Cam Shaftley, #19 Crew Chief
It's his Danny in the winner's circle tonight. Long overdue, where Cam's concerned - Danny's never failed to impress on the dyno and he's probably the most strategic racer on the track. It's just been a matter of putting it all together.
Danny tries to play it cool the way the 20 always plays it cool, but there are tears at the corners of his eyes. They catch a thousand camera flashes. 27 consecutive Top 5 finishes. 11 second places. And finally, Danny's first bonafide win.
Cam's not the most excitable guy, but he's got a big dopey smile on his face and Danny knows he's proud of him - real freakin' proud. It should be a good, long night of well-deserved celebration. Keyword: Should be.
"Hey, where's Storm?" Danny asks him, after the winner's circle, after the press. He's looking around, eyes dancing over the emptying grandstands and pit row and even around the track, as though he expects Storm to have waited after all that - as though Storm would have waited to offer his personal congratulations.
Cam sighs. Here's the deal: Danny likes Storm. Or at least, he's in awe of Storm; he can't help it.
Cam doesn't give a fig about Storm.
(Cam doesn't like anyone, as Danny's pointed out. But he especially doesn't like Storm. And he knows that Storm doesn't wait. Not for no one.)
"Off moping, probably," says Cam. "20 probably thinks you're in his spotlight."
"But it's just my first win," says Danny. He sounds a bit dejected - as though his win will mean less if it doesn't earn him that nod from Storm.
And see, Cam hates that. He hates seeing his boy feel that way. And it certainly doesn't soften his opinion of Storm. Storm breaks everything, and he doesn't even have to touch it.
"Yeah, it's your first win. Which makes you a threat," Cam says tightly. "Danny, sooner or later, you gotta stop trying to make friends with the 20. That's not what he's here for."
Of course, headed out of post-race inspection, they have a run-in with IGNTR's darling himself.
"Get lost," snaps Storm, without slowing. Danny has to swerve out of the way.
Gale is close behind. "This is - not a good time," she apologizes, but she doesn't slow either. She's out of sorts, has a harried cant to her tires. But then, who wouldn't? Having to deal with her petulant little stormcloud all the time.
"Swervez," Cam starts, because Danny's gotta know he means business. This is a career move. This is a mental health move. Sometimes you have to cut the poison out. "Listen to me, Swervez. I need you focused. I catch you obsessing over the 20, or wasting your time with him at all, there'll be hell to pay at practice. You hear me? He's toxic. You can't afford that."
Don't let him steal the wind from you.
Danny nods. He's playing it cool again. But there's a shudder in his spoiler and all Danny really wants to know is Why? Why why?
Cam sighs. "You don't need to impress him, Danny," he says. "You just need to beat him."
Storm nearly runs over 24's pittie on his way back to his trailer, and Cam's engine growls. He hates kids like that - don't know how good they have it, and treat respect for others like it's something that's gotta be bought and paid for.
Cam watches Gale and Storm get in a shouting match. And Gale - he's got nothing against her, but heaven help her, she lets him win it. Cam's just saying it wouldn't hurt to make the kid get a little dirt in his rims. Cars like Storm only think they're perfect because they've never been tested.