Wednesday, January 12 – Tulsa Expo Raceway
"We both have a day off from doing anything, and you're leaving me?" Alex questions, still in total shock as Chase double checks he had everything he needed.
"Is it wrong to want to experience the slopes just a little bit?" Chase offers, as he takes his phone off the charger, placing it in his pocket. "You know yourself that once we both get back to North Carolina, it's going to be full throttle busy till the season starts and I won't get a chance to snowboard. I would like to at least get a couple runs in before then."
"I was looking forward to spending today together..." Alex then reaches out, clutching Chase's hand with his own, pulling him close, erasing the distance between them. "I thought we could have some fun together."
"You could just come with me." Alex lets out a sigh, shaking his head no as he knew that was impossible. When it came to the Chili Bowl, he wasn't about to miss a single night of the action – or fun to be had afterwards at the party. After all, these were people that he didn't get to see a lot, most times just a couple times a year. He also knew it'd be rude to skip Jason McDougal's night on-track after all the help he had given the team. "Besides, it's only a single day. I promise that I will be back tonight and then you can have me all to yourself."
"You know that's a dangerous thought, right?" A smirk forms on Chase's face as he brushes a light kiss on Alex's lips.
"Let the thought carry you through the day as you look forward to what I have planned for you tonight." Chase then untangles Alex's hand from his own, heading out the door as Alex lays back on the bed.
He knew he'd be needing a cold shower before heading to the track as his mind could only wonder about what was possible when they were reunited that night.
Once he got to the track and the action began that night on-track, though, he had no time to think about what he and Chase had planned.
After all, he found himself in the midst of Rowdies, surrounded by his ABR teammates, cheering on their crew chief. Jason was also making their time worthwhile, putting together one of the most impressive drives of the whole weekend in going seventh to first in his heat.
"I don't think he wants to play the soup game again this year," CJ comments, to which Alex shakes his head no.
He couldn't believe the run through Jason put together in 2021, though, remembering how he went from the H-Main to the D-Main, only to be taken out in the final stages. it the talent behind the wheel then, along with other events, which conversations began in having Jason help turn the wrenches behind the scenes for ABR.
The momentum carried into the qualifier, as Jason put together another equally impressive run in going from sixth to score the victory, easily giving him the most points and pole for the main.
"He's rolling even better than we've seen Bell or Larson," Alex comments, very impressed as he was looking forward to seeing what Jason had up his sleeve for the feature that night. It'd be nice to see one of them lock their way in through preliminary night for a change.
Starting on pole for the main event, Jason was able to break out to the early lead, holding a healthy advantage over the field. However, that faded away quickly in the second half, as he was passed for the top spot by Rico Abreu. He then continued to fall back as he struggled with the handling, ultimately scoring a fifth-place finish.
"It was literally too good to start the event," he comments afterwards as they stand by the car reviewing over the night. "Once the track transitioned, I just had nothing for them up high as it got too bouncy."
"I wonder if we have too much rear-end rebound in the set-up," Jake offers, knowing that he had experienced the same thing the night before with his performance.
"Does that make me your guinea pig tomorrow night?" CJ wonders, to which the group chuckles together. Considering the solid run through the whole week to date, it was just now about getting CJ in a similar situation and they'd be fine come Saturday afternoon.
"I don't think we have to worry about you not making it," Alex comments, confidence laced in his voice as out of the group, CJ had the most talent behind the wheel of a midget in his opinion.
The group wound up that night at the same bar they had attended the past two nights, with Alex being joined by his fellow HMS teammate later onto the evening. Once Chase was back from his mini trip, Alex made sure to excuse himself from the group as quickly as possible, knowing he wanted to make good on the promise made before Chase left that morning.
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Thursday, January 13 – Tulsa Expo Raceway
"You should come watch the races with me," Alex offers as they head to the track that morning together, following a quick trip through the Starbucks drive-thru for his coffee.
"Wouldn't that be a little obvious?" Chase wonders, to which Alex shakes his head no. It wouldn't be the first time he had hosted someone from the NASCAR world at a dirt event, knowing others had been curious about the dirt endeavors.
"You are just there hanging out as a friend of mine, which people know we're friends being teammates. With Kyle not racing today, you decided to come out with my group in wanting to continue your dirt education." Chase had to smirk as he was quite impressed with the reasoning, knowing it'd be something anybody would understand. It made even more sense considering Kyle had made the trip back to North Carolina for the day to do some photo shoots for Hendrick that couldn't be postponed.
"I think you know that I can't pass up a fun time with you, no matter the reason." Alex couldn't help but smile, knowing the thoughts they were both having and wondering if there was a spot they could hide in the trailer if need be without being spotted by any of the crew.
The fun had to wait, though, as Alex went into total focus on the midget mode as soon as they got inside the track, ready to make good on the promise in getting CJ where he needed to be for Saturday.
Chase couldn't help but stand on the sidelines, watching and admiring every step of the action. It was amazing how Alex took charge, ensuring everyone was in line. It was great how he had everybody in sync focused on the task at hand. He also couldn't lie about admiring a man who worked on hard on his own stuff, focusing on the hands as Alex did the final bolt check on the car.
CJ started off the night good, just as each of them had been able to the nights before, driving his way from seventh to third in the heat. Everybody knew that'd give him solid points to hopefully put him into the main with a good run in the qualifier.
CJ made good on that, as well, making a pair of passes in the qualifier to go from fourth to second. It wasn't the great run through the field they had witnessed the night before from Jason, but it set him up solidly for the main with a sixth-place starting spot.
"Be smart, catch the transition at the right time, and be smooth," were the words of advice from Alex to CJ as he rolled out, repeating the thought process they believed could have been successful in the nights prior.
Once he was out there for the main event, CJ made his way up to the third spot methodically in the first half of the event, putting himself in position. He then began to close the gap to the top-two as Christopher Bell and Tannor Thorson battled it back and forth for the victory. He caught the tail of Tanner, making the dive underneath, though unable to clear him. CJ kept making runs as the laps closed to the checkered, ultimately coming up short with a third.
"I should be happy, but I'm pissed too," Alex comments, catching Chase's attention as they walk back to the trailer afterwards. "That's the best run of the weekend. We also haven't done a podium like ever down here. But yet to come that close to locking in and miss it sucks."
"CJ didn't have it easy with Christopher and Tanner," Chase comments as they head inside the trailer together. "That was very impressive to be able to hang with them." Alex nods his head, knowing that's why he wasn't trying to be upset about coming up just short.
"I think if he wouldn't caught the berm there, he may have had Tanner." Chase nods his head in agreement, but it was all a game of inches and there was nothing you could do. Instead, he found himself wanting to make the boss feel better.
"He's going to be golden Saturday starting on the front row (of the B-Main)." Chase then closes the gap between them in the trailer, pinning Alex against one of the walls. "You did a great job, boss. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Chase, what if someone walks in?" Chase glances around, knowing they were in a corner not able to be spotted from outside of the trailer. They had also made their way back pretty quickly compared to everyone else, too.
"We've got time, trust me. they're all focused on celebrating and everything..." he then leans in, brushing his lips across Alex's. "Besides, I couldn't admire you any longer without getting a taste to hold me off till later."
"Are you saying that you have something in mind?" Chase then reaches his hand down Alex's pants, stroking his cock lightly, causing a light moan to escape the man's lips.
"Let's just say that someone deserves a reward for all the hard work he's put in this week." Alex found himself melting at the touch, only able to nod his head in return as he couldn't find the words. "I'll let you think about that as a motivation to ensure we get back in a timely matter tonight."
"The boys will lost in their fun so I am sure we can have plenty of our own." The pair then share another quick kiss, before making their way out of the corner, opening the cupboard to pull out the cooler full of beer, knowing everybody would be looking for it.