Before this chapter starts, huge thanks to Avery for letting me use his OC Cricket. Go check out his stories on Wattpad and Archive of Our Own.
Archive of Our Own: AviWasLost
Wattpad: AveryWritesFiction
Location: Sonoma Raceway, California
Track type: Road course
It was now time for the second road course race at Sonoma. A 12 turn road course where just one bump or one mishap can destroy your race. There are quite a bit of storylines heading into this race, Chase will return to the #9 after serving his 1-race suspension for intentionally wrecking Marshall in the Coca-Cola 600. Codi Gizmodi will once again drive the #38 while Al drives the #51 car with Charger once again, taking the week off. Moby suffered concussion-like symptoms after the crash he had at Gateway and will be out for this race. Cricket, a Goberian from Adventure City will drive the #42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet this weekend.
SATURDAY
A Goberian was walking around the garage at Sonoma Raceway. It wasn't as cool as Adventure City to him, but it was nothing he had ever seen before, and awed at the beauty of it.
"So this is what a huge racetrack looks like." The Goberian spoke as he continued to look around.
Meanwhile Liberty was checking on her car to make sure everything was going well, until she saw someone that caught her eye.
"Is that- CRICKET?!" Liberty exclaimed as she ran over to the Goberian.
"Liberty, it's really you-" Cricket spoke, but got tackled by Liberty who gave him a hug.
"Cricket! I can't believe you're here! What are you doing here- IS THAT A RACING FIRE SUIT?!" Liberty asked in shock.
"Yeah. I heard what happened to Moby, and Legacy called me to drive the #42 for this race and yeah here I am." Even though I know the #42 is not the best car, I will try my best. Cricket explained.
"I'm just so happy that you're here. I hope you have a good race tomorrow!" Liberty said as she waved goodbye to the Goberian.
"Bye Liberty!" Cricket said as he headed over to the #42 car, that was periwinkle colored just for him.
QUALIFYING
Everest was currently on provisional pole, with Marshall and Skye in 2nd and 3rd, but there were several cars challenging her for the top spot.
Commentary: Here comes a flurry of cars finishing their laps. It's Chase, Wildcat, Marshall, Hubcap, Skye and Everest.
#9 Radio: Coming to the line, P10 Chase.
"Sorry guys. I gave it my all." The German Shepherd replied.
Commentary: Here comes Wildcat, can he improve? Yes he does, but only for P5.
#16 Radio: 5th place for the moment Wild.
"Me-wow. Didn't think the car was that good." The feline said, surprised.
Commentary: And now Marshall, Marshall takes pole! The #11 is P1 currently, but it's not over yet!
#11 Radio: That's pole, but stand by Marshall. Three cars are left.
Commentary: And now Hubcap, goes all the way to P3! Now Skye, as she comes out of turn 12, she can't improve. One car separates Marshall from pole position!
#45 Radio: Final corner Everest, give it everything!
Commentary: Everest across the line- SHE CAN'T DO IT! MARSHALL IS ON POLE POSITION FOR SONOMA! WHAT A QUALIFYING THAT WAS! IT'S A 1-2 FOR THE COUPLE!
#11 Radio: That's pole position with the #45 in P2!
"HAHA! EVY! Let's go!" The Dalmatian exclaimed.
#45 Radio: P2 Everest. #11 is on pole.
Heh. Congrats to Marshall." Everest happily said.
SUNDAY (RACE DAY)
STARTING LINEUP
1. #11 2. #45 3. #34 4. #20 5. #16 6. #54 7. #17 8. #19 9. #99 10. #9 11. #3 12. #8 13. #47 14. #48 15. #1 16. #5 17. #22 18. #23 19. #7 20. #10 21. #4 22. #41 23. #31 24. #14 25. #6 26. #24 27. #77 28. #43 29. #78 30. #38 31. #12 32. #51 33. #15 34. #2 35. #42 36. #21
STAGES: 25/30/55*
#11 Radio: Beat the #45 here, and have fun. 5…4…3…2…1. Green flag!
GREEN FLAG
Commentary: We are underway here at Sonoma! Marshall gets the jump on Everest going into turn 1, up the hill into turn 2, and he secures the lead! But what's happening further back? Tracker has lost a ton of places, he's all the way down in 29th! Meanwhile Skye has gotten around Everest for 2nd place!
"Lo siento. I missed a shift on the start." Tracker said.
#99 Radio: Keep your head up Tracker. There's still a long way to go.
LAP 12/100 Leader: Marshall
Liberty was making a charge through the field as she started in 8th, she was already up to 3rd, and she was challenging her teammate for 2nd.
Commentary: Here she goes into turn 11, and she passes Skye for 2nd place!
#19 Radio: Good job. Go chase down Marshall.
LAP 25/110 Leader: Marshall
Commentary: Out of turn 11, he has led every lap so far and Marshall will win stage 1, but Liberty is right on his tail!
LAP 26/100 Leader: Marshall
#11 Radio: Good job Marshall. That's stage 1 in the books. Keep the #19 behind you.
"10-4 team." The Dalmatian replied.
Later in that same lap, everyone would come into the pits under green, and it would be Marshall keeping the lead, but Liberty still chasing after him.
LAP 32/110 Leader: Marshall
Liberty was done sitting behind her teammate, and she knew it was go time.
Commentary: Liberty has been putting the fight to her teammate, and she goes to the inside in turn 11! They are side by side, coming into turn 12 and to the line. Liberty leads at that time!
LAP 33/110 Leader: Liberty
Commentary: They have been fighting hard, but fighting clean. Liberty goes into turn 3, and she'll clear Marshall by the time they get to turn 4! The #19 now leads at Sonoma!
#19 Radio: Excellent job Libby. Great pass.
"Thanks guys." The dachshund replied.
LAP 43/110 Leader: Liberty
#8 Radio: Pit this time Rocky. We're betting on a caution hopefully soon.
#99 Radio: In this lap Tracker.
Commentary: Here come a pair of Chevys to pit road. It's Rocky and Tracker, and they are betting on a caution for track position.
LAP 50/110 Leader: Liberty
Commentary: And other midfielders seem to be pitting as well, and we got a tire loose on pit road! I think it might be from Codi Gizmodi!
#38 Radio: Go go go! Shit, we lost a tire! Back up Codi! Back up!
"AUGHHH! DAMN YOU PEOPLE!" Codi shouted over the radio.
CAUTION
#19 Radio: Caution's out Liberty.
"What?!" Liberty asked, a bit shocked. "What's it for?"
#19 Radio: It's for a tire that got loose down pit road.
"Ha. They were that desperate for a caution." Liberty scoffed.
The cars who hadn't pitted yet would come down pit road and that would really scramble up the order with the top 10 being this: Rocky would be the leader with Rubble in 2nd, Arrby and Harold in row 2, Wheeler and Sweetie in row 3, Shade and Zuma in row 4, Tracker and Liberty, the first car with 4 tires, all the way down in 10th.
#8 Radio: You're biggest threat is the #19. She won't be there for a while, so try to build a gap Rocky.
LAP 54/110 Leader: Rocky
GREEN FLAG
Commentary: Green flag is back out, and the top 2 get an even start, but Rocky is able to clear Rubble into turn 2, and Liberty is trying to make something work with her new tires. She's up 2 positions already.
LAP 55/110 Leader: Rocky
Liberty was still trying to make up positions, but Rocky would actually take the stage 2 win, and the funny part was, Rocky didn't even know it.
#8 Radio: That's stage 2 in the books Rocky.
"Wait, really?" The mix asked. "I wasn't even focused on that, but I'll take it.
LAP 63/110 Leader: Rocky
Rocky had built a pretty sizable gap to Rubble, but Liberty had worked her way up to 3rd and was challenging the bulldog.
Commentary: It's taken a while, but Liberty is almost back into the top spot. Only two cars are left or pass for her, and she dives it into turn 11, and gets the move done easily!
#19 Radio: Game on Liberty. Next car is the #8.
LAP 69/110 Leader: Liberty
With a lot of patience and speed, Liberty was finally on the bumper of Rocky.
Commentary: She's waited, she's bided her time. Where will she make the move?! She dives into turn 7, and Rocky can't block her! Liberty goes back to the lead at Sonoma!
#19 Radio: You're on fire Liberty! Excellent job!
LAP 75/110 Leader: Liberty
With several cars pitting for their pit stops Liberty knew it was time to come in.
"I'm pitting this lap guys." Liberty told her team.
#19 Radio: We'll be waiting for you Liberty.
Commentary: She's gonna make her final pit stop of the day, Liberty said her car feels great, so no changes, and it's a tidy stop, 10.2 seconds and she's off and away!
Commentary: Great job. 35 laps to go Liberty. Just keep it on the road.
LAP 92/110 Leader: Liberty
Commentary: Trouble turn 12! Marshall has spun out by himself, and he hits the outside wall! The pole sitter was running 10th in this race, now out of this race, because the rear toe link looks badly damaged!
CAUTION
"I am so sorry guys. That is all on me." The Dalmatian apologized.
#11 Radio: Toe link is badly damaged. Take it to the garage Marshall.
LAP 93/110 Leader: Liberty
Everyone would come in for one final pit stop, except for Chase, Everest, and Ella. Chase was in desperation mode to win a race to lock himself in the playoffs.
#9 Radio: Chase, whatever it takes man. Go win this race.
LAP 97/110 Leader: Chase
GREEN FLAG
Commentary: 14 laps to go! Chase gets a good launch and he's two car lengths ahead of Everest, but here comes Liberty! She was 4th on the restart, and she passed Everest into turn 3! Liberty up to 2nd and she'll be hunting Chase down!
#19 Radio: You'll have plenty of time to catch him Liberty.
LAP 98/110 Leader: Chase
Liberty with her fresh tires was closing in, and closing in fast. And within a lap, the #19 was all over Chase's bumper.
Commentary: The leaders are coming through turn 6. Where will Liberty make the move? Into turn 7! She sends it! Nothing Chase can do! Liberty back in the top spot!
#9 Radio: Stay in it Chase. We can still get a good finish.
Later on in that lap, one of the front runners had major issues.
Commentary: Trouble in turn 11! One car is going very slow! It's Everest! The other half of the front row has issues as well! This is unbelievable!
"Flat tire guys! UGHHHH WHYYYY?!" Everest shouted in frustration.
#45 Radio: I don't know what to say Everest.
LAP 103/110 Leader: Liberty
Commentary: We got a car spinning in turn 7! It's Ella who was running 6th, now falls all the way down the order.
#12 Radio: Get it re-fired Ella.
"Sorry guys." Ella apologized.
LAP 110/110 Leader: Liberty
WHITE FLAG
Liberty had already built up a big gap over Rocky and she was cruising to the checkered flag.
Commentary: Once she got around Marshall early on, she has been the car to beat. As she comes out of turn 11, what a dominating performance by Liberty! Her second win of the season comes at Sonoma!
#19 Radio: Yes Libby! You did it!
"Yes! Come on guys! This is how every race should be like!" Liberty happily said. "Let's keep fighting this season!"
#8 Radio: Runner up position Rocky.
"Good call to come in during that pit stop before the caution came out. Thanks guys." Rocky replied.
#42 Radio: P26 Cricket. You did a good job for your debut. Liberty won the race, maybe that will cheer you up.
"Yeah. I'm sorry I wasn't better today guys. Congrats to Liberty, she deserved it." The Goberian spoke, trying to stay positive.
Liberty did her donuts for the fans and celebrated with her pit crew and felt so good in the moment. Reporter: Liberty, your second win of the season comes at Sonoma. Knowing you went winless last season, how are you feeling knowing you have multiple wins now? "It feels like an absolute blessing. Qualifying wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but we were able to get the lead and hold on to it! This #19 team fights every week and I couldn't be more happy with the car they gave me!" Liberty exclaimed.
RESULTS
1st #19 Liberty
2nd #8 Rocky
3rd #22 Rubble
4th #17 Rory
5th #9 Chase
6th #16 Wildcat
7th #34 Hubcap
8th #5 Ryder
9th #20 Skye
10th #1 Sweetie
11th #4 Zuma
12th #47 Wheeler
13th #41 Gasket
14th #24 Arrby
15th #48 Mayor Humdinger
16th #6 Shade
17th #23 Claw
18th #54 Coral
19th #3 Harold Humdinger
20th #7 Alex
21st #31 Leo
22nd #99 Tracker
23rd #77 Copycat
24th #51 Al
25th #2 Tuck
26th #42 Cricket
27th #21 Dwayne
28th #10 Duke of Flappington
29th #14 The Cheetah
30th #78 Ladybird
31st #12 Ella
32nd #43 Rex (-1)
33rd #45 Everest (-1)
34th #38 Codi Gizmodi (-1)
35th #15 Mix (-1)
36th #11 Marshall (DNF)