In the hotel room with Minty, Swizzle lays on the bed, thinking about what Barry said to him.
"He did have a point there, Swizzy." Minty says, brushing her hair. "You have won a bit too much lately."
"I know that, Mints." Swizzle says, laying on his back with his feet dangling off the bed. "Maybe I should learn to give the other racers a chance to win. With the upcoming Grand Prix, I should know what winning means to the other racers." Swizzle says, kicking his feet.
"You're really going to learn a lesson here, Swizzy. And that lesson is 'Winning isn't everything'. I would know." Minty says. "My mom taught me that lesson when I didn't win a gymnastics meet at age 6. I learned that even if I didn't win, I didn't let it get to me. I was happy for the ones who did win."
"You're right, Mints. Winning isn't everything." Swizzle says, smiling. "It's really all about the fun of racing."
He smiles as he thinks about the "Winning isn't everything" lesson Minty just taught him.
In a hotel room not far from Swizzle and Minty's, Clair and Rancis were in the room, talking about racing and other things.
"Admit it, Clair, you really were staring at Crumbelina's ass after the race." Rancis says as he drinks a root beer.
"All right, mon ami, maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." Clair says, pulling his "Sugar Cup Champion- 2009" shirt over his cream colored sweatpants.
"Then admit you like Di Caramello, dude!" Rancis says, nudging Clair playfully.
"Mon dieu..." Clair says, blushing 40 shades of red. "I want to tell her myself. You know how posh girls are...they want guys who aren't...what's the word I'm looking for here?"
"Perverted?" Rancis asks, taking a sip of his root beer.
"Yeah. I admit I did stare at her posterior..." Clair says, blushing once more.
"I KNEW IT!" Rancis says, laughing. "Now, admit you like her!"
"All right, all right, I do like her! Happy?" Clair says, climbing into his bed.
"Yes." Rancis says, climbing into his bed. "I knew eventually you would admit it!"
"Oh, shut it..." Clair says sleepily. "What about the Fudge Shoppe 400? Shouldn't I worry about if Swizzle screws up my chances at winning?"
"Oh, come on, Cremecape, everyone will get a chance to qualify for the Grand Prix." Rancis says. "I should know, since the Fudge Shoppe 400 is a pretty decent race. The track there is pretty darn big."
"I see." Clair says, snuggling deeper under the covers on his bed.
"Well, we better sleep or else we won't feel like racing tomorrow." Rancis says, yawning.
Clair nods, falling asleep before Rancis.
The next day, the racers were down in the hotel's food court, eating breakfast and watching "Sugar Racing Today" on the television.
"Good morning, race fans! I'm Charlie Fizzypop, and here is my co-anchor, Natalia Italian-Ice. We start by talking about today's first qualifying race, the Fudge Shoppe 400. This race is first of four qualifying races. the racer with the most points at the end of all four qualifiers, will start at the Sugar Rush Grand Prix." Charlie says as the show starts.
"Indeed they will, Charlie. This track is a pretty easy one with turns and twists at every corner, and indeed this race will be one to remember. We go live to our correspondent, Kevin Fluggerbutter, who is live from the Fudge Shoppe Speedway." Natalia says as the scene changes to Kevin's live feed.
"Thanks, Natalia. Yes, race fans, what you see here behind me is the very track where the racers will race their first qualifying race. Preparations are underway at the Fudge Shoppe Speedway as we speak. We're talking with some fans who are ready for today's race." Kevin says, walking over to the tailgating area. "Hello, and what's your name?"
"My name is Trinity, and I'm a MINTY MANIAC!" the green gumdrop says, showing the 7-Eleven shirt with Minty's face on it and her racing number on the back of it.
"I see that! You look ready for today's race." Kevin says as he smiles at the gumdrop girl. "You rootin' for Minty to win?"
"You bet!" Trinity says, smiling at Kevin.
Minty looks at the television, grinning at the green gumdrop's fandom as she drinks her candy apple & spearmint breakfast smoothie.
Kevin is now standing in front of a bunch of mini Oreo & classic Pepsi bottle fans.
"Herschel, Herschel, he's the man! He can race like no one can! GOOOOOO HERSCHEL!" the mini Oreos and classic Pepsi bottles cheer like crazy, jumping up and down.
"Seems like these fans know who they're cheering for!" Kevin says, smiling.
Throughout Kevin's story, he runs into fans who are devoted to their racers, but none as devoted as a group of chocolate & strawberry eclair fans.
"Viva la Cremecape! WE LOVE YOU, CLAIR!" The eclairs say, sporting shirts with Clair's Krispy Kreme sponsor logo and a banner saying "Go, Clair, Go! You're Number 1!"
"Now that's what I call devoted! As you can see, these fans are fired up for this qualifier, and I'm sure you all are, too. Until the race, this is Kevin Fluggerbutter for Sugar Racing Today. Back to you, Charlie and Natalia." Kevin says, as it goes back to the studio.
"Thank you, Kevin. Now, we go to the top three predictions for today's qualifier, brought to us today by Minute Maid." Charlie says as a list of three racers comes up on the screen.
Fudge Shoppe 400 Predictions:
#18: Minty Zaki- Sugar Rush Speedway Career: Wins- 100, Top Threes- 130, Top Fives- 140; Grand Prix Stats: Victories- 12, Starts- 9, Top Threes- 12, Top Fives- 20, DNF's- 1 (busted carburetor)
#33: Clair Cremecape- Sugar Rush Speedway Career: Wins- 44, Top Threes- 10, Top Fives- 25; Grand Prix Stats: Victories- 3, Starts- 6, Top Threes- 8, Top Fives- 15, DNF's- 2 (1st DNF- blown engine; 2nd DNF- blown left rear tire)
#24: Herschel Nougatson- Sugar Rush Speedway Career: Wins- 91, Top Threes- 127, Top Fives- 195; Grand Prix Stats: Victories- 5, Starts- 15, Top Threes- 9, Top Fives- 13, DNF's- 1 (blown engine)
"So which of these racers has the best chance of winning today's qualifier?" Natalia asks Charlie.
"Well, if you were to ask me, I think Clair has a pretty good chance of winning today's qualifier. With three Grand Prix victories under his belt, Clair Cremecape is quite a force to be reckoned with. His Creampuff Bombs are a top-notch power up, but watch out, they're dangerous!" Charlie says. "Who do you pick, Natalia?"
"Well, I have to pick Herschel. With a stunning career so far, I could see him winning this qualifier." Natalia says, smiling.
"This will be a great day for Krispy Kreme if Clair gets his 45th career win at this qualifier." Charlie says as he shows Clair's pit crew on a live feed. "Hello, Arnold. What will happen if your racer gets his 45th career win?" he asks Clair's pit crew chief, Arnold LeCream.
"Oh, it's gonna be grand! Clair is a good racer, and if he gets his 45th career win, we're gonna celebrate in a big way." Arnold says, smiling.
"We'll be covering that story for sure, Arnold, so keep us posted." Charlie says.
"We will for sure!" Arnold says, going back to preparing Clair's kart for the race.
"And that's all we have time for on this edition of Sugar Racing Today. Until the next episode, I'm Charlie Fizzypop." Charlie says.
"And I'm Natalia Italian-Ice!" Natalia says, smiling.
"See you on the next episode!" both anchors say as the show cuts off and a wave of candy commercials play.
"Wow!" Clair says, stunned. "I'm close to my 45th career win..." He fumbles with the strings on his cape, smiling. "I can't let my racing team down..."
"We're happy for you either way, Clair! We hope you win!" Rancis and Gloyd say, smiling at the creampuff racer.
"Merci, gentlemen. But I know I won't win, with all the competition I have around me." Clair says nervously as he gulps down his chocolate milk.
"Oh, just have confidence, Cremecape. We're all behind you." Rancis says, smiling.
Clair smiles as he finishes his breakfast.
After breakfast, the racers on today's roster leave for the track, and the others prepare for the first qualifier of the Grand Prix season by practice racing.
End Chapter 2
Next Chapter: The opening ceremonies for the Fudge Shoppe 400, and a bit of drama before the race!
Who do you think will win the first qualifier? Put your predictions in your reviews!