Gearing Up

Roger's P.O.V.

As I wake up washed my face, brushed my teeth freshened my breath with Scope peppermint blue mouthwash,changed my street clothes (Dark blue t-shirt, blue jeans and black Nike Court Vision low) I put my other street I wore yesterday in the luggage bag as I got my bags ready went down the elevator checked out then I get in my Dodge Charger turned the radio on and I'm on my way to Kansas City, Missouri hours later I'm in Nashville, Tennessee made a quick stop to get breakfast I went to Waffle House and ordered classic waffles with a side of bacon and coffee i paid for it so I ate my breakfast and drank my coffee then got back in the car and finally came back in Kansas drove to my apartment so I turned the engine off and popped the trunk and grabbed my bags then closed it and went upstairs looked under the welcome mat and grabbed the key and unlocked the door went inside then closed the door turned on my stereo and played music started reading a book, did some push ups, sit upside down chin ups, did the jump rope boxer skip, and ran on the treadmill after that I looked diecast Richard Petty car collection first I looked the Richard Petty Driving Experience cars then looked the diecast of Richard Petty's original number 43 race the 1970 Plymouth Superbird later in the afternoon I ate some lunch while watching TV later in the later I dropped by mom and dad's house we have a good conversation watching football had dinner after that went back to the my apartment I said "I'm so bored. If there's only a call from NASCAR." Until I got text they said "I heard you won your first race last week there's a race car driver waiting for you in the morning his name Kenny Wallace. he'll help you get your skills up in becoming a NASCAR driver." I felt excited I said "Finally some action." so the next morning I grabbed my bags and leave the apartment get in my car and drove back to Daytona Beach and arrived to the speedway I went my locker room I noticed there's a racing uniform and helmet I look at the uniform it had a Richard Petty Driving Experience logo on the front I began to smile because I'm about to be part of the Driving Experience of my favorite NASCAR driver so I put on the racing uniform grabbed the helmet exit the locker room and walk to the garage and I look and I see Kenny Wallace at the garage I said "Hey, Kenny!" Kenny says "So, there you are. Well, I've been hearing all about you. You think you have what it takes." I nodded my head yes Kenny says "All right, well,let's put you in the Richard Petty Driving Experience car for me, Kenny Wallace. Here's what we're going to do we're going put you through some different sencarios. And if you have what it takes I'm gonna offer you a contract so you can move up." I nodded Kenny says "All right. Drive hard, tighten those belts and let's see if you have what it takes." I nodded one last time and walked to the Richard Petty Driving Experience Dodge Charger I was so excited to drive a car that has Richard Petty's name, autograph and legendary number 43 even there is a circular picture of Richard Petty himself that almost look like a quarter on it I said in my thoughts 'Oh, yeah. This is definitely the real deal.' I climb in the car making sure I don't hit my head I put the window net up put my seatbelts on and tightened them and secured the steering wheel and then I start the engine and began revving it I smiled under my helmet and said in my thoughts 'Damn, this car is a beast.' I shift the gear in reverse and backed up out the garage then shifted the gear in drive and I said to myself "It's showtime." I drove into the race track my primary objective is to qualify for the contract to become a full time NASCAR race car driver all I had to put down the first lap and failure is not an option I don't want to disappoint my family and I cannot drive recklessly the best way to go for gold is the reach the finish line in 47 minutes as I'm back at the Daytona International Speedway already on a rolling start as I speed across the speedway already going at 190 miles per hour as I passed the first and final lap I kept going as I reached the finish line and won a gold medal what I didn't know was the same 25 year old girl from yesterday was at the stands watching me the later that night as I'm now at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina the time for gold is 32 minutes and 500 seconds as I'm in a Richard Petty Driving Experience pickup truck only the number on it was 126 it was my first time ever driving a truck on NASCAR as I sped across the track and won gold the second time as the next day at the Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia this time in a Richard Petty Driving Experience Whelen Modified car with the same 126 number I almost had a hard time with it because the track was tricky but I won the gold again as I'm now back in Daytona this time at the infield as the last qualification race as I'm back in the Dodge Charger race car I make a few turns making sure I don't hit the wall and scratch the paint as passed the first lap and did the same way as I went reached the finish line and won the final gold medal as I drive back to garage drove inside then turned off the engine places the steering wheel on the dashboard loosened and took off my seatbelts took down the window net and climbed out of the car I looked at the car I said to myself "God, I love that car." I walk and see Kenny with a piece of paper I said "Yo!" Kenny says "Hey, great job, man. Good times, good laps. All right, I'm more and more impressed. You're moving up to the NASCAR Busch series, good job." I was happy I finally became a full time NASCAR race car driver I said "Thanks, Kenny. I really appreciate it." Kenny says "No problem." We shook hands and I exit the garage on foot I jumped and raised my arm in victory I said "YES!!!! I DID IT! I'M IN THE NASCAR SERIES!!! WOO HOO!"

As I'm added to NASCAR NNS series which is the Busch series as I an e-mail by my agent named Ace Moneymaker it says 'Welcome to the NASCAR NNS Series. Your results in the qualifiers have left you just a hairs breadth away from the NEXTEL Cup and that trophy. boost your skill classes quickly enough and you may be just a couple of sessions of calling it yours.' had another one it was about precision it says 'This is how cleanly you race. Passing cars without hitting a wall or another vehicle will net you point here.' I said "I know how to race cleanly since the first race." The third message was about charisma it says 'This is your talent for turning heads on the track. Bump drafting, making allies and rivals, blocking other cars, and drafting your teammates are all showy enough to earn you points here.' I said "Interesting." The fifth message was about experience 'This class fills up slowly, with a few points for each race you attend. Speed things up by showing real driving skill: Race three or more cars wide.' the sixth message was about race strategy 'This covers your ability to negotiate your way to the top. Making rivals and allies will boost your points, though the biggest boost comes from making it to the top 10.' the seventh message was about skill class: on the charge 'This is your skill at working through the pack. Passing cars will net you points, particularly if it's a clean pass. Share draft or intimidate the other racers for over a minute to get a big boost, or share draft with your teammates.' I said "Good advice." And the eighth and last message about another skill class this time about front running 'This is your ability to take and hold the lead in a race. Boost it by taking first place and staying there, especially if you lap cars in the process.' I said "Thanks for the long tips, Ace." so I signed the contract for Richard Childress Racing and I'll be driving the BB&T bank Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS number two in the NASCAR NNS/Busch Series and for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series I signed for Bill Davis Racing and I'll be driving the Toyota Tundra race truck number five and the clauses are to get a top five placing every three races and that'll do fine. they still do expect a top 25 placing for each race and duration is 22 races which just how I like it do signed the contract got an e-mail from Ace again this time about the contract I signed it says 'Welcome to NASCAR! Regardless of what series you have been inducted into, becoming the NEXTEL CUP champion should be your ultimate goal.' I said "That is my number one goal to achieve." I read the second message was from Bill Davis Racing and it says 'We're a team that likes careful and accurate drivers. Careful enough to keep their cars working and accurate enough to make their way through the pack. Keep those points in mind and you'll do fine here.' I said "Thanks for the heads-up." for the Richard Childress Racing contract clauses they want a top 15 placing within three races, it's just that simple share some draft as well 20 seconds over three races should do the trick and the duration is 28 races which is not a bad count so I signed the contract got an e-mail from Richard Childress Racing it says 'We aren't like a lot of teams out there; we like our drivers to be more careful on the track. Less aggressive. Your agent persuaded us that you can fit the bill. We look forward to seeing you in action.' I said "Thanks I'll be sure not to be reckless." as nighttime comes at the Daytona International Speedway as I'm in Toyota Tundra race truck in my racing uniform the crew chief says "Okay, here we go." as the race begins with a rolling start as me and other racers pass the starting line the flagger waves a green flag the crew chief says "Green, buddy! Go! Go! Go!" I pass some of the rival racers as I'm currently in 12th place the crew chief says "You're all clear, kid. let's push it." as I pass more racers I'm in 8th place passed more racers The crew chief says "Still hanging on." as I kept going the fans cheer even my mom and dad are watching my dad "Come on, Roger! You got this, kid!" As I pass more racers I'm in the lead now I have to hold on to it making none of the racers don't pass me even though they're gaining on me right on my tail even on the straightway two racers almost passed me but I got the lead back with eight laps to go as I keep going while at the audience the 25 year old girl watches as it's now the ninth lap still ahead of the pack with more laps passed and still ahead of the others racers going over a 100 miles per hour the fans are more impressed as I kept until the crew chief says "Caution's out!" The flagger waves a yellow flag I slowed down it was the number 180 Craftsman truck it crashed on the side so the driver got a DNF so the crew chief recommended that I pit so I took a pit stop got the front and back tires replaced and gas filled up as we the racers follow the pace car after the pace car leaves the race restarts the flagger waves the green flag the crew chief says "Green flag! Let's go!" We passed the starting line it's now lap 16 crew chief says "Okay, buddy 10 laps to go." as I'm still in the lead as the K&N truck driver Travis Kvapil is right behind me as I try to get away from him as I needed my personal space crew chief says "Right rear is getting worn, take it easy out there!" I noticed the K&N still trying to catch me crew chief says " The left rear is getting worn." as this was a long race still in first place 3 more laps to go now the K&N truck driver Kvapil right beside me now we're neck and neck to get to be in the lead but I cut him off 1 lap later it's now the final lap as the flagger waves a white flag I noticed the pack is catching from the rearview mirror but still leading went through turn 4 500 yards remaning i said "Almost there." and crossed the finish line and won the race crew chief says "That's it! You won the race! Great job, kid!" I said "Thank you!" Race announcer 1: And that's end of the race and Roger Allen is the winner!" mom and dad applauded and cheered ad the cheered even the girl applauded she said in her thoughts 'I think I should talk him after he celebrates his victory.' as I celebrate my victory doing the same as I did last time this time with a truck after at victory lane I get interviewed then I went to the locker room and took a shower and put on some fresh clothes (Black button down shirt, blue jeans and put my Nike sneakers back on) I packed my bags until I hear a knock on the door I said "Yeah, come in." The 25 year old girl came in she said "Hi." I said "Hey." The girl said "You're the pit crew member that now turned into a famous race car driver?" I said "Yeah, that's me, Roger Allen." The girl says "Roger Allen, cool name I'm Hailee Steinfeld." I said "Nice name. very awesome to meet you." Hailee says "Likewise, what made you volunteer to become a NASCAR driver?" I said "I wanted follow my dreams of becoming a NASCAR driver to prove I'm best since my father taught me to drive. Since one of the racers quit I decided to be the replacement. So hopped in the car and got on the track and won." Hailee says "Interesting." after we had our Q & A conversation even told her how Richard Petty became my favorite NASCAR driver and told her about driving in the Richard Petty Driving Experience Dodge Charger after that I said "Well, I gotta run I hope to see you again soon." Hailee says "Sure, let me give you my number." she gives me her phone number I said "Thanks." Hailee says "All right, call me if you want to talk." I said "Okay I'll call you." Hailee leaves grabs my bags and leave the racetrack and went to the different hotel and get some sleep hoping the next race will be exciting next week

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