Chapter 78
Matt Kinnison had earned the fifth starting position, but that didn't matter much to Kinnison. He planned to lay real low in this race and see just what some of the others had. He was interested in what competition he had for the Motor-Cross race later today.
The sixteen bikes would be lining up in four rows of four with Kevin Windham, Blake Horton, Jeb Duke and Charlies Sun on the front row. Matt Kinnison would be starting right behind Kevin on the inside of the track.
Blake Horton wanted to win any and all the events this weekend, but he didn't have a problem if Duke placed in the events so he could pay him the money for the bike he was currently riding. Havin' taken on the roll of Jeb's mentor, Blake said before putting his helmet on, "Kinnison is right behind us. Watch you a-."
After the run in he'd had earlier with Kinnison, Jeb could live with that advice. "Thanks, I plan on it."
Once the race was underway, Kinnison dropped back a good distance, while Jeb had found a place to settle into in fourth place. In the back of the pack several of the new inexperienced riders had gotten tangled up with each other, while others found they just couldn't hold their bikes in the muddy turns. As the field thinned itself out, Kinnison had spotted out the riders to watch and had moved back up to watch them. Duke was one of the riders he was watching closely. The kid was good, his bike was quick, but the more Kinnison watched him the more his inexperience showed. As far as Kinnison was concerned, Duke was making rookie mistakes, the main one was the kid was too eager to get to the front of the pack. If Duke took the curves in the next event like he was taking them now, Kinnison knew exactly how to get around him. Kinnison smiled to himself as he now knew how to take Duke out of the Motor-cross event, but first he had to make up some places in this race.
As the bikes entered the final lap of this event, Matt Kinnison was trying his best to get past Charlie Sun. Charlie may not have the horses to get past the three racers ahead of him, but there was one thing the man knew he could do. He could keep Kinnison from passing him. So being content with fourth place, Charlie set out to keep Kinnison behind him.
Blake Horton was out in front by a good distance. The real battle was right now for second place. Jeb Duke who was fairly new to the racing scene was doing battle with the old timer, Kevin Windham. Kevin knew that Duke had potential, but he had a lot to learn.
Jeb had hung in with Kevin for sometime but he was not content to just take third and be done with it. Jeb had watched Kevin and looked for an opening. He knew he'd only have one chance to pull it off because it was a move that Kevin wouldn't expect him to try. Jeb had been trying to get around Kevin on the inside of the track for several laps and he just didn't have the power.
In the first turn of the last lap Jeb let Kevin take the position in front of him dropping back to third place. Coming out of turn two, Jeb gave his bike all he had and as they entered turn three Kevin expected Jeb to go low on the track and try again to get around him on the inside. Jeb gave the bike his all and at the very last second swung out to the right and let the bike fly.
Kevin didn't even have time to think when he saw the rider pop out on his right not his left. Jeb already had his bike wound up and had the momentum to get around Kevin. Try as he may, time and the end of the race was against Kevin and in Jeb's favor as Jeb finished the race inches ahead of Kevin.
As Jeb pulled up to a stop and was taking off his helmet, Kevin road up beside him. He raised his face shield and pointed back to the track, "That took guts. I got to hand it to ya kid, you've got balls." Kevin held up his hand.
Jeb returned the action as he held up his gloved hand and gave the older man a 'high-five'.
Kevin cautioned, "Just remember, the next time I'll be watching for you to pull that crap and it won't work!"
Jeb replied with a wide grin, "You got it!" Second place wasn't a win, but coming in second to Blake Horton and his new bike wasn't a bad thing at all! Jeb noted that Matt Kinnison came in fifth just behind Charlie Sun.
In the stands Kira had been a bit surprised to see both riders that had been at odds earlier.
Seeing that Kira seemed to be pleased with the outcome of the race, Ben said, "He's pretty good isn't he?"
Kira shrugged her shoulders, unaware that Ben had seen her watching a couple of racers more closely than others, "Who?"
"The one that just out smarted his way into second place." Ben said.
Kira said indifferently, "If he was good, he would have won, not come in second."
While Ben noted Kira's indifference, he also saw something he saw in a lot of his clients, her body language was off, not much but just enough to give her away. Ben hide his amusement as he agreed, "I guess you are right about that."
From out of no where Daisy was at Jeb's side. She gave him a hug and a big kiss on his cheek, "Cousin, that was some ridin'!" She said as she hugged him tightly again.
Ben grimaced at the sight of the lovely brunette at the blond racers side just before Kira asked, "Think we have time to get a cold drink before the cars line up?"
Ben couldn't help shacking his head at young 'love'. One minute he was sure Kira had been paying attention to one of two racers, now she was more concerned with refreshments. "We should have plenty of time." He replied.
Every since Bo had lost to Faykus, Luke had been going over everything he knew to go over to give his car just a little more power. He had even opted not to watch Jeb race. As he reached for the plug wire on the last spark plug he felt a pain shoot through his side. It felt as if someone had inserted an ice pick right between his ribs on his left side. He dropped the ratchet from his right hand and grabbed his left side protectively.
Bo had been standing beside Luke, but watching the race, "Luke! Did you see that?" As Bo turned around he seen Luke clutch his left side. Now he was swearing obscenities loud between gasps. "Luke! Are you alright?" Suddenly he seen how stupid that question was, "What's wrong Luke?"
Still holding his left side, Luke managed to get out from under the hood, "Just, ... check the back, ... plug. Alright?" He managed to get out as he leaned against the side of his beloved Ford and tried not to pass out. He'd over did it. He knew that. No sooner had he managed to get his breathing barely under control and his eyes open, Luke saw Amber walking up the hillside away from the track with a guy about his age. They were sharing an ice cream cone and appeared to be heading somewhere a bit more private. Luke remembered his time with her last night, it had been fun, but was nothing special, at least on his part. Right now he was more concerned with just breathing.
Bo had stretched into the engine compartment with ease and pulled the spark plug that Luke had indicated. "Luke, this plug is fine." He held it up for Luke to see for himself.
Luke nodded in agreement, "Good, ... put it, ... back." He managed to gasp. For what was not the first or the last time this weekend, Luke wished that Cooter would show up.
01~~~~~~~~~~~01
Up in Tennessee, Cooter's head was swimming as he tried to get his breath back. He knew that it was likely about noon and he nor Beverly had been asleep since they returned back to their room after the fireworks last night. He thought for a brief second about his friends at the race track, who were likely wondering where he was and why he had not shown up. Beverly again moved closer to him in a more than suggestive manner, Cooter let all thoughts of his friends, family and racing leave his mind as he turned his attention back to his wife.
01~~~~~~~~~~~01
Bo did as Luke said, putting the spark plug back into place, then he turned his attention back to his older cousin, "Luke, ... the plug is back in, ... now what's wrong with you?"
"Just over, ... did it, ... a might." Luke grimaced, "That's all."
Bo studied Luke up and down, before asking, "Are you sure that's all? You are alright, aren't you?" At the moment Bo wasn't sure. Luke was pale, had been gasping for air as he tried to talk, and Luke appeared to be leaning against his car to keep from falling down.
Luke caught his breath and tried to answer in a more reassured tone, "Yeah. I'm fine." Though, at the moment, Luke felt anything BUT fine. They heard the announcement for the cars to line up in their previously drawn positions. "Faykus is the one to beat Bo. He's starting behind you. Just stay in front of him."
Bo nodded, as he thought, 'Easier said than done.' But replied, "I'll do my best."
On the round track the stock cars began lining up two by two according to the starting positions that the drivers had drawn in the drivers meeting for this event. Adam Lilly from Chickasaw County would be starting on the inside pole position with Bo Duke on the outside of the first row. On the second row Brodie Smith was on the inside with Dobro Doolin on the outside. In the the third row, Enos Straight was on the inside with Ernie Leadbetter on the outside only one car behind Duke's car. The next row was made up of Jake Peters on the inside and Joe Fox on the outside. In the fifth row, Mark McCormick was on the inside while Matt Spies lined up beside him on the outside. In the back row, Mike Faykus was on the inside and Turk Folley on the outside.
The first lap around the track would be under caution, if everyone was lined up right and everything looked a go the flagman would signal that they would go green as they came down the back stretch into turn three, but the drivers wouldn't actually get the green flag until they came out of turn four. As Bo came out of turn two his eyes were on the car beside him and the light ahead of him in turn three. Half way down the back stretch the light flickered from yellow to green a couple times. Bo was ready as he went into turn three and out of turn four to jump on the gas but he knew he had to see the green flag before he could get on the gas.
The next thing Bo knew the car beside him had jumped on the gas a whole second early. The flag that was displayed was the yellow caution flag not the green. The flagman had seen Adam Lilly jump the flag. All the drivers had to do a bit of fancy driving for a few seconds to keep out of the drivers in front of them while not getting hit by anyone behind them that had also hit the gas.
"Durn it!" Bo swore. That meant another slow lap or two around the track to get everyone back in the right places again.
Luke shook his head when he saw the caution flag and not the green one.
Jeb walked up from where he'd parked his bike, well at least that was how he was thinking of it now that he had placed in the money in two of the three events, and said to his oldest cousin, "Think they all make it through the first lap this time?"
Luke replied, "If they don't, ... it may be a, ... long day."
Jeb frowned not a what Luke said but how he'd said it. Looking closer at Luke he seen that he was a bit pale, "Luke are you alright?"
"Just over, ... did it. I'll be fine." Luke said trying to act like he felt better than he did at the moment.
The green flag was finally dropped and to Luke's relief they all made it through the first lap but only barely as Jake Peters drift up the track going in to turn one on the second lap. Joe Fox didn't have anywhere to go as he was forced into the wall, Mark McCormick was on the low side of the track and missed the mayhem. Beside McCormick, Matt Spies was not that lucky and ended up hitting Peters and Fox head on resulting in another caution flag.
After the crash was cleaned up, the drivers once again took the green flag. The next few laps were made up of the drivers getting into a pecking order. Some cars were faster, some drivers better. Adam Lilly had lost his first place starting position long ago. Bo had managed to stay out in front while Enos managed to get around Dobro and Brodie. They had been far too interested in trying to get ahead of each other than to watch Enos. McCormick had his own problems with Leadbetter while Faykus and Turk Folley were trading paint with each other. Faykus had the power and was able to loose Folley and begin moving up.
Bo had gotten ahead of the pack and put some distance between them. 'Maybe staying out in front isn't gonna be so hard after all.' Bo thought as another lap was complete.
Luke was watching closely as Bo pulled away from the others in his car. A smile slowly started to form on the oldest cousin's face, just before he saw Faykus coming up fast. "Boooo watch you back door." Luke said.
Jeb looked behind Bo to see what Luke saw, "Ah, man that is Faykus and he's movin' up."
"Yes, he is. I just hope, ... Bo's watching his mirrors." Luke said.
It took a couple more laps before McCormick on Faykus's tail had made it around the rest of the pack and were closing in on Enos. Working together while the others battled their own private battles the two moved up until only Bo Duke was in front of them. They were soon able to close in on the lead that Bo had worked to get.
Bo looked up when he got on the back straight away and seen Faykus in his mirror. "Crap!" Bo exclaimed as he put his foot a bit further to the floor.
Faykus already had his powerful engine wound up and was ready to cut below Bo as they came into turn three. Bo had enough time to see what Faykus was trying to do and dove to the inside of the track blocking Faykus from getting around him. As Bo came out of turn four he saw the flagger display the white flag, "One lap to go." He said aloud even though no one else could hear him.
"Look at that." Luke said.
Jeb replied, "If he can stay ahead for one more lap..."
Luke shook his head, "I don't think it's gonna be easy. ... You saw him in the drag races."
Bo had Luke's car wound out as much as he could get it down the front stretch into turn one Bo put the Ford all the way to the bottom of the track hoping to block Faykus.
That had been exactly what Faykus figured Bo would do. He smiled as he waited until the last second to swing out on Bo's right side. He had the car around Bo before they reached turn two.
McCormick was one of Luke Duke's best friends. As much as he'd like to see Luke's car win, this was a race and he was here to do his best. When he seen Bo cut down, he knew that Faykus was going high. He waited, when Faykus cut right, Mark was on his tail and beside Bo Duke.
Luke swore when he seen both Faykus and McCormick swing to Bo's right. He hoped that Bo had better sense than to try to move up the track on them in the curve. The higher they went on the track the wetter and slicker the track would be. If Bo moved up, there was potential that any of the three drivers could get loose or into one another which could put all them out of the race.
Bo was doing some swearing of his own right now, he'd already lost the lead to Faykus and McCormick was nearly even with his door as they came out of turn two, two cars wide. They raced that way down the back stretch and into turn three where Bo had taken a bit of a higher line than he had been doing through out the entire race.
McCormick seen what Bo was up to and yelled, "BO!" As he seen his line on the track getting smaller and smaller. "Ah, Sh-!" McCormick swore as he was forced into letting up on the gas for just a split second. Just long enough for Bo to pull ahead of him into turn four. McCormick dove low and tried to get around Bo Duke on the low side as they came out of turn four.
Just ahead of both drivers the flagman was already displaying the checkered flag for Faykus who was crossing the finish line. Bo and McCormick were giving their cars all they dared to as they both crossed the finish line. Bo, however, was just slightly ahead of McCormick's Firebird, who was about a half a track ahead of the rest of the racers.
Announcer: "Well, folks that's it. The unofficial results, Mike Faykus, Bo Duke and Mark McCormick will finish in the money. Check race boards for the final results. Now, is the time to visit all the lovely ladies at the concession stands while we give these drivers about thirty minutes to get ready for the next event which will be starting and finishing on the round track in front of you have someone hold on to your seats. The next event is the overland moonshine race, where each car will carry ten jugs of WATER, ummm, ... you know for race and ummm, ... legal purposes, over a course that will take them off the race track and overland. There are a couple check points along the way and we'll keep you up to date as the drivers pass through each check point. Once they are back we'll move over to the Motor-Cross track that I see a couple of guys over there putting the finishing touches on now so stick around!"
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Thanks for reading. Please revew.