Page 82 of Trading Paint

Jimi Riley’s son snags USAC Triple Crown title.

I had some work to do but still, I won the title.

It’s what I set out to do this season and I did. Next season I’d work on making these goddamn reporters aware that I had my own name.

13.Displacement – Sway

Displacement – A measure of an engine’s size. It’s the difference between the volume contained in the cylinders when the pistons are at the bottom of the stroke and the volume that remains when the pistons are at the top of the stroke.

I had one of those mornings where I didn’t want to move let alone wake up. But when I thought about the articles I wanted to read, I shot up with a renewed sense of motivation.

I found the daily newspaper. Smiling, I looked over the article a few times, my finger tracing over the title that read:

Kid from the West Coast outsmarts the Beasts from the East

Jameson Riley left home a few days after graduation to make the next race in the USAC Division. Having been competing since the season opener in March, he’d made all the races and managed to graduate high school. Don’t expect his dad to let him drive the team hauler to the races any longer but this kid proved he could battle all season with those fire-breathing beasts from the East.

We caught up with Jameson after the Silver Cup in Lernerville. When asked about his goals for this season he replied with “Well of course we want that Triple Crown”.

Some USAC drivers spend their entire lives trying to win a championship in all three of the USAC divisions, only two other drivers have ever done it at this point so what made the son of legendary World of Outlaw driver, Jimi Riley, think he had what it takes. “I’ve always had too much confidence,” Riley said after Summer Nationals in Williams Grove. “But I know what I want and well...I spend every chance I can in a race car preparing myself. I’m ready.”

And that he was. Jameson struggled in the early part of the season with engine troubles, and pushing a USAC official didn’t help his standings but he prevailed and won events like Oil City Cup, Knoxville Nationals and still came back to pull off wins in the USAC midget, sprint and silver crown divisions. He’s a dirt track prodigy from the passive Northwest but his talent hasn’t gone un-noticed where the heart of open wheel racing resides. Bucky Miers, USAC owner and World of Outlaw driver saw his talent back when he raced quarter midgets. “You know I was there when that kid first sat in a quarter-midget and I remember telling Jimi that kid of his would give him a run for his money someday.” Bucky said. “Now look at him. All I do is provide a car and that kid drives the wheels off it. There is nothing he can’t drive. I can give him a fifth place car and he’ll bring home a victory in it. That’s just Jameson.”

We asked Jameson what his plans were for the winter, you have to remember, he not only competed for the Triple Crown and won it by less than ten points over Justin West, he competed in numerous World of Outlaw events, and various winged-sprints and dirt late models, surely the kid needed a rest, right?

“Nah, I got Turkey Night planned and then it’s back to racing in February.” Riley told us in victory lane at Giant Speedway.

So what’s up for the new eighteen-year old Triple Crown Champion?

“Another Triple Crown?”

Riley laughs. “I don’t know, maybe. West was tough competition.”

I read it again. I couldn’t stop. All that hard work led him to the title he so desperately wanted and I was there to witness it.

We got into town late last night; Jimi flew us home on a private jet because god knows all of us just wanted to get home. I personally couldn’t wait to sleep in my own bed. Not that I minded sleeping next to Jameson every night because let’s be real, I did. I missed my bed though. I had a good bed, comfortable. I was also excited not to be riding around in a car.

I planned my morning out, decided to go for a run as soon as I got up, the road trip did nothing for my ass.

Taking a fist full of it in the mirror, I admired my tan. I looked good, just with a few extra pounds.

Charlie was finally up when I bound down the stairs. He smiled, I smiled and then I lunged for him wrapping my arms tightly around him. We had talked every few days or so but I hadn’t seen him since the morning I left in June; it was now a week before Thanksgiving.

“You’ve grown up!” he said with wide eyes.

“Is that your way of saying I got fat.” I questioned arching an eyebrow at him.

“No Sway, it wasn’t.” he moved to sit down at the kitchen table pushing a plate of cookies toward me I was sure he didn’t make. “What’re your plans today?”

“Nothing much,” I sat down beside him toying with a cookie before taking a bite of one. I then thought about my run, spit the cookie out on the plate and said, “I will be going for a run today.”

Charlie chuckled. “You free for dinner tonight?” he picked up the paper, thumbing to the sports section to read the article about Jameson.

“I don’t have any plans per se, you?”

“Just thinking that maybe we could go to dinner together.”

I looked down at the paper in front, shocked to see the photograph they used. It was the one of me kissing him after the race. My brow furrowed as I examined it, scrutinizing it carefully for any sign he might have felt something. He was still inside the car and I was strained inside his wingless sprint, my chest pressed against the side. He had just taken his helmet off, his hair was a mess, eyes closed and to my surprise, he was leaning into the kiss, one gloved hand touching the side of my face.Hmmm.

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