Unchartered Waters ✅

Chapter 32: A Clock for The Hack

Alex's POV

Sunday, October 31 – Martinsville Speedway

This car is fast – like really fast. I actually cannot believe how much speed we have. Okay, maybe I can. I mean, Greg and I have certainly improved our short track program this weekend to where I actually snagged a win at Richmond, believe it or not. But to run good at Martinsville? Now there's a surprise.

It was surprising to see the steady progress, and I was surprised when he came over the radio and said, "Welcome to the top-five." Of course, seeing Chase, Kyle, and William up there before me answered all the questions to the speed. It seemed I wasn't the only special quick HMS car today as Kyle led early, and Chase was dominant since.

The only thing that entered my mind was the tease from Chase, but I had to forget about that. There was a job to do here. It did almost distract me on a restart, though, as I chuckled to myself in lining up alongside him on the front row. I teased him about battling for the win, but was shocked it was happening.

Was the guy everybody thought sucked on the short tracks actually knowledgeable now?

The late-race shuffle set the stage, though, as Denny wound up ahead of Brad, and then the pair of us. I was actually shocked when Greg said Kyle sped on pit road. He's not one to make mistakes as normally that was Denny's drill.

With how strong Chase was all day, the speed he showed last year, and a determination to get into the Championship 4, I felt he'd be the one leading us all to victory – and I was fine by that. A smile on his face was always night, and this was about getting a title for the team. Besides, a strong top-five run would be a great turnaround considering how shitty we've been running lately.

Though the previous run, it was weird. It was like he started to fall on his face. Did Alan really screw up the car that much on adjustments? Okay, I know it's easy to do as Greg and I seemed to have mastered that for a couple weeks straight. These cars like to get temperamental. However, it was easily able to tell as I closed the gap before pit stops, and even on this restart. How was Brad all over his ass?

Then it happened. Chase went in the corner and tried to come down to pin him down, but Brad came up a bit at the very same time. A tap, contact, and around he went.

"Shit!" I said in the car, ensuring I didn't hit the button on the steering wheel as I did so.

That was absolutely not what I wanted to see happen. He had been fast all day, pacing over 200 laps. He's going to be pissed and frustrated, and he is my ride home. Oh, and you know that won't make for good company, either.

"The 9 is locked in," Greg tells me, which obviously is a sigh of relief. I knew he had a good advantage leaving Texas as we spoke about that in the meeting this past week. However, anything can happen so reassurance helps in knowing, but at least the frustration will be tempered. "The 2 is desperate as he has to win to get in with how the 19 and 18 are running. The 11 can make it on points if he doesn't win."

"I think we have a good shot here so let's focus on us," I reply back, though already knew the task at hand – ensure the 2 doesn't win. That'd be the perfect revenge by forcing him to watch Chase battle for a title next week.

Ensuring my way ahead of Brad – simple, and easy. It seems he burned his stuff up trying to play dice with Denny and Chase. I almost wanted to send him around when he tried to cut down on me, too, but knew that may not bode well. That's not how I usually race so it's not in character, and if it doesn't work, you know he'd be sending me and he knows how. There's also the fact that I don't think Chase may be pleased by me handling his business.