.
And maybe Chick Hicks will give to charity, he thought. He was old news and he knew it. He'd had his chance. Now it was Lightning's and Marina's turn to shine, and he was determined to do everything he could to help them be their absolute best.
Still, though, he couldn't ignore what he felt.
Sally, Lizzie, and Red greeted everyone when they arrived home. They carefully rolled the two racecars into their respective homes (or cone, in Marina's case), not wanting to wake them.
Doc cut back their practice time a bit to let them recover from the race while still keeping in shape. At least, that was the reason he gave everyone. But he had another reason too. When he knew no one was down at the track, Doc went and raced by himself. He knew this track so well, he could close his eyes and just lose himself in the feeling of the wind rushing over him, the ground seeming to shake under him. The more he did it, the more Doc found himself missing racing, and his heart ached to be back on the track. He wished he could be out with Marina and McQueen. They seemed so happy and free when they raced. Doc would've given anything to have that back. He slid to a stop as he usually did, savoring the feeling for as long as he could.
"Wow, Doc, you're amazing." Doc whipped around to find Marina standing by the start/finish line tire.
"Wha-How long have you been there?" Doc asked.
"I saw you drive off." Marina said, "and you looked sad or something, so I thought I'd come see if you were okay."
"Oh." Doc looked down, "Well...thank you."
"So,...is something wrong? I won't tell anyone." Marina promised. The old Hornet looked out around the track, the sighed. Marina pulled up beside him.
"You miss racing, don't you." she stated softly. He nodded.
"It's okay, Doc. You loved racing. It's a part of you. It's always hard to quit doing something you love so much."
"I wish I could've done it again. Just one more time." Doc said sadly. Marina thought for a moment, then her smile returned as an idea formed in her mind.
"Let me make some phone calls. I may know a way to give you at least something of your racing days back."
"You would do that for me."
"Are you kidding, Doc? After all you've done for me, I owe you." Marina smiled. Doc smiled back at her as the black Hornet headed back to town.
"Thank you, Marina." Doc whispered as he too headed home.
