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Rated M for language and sex.
Chapter 20-It's Now Or Never-
Over the next two weeks, Lightning trained very hard. Doc kept his promise and gave Lightning a drug test right before they left for the track. "Good news, Rookie" Doc said. "You only have trace amounts of the painkiller in your system." "That's not going to cause a problem is it?" Lightning asked. "I don't want to be disqualified because I took painkillers a few months ago." "You'll be fine" Doc said. "The rest of the drugs will be out of your system by race time. Besides, the drug levels are so low right now; you wouldn't have a problem if the race was tomorrow." "Thanks, Doc" Lightning said "That's good to know." "All right Kid" Doc said. "Let's load up and go." Lightning and Doc arrived at the Motor Speedway of the South five days before the Dinoco 400. Sally was not going to join them, she was on her way to L.A. to get things ready for the wedding, but she promised that she would watch the race on TV. Lightning knew that his mother had problems with him racing, so he suggested that she head to L.A. and help Sally with the wedding. His father, Riley, was coming to the race. Once at the track, Lightning trained every day, twice a day. He managed to do five hundred laps at two hundred miles per hour on Friday. He took Saturday off, because Doc wanted him to rest and relax. Besides he had a full day of doing interviews with different news crews. Lightning was happy to meet Anderson Mini-Cooper from CNN (Car Network News). Riley arrived in the afternoon and Lightning gave him the grand tour of the speedway. In the evening Lightning took Doc and Riley to dinner.
Sunday: race day. In the morning Lightning asked Doc to perform another drug test. "I don't think that's necessary Kid" Doc said. "I know… please Doc" Lightning said "Just for my piece on mind." "Well all right" Doc finally said. "If it'll put you mind at ease. Call your dad, and ask if we can do it in his hotel room. If I try to do it here, it will cause too many problems for you." Lightning called Riley and explained what he wanted. Riley quickly agreed to allow the drug test, so Lightning and Doc drove over to the hotel. "You're clean" Doc said as he read the test. "There are no banned substances in your system." "That's a relief" Lightning said. At seven-thirty in the evening, Lightning drove out of his trailer receiving deafening applause. Lightning drove over to where Doc was parked at his crew chief station. "You ready, Rookie?" Doc asked. "I hope so," Lightning replied, a nervous edge to his voice. "You'll be fine," Doc said. "Just do what we've been working on and you'll win the race." Lightning nodded and swallowed. Riley was going to watch the race from the pits and he drove up to Lightning, "Luck maith, tiomáint sábháilte agus go tapa. (Good luck, drive safe and fast.) Riley said. "Tá mé bródúil as sin de tú. (I'm so proud of you.)" Riley hugged Lightning. "Daidí go raibh maith agat (Thank you Dad)." Lightning nervously said. "Racecars, please report to the track!" the loudspeaker called. Lightning's stomach lurched. He hesitated before heading towards the track. "Go ahead," Doc said. "I'll see you in victory lane, Rookie." "Tá a fhios agam Sally agus Skye ag breathnú ar an teilifís, agus ní fhéadfaí iad a prouder de tú. (I know Sally and Skye are watching on TV, and they could not be prouder of you.)" Lightning smiled at Doc and Riley before he drove onto the track. He lined up beside a racecar he didn't know. Lightning realized he had not started from the back of a race since his very first race. "Racecars start your engines!" the loudspeaker called. Lightning started his engine loudly and revved it along with forty-two other cars. He watched intently as the racing official raise the green flag.
When the green flag was dropped, Lightning shot out onto the track along with his competitors. He weaved through them as quickly as he could; it took some time because the cars were tightly packed together. "Don't get stressed out, Kiddo" Doc said. "It'll take some time to get through that mess." "I know" Lightning said, passing another car. "There might be an opening on the inside," Doc said. "It looks to me like there's one." Lightning drifted into the inside, and sure enough, there was a long stretch of pavement free of any cars. He revved his engine and shot down the track, passing cars quickly and numerously. Before too long, Lightning was settled in second place behind Chick. Sapphire at his rear bumper, in third. He stayed in Chick's draft until he had to make a pit stop. "Good work out there, Rookie," Doc said. "You're racing better today than I've ever seen you race." "Thanks, Doc," Lightning said, grinning at his crew chief. "Uh-huh, now the race isn't over yet" Doc said returning to his usual gruff mannerisms. "So get your fucking tail back out on the track, Sapphire is determined to defend her championship." Lightning revved his engine again and took off out of pit lane. He winced as a spasm of pain ripped through his axle. Lightning shook off the pain and regained his spot in second place behind Chick. Lightning's new tires gripped the pavement well. The traction helped him stay solid in track, which proved to be slippery at times. "What lap am I on, Doc?" Lightning asked an hour or so later. "Three seventy-eight," Doc replied. "Okay," Lightning said. "When should I make my move?" "I'd give it a few laps" Doc replied "Wait until you have ten laps left and then make your move. You don't need to waste yourself early, But watch out for Sapphire, she's just waiting to pounce if you or Chick make a mistake" "I know, she's been nipping at my bumper since I got up to the leaders" Lightning said turning into lap three hundred and seventy-nine. "I'm just ready to go." Doc laughed. "I know you are, Kiddo. You'll be there soon enough. How's your axle holding up?" "It's okay," Lightning replied. "It's gotten worse since the start of the race, but it's not too bad." "Okay," Doc said. "Tell me if it gets any worse. Don't be afraid to stop if you need to" "Yeah, like that's going to happen" Lightning said sarcastically. He grinned; he was in this race to win to win it.
Ten minutes later, Lightning began to make his move. "Keep it steady, Kid," Doc warned him as Lightning drifted to the outside, getting ready to pass Chick. "I am," Lightning said. He revved and floored his engine and shot past Chick. The crowd erupted as he sped into three hundred and ninety first lap. "Watch out for Chick," Doc warned Lightning. "He's coming up on the outside, Sapphire is right behind him." "I'm ready for them" Lightning said. He watched for one of his rivals to appear in the corner of his eye. Sure enough, ten seconds later, Chick pulled up alongside Lightning "You ready to lose, McQueen?" Chick asked, swerving to where Lightning's titanium was an inch away from Chick's aluminum. "In your dreams, Thunder," Lightning replied. For six laps, Lightning and Chick stayed side by side, Sapphire was only a breath behind them. It was clear to everyone watching that the race was going to come down to these three. Lightning revved his engine but before he could pull away, Chick drifted into Lightning's front right wheel, causing Lightning's tires to slip on the pavement. Lightning caught himself before he could loose to much momentum. "You okay, Rookie?" Doc asked, panic in his voice. "Yeah," Lightning replied, groaning, trying to catch up with Chick and Sapphire. "Lightning, you need to stop," Doc said. His voice had an edge of panic. "Why?" Lightning asked Then he felt it. His axle was throbbing horribly. "You lost your brace on the track back there," Doc said. "There's not enough time for me to go back and get it!" Lightning said. "Your axle won't last that long!" Doc said. "I can at least try!" Lightning said. "I'm not quitting the race now!" "Alright, Kid," Doc said. "Just take care of yourself." "Will do," Lightning said.
Lightning floored his engine harder, giving his best effort to catch up with Chick. Sapphire had managed to get around Chick with out him bumping her. Pain was exploding all along Lightning's underside. It brought tears to Lightning's eyes, but he forced himself to ignore it. Rounding turn four, Lightning pressed himself harder and reached two hundred and ten miles per hour. He saw Chick ahead. With one lap left, Lightning caught up with Chick passed him easily. Lightning quickly changed his focus to Sapphire and pushed his engine to the limit. He passed her on the inside. "Great job, Kiddo!" Doc said. Lightning did not answer. He did not want to open his mouth because of the substantial chance he would vomit from the staggering and intense pain that was coming from his axle. The pain was horrible. It did not only affect Lightning's front right tire, but his entire underside. Lightning was dizzy; he had never experienced such awful pain while racing. The only reason he kept going was the fact that the finish line was approaching quickly. Lightning shot across the line the line and promptly slammed on the brakes, holding his right tire off the ground.