Page 40 of The Player Penalty
“Can you repeat?” I ask.
“One more lap. How’s the car?”
“Nice and tight. Wheels good.”
“It’s done. Stage two is yours. Boone asked me to pass on his congratulations.”
“Tell him thanks,” I say, not that I care. “Skipping pit road on the restart. Let’s get a few more laps out of this.
The entire field is playing it safe, which means there’ll be a giant scramble at the end. I’ll take my points, wins, and high place in the rankings. Sometimes, you need to concentrate on the long game.
“The 19 gaining on your right.”
Fuck the long game.
I move to block.
One more lap down, and the entire pack is still following along.
Call me the pied piper because a pack of children is behind me.
∞∞∞
“You had a good performance today.” Chris Williamson is a long-time staple in motorsports news, with his favorite being NASCAR. He’s been a fixture at every race since I started my career. He is a friendly guy who also enjoys going there with his questions. Chris hasn’t brought up my family this season, but that’s only because it isn’t finished yet. “A second stage win and most laps led in the race. You want to share your strategy?”
I smile. “It’s no secret. This is a drafting track, which makes fuel saving a big temptation. Once the opportunity came to take the lead, I went for it.” Lily appears over Chris’ shoulder, and my smile turns into a grin. She’s speaking with Pete, but she’s noticing me. “It paid off.”
“Your team has formed a partnership withBlack Castlethis season. Jake Knowles pushed you to victory once last season. Can we expect more of this same?”
“You know my rule. Race clean, and if there’s an opportunity to return the favor…” Hell, yes. He’s a good man. “Right now, I’m thinking about Martinsville next week and then a tire check in Texas the week after.”
“Tire compounds have been a contentious topic lately. You want to weigh in?” Chris’s friendly voice almost works. Every podcaster, half the drivers, and all of NASCAR has weighed in on this topic.
“Everyone still wants to know what happened at Bristol last season.” Tires lasted only forty or fifty laps before needing a change. It was chaos and some of the most joyful racing of my experience. “My opinion is simple; let us choose.”
Some drivers believe the cars are becoming increasingly uniform—the same power, the same tires, the same everything. Seeing what our engineers are pulling off this season, I’m not sure about that theory.
Yeah, I’m done with this interview. “Thanks for your time, Chris. See you next week.”
There’s a girl waiting for me.
Jake calls my name.
Dammit. “Can this wait until tomorrow?” I ask.
“Good racing. You are having a hell of a season,” he says.
I guess that compliment couldn’t wait. “The right crew can make a difference.”
“Can we talk about Matteo Diaz? That race is in a week, and I want your honest opinions.”
“He’s ready.”
“Got that. Sarah says we’re celebrating it.”
Lily is watching me. She’ll catch a ride home with her father if I don’t get to her in time.
“Yes, he deserves it. I gotta go.”
