Tim and Neil were in the garage area, consulting with some crewmen. Before them stood two
racecars, a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Tim and a white-blue Pontiac Grand Prix for Neil. Even
motionless the two cars - numbered 25 for Tim and 75 for Neil - and the others deployed about the
vast area displayed the intimidation needed to race.
Harry came up to the two of them.
"Hey, Harry," Tim said.
"You guys running a 300 gear?"
"I'm running a 294," Neil said.
"I got a 296," Tim said. "Previous practice I thought I had two teeth too little."
"I got a 300 for Bobby," Harry said. "He and Fireball are getting some lunch. You all want
anything?"
"I could use some pizza right now," Neil said.
"Same here," Tim agreed.
"Is Julian still working on that Ford?" Harry asked.
"Last I saw, he was," Neil said. "But he won't race it until Mark gets here."
"And what about this new guy who's supposed to be here today?" Tim asked.
"What new guy?"
"Some kid, supposed to be nineteen or something. Beaty announced he'd be here."
"Who knows? I'll be right back."
As Harry left for the garage cafeteria, Tim and Neil did a quick final debrief for their crews, then
decided to join Harry, Fireball, and Isaac.
"Hey guys, wait up," came another voice.
"Hey, Davey," Neil said.
"There's some guy who just entered the garage," Davey said. "He's wearing a purple and greenish
driving suit, sponsored by Spree phonecards. There he is, over there. Seems kind of lost."
"That must be the new guy Beaty announced," Tim said.
The threesome walked over to the youngster wandering about the garage.
"Um," the stranger said. "Hi there. Are you Davey?"
"I am," Davey said.
"You must be Neil, sir."
"Yeah, I'm Neil."
"Are you Tim, sir?"
"I'm Tim."
"I think we've seen you before," Davey said.
"Um, my name is Adam. You all raced with my daddy and grandfather."
"Oh, now I remember," Neil said, brightening at recognizing the nervous youngster. "Kyle's
eldest. Last I saw you, you were only thirteen or fourteen."
"I think Kyle introduced me to you and your brother and sister a couple of times," Tim said.
"I've seen you a lot," Davey said.
"Yes sir," Adam said. "You all were some of the best to race in NASCAR. My father was
especially close to you, mister...."
"Call me Tim. Yeah, Kyle and I were pals. Free spirit, is Kyle. Your granddad and I kinda
clashed, though, but I think we got along overall. I raced for him a couple of times when he got hurt in
short track shows up in New England."
"I don't remember that much," Adam said.
"But what are you doing here?" Davey asked. "You're just a kid. You belong down there in
NASCAR."
"Well, I didn't want to leave, but I saw my great grandfather, and he said when it's your time, it's
your time. But I miss my mom, my dad, my grandfather, everybody. I really miss them a lot."
"Son, I know how you feel," Neil said. "It's always the hardest part. I miss Davey's dad, Red
Farmer, so many people."
"I miss my mom and dad, my sisters, my uncle Donnie, everybody," Davey said. "But I know I'll
see them again. You'll see your family again, too."
"Well, thank you," Adam said, still somewhat nervous. "They all miss you down there. Tim,
Earnhardt says he misses you everyday."
"Kid, I miss him even more," Tim said. "I had some run-ins with Billy France, but I know they
miss me as well. My mom's here, and that helps."
"But anyway," Neil said, "it looks like you've got the genes to win."
"I'm gonna try," Adam said.
"Well, it's practice first, then we qualify, then we race," Tim said. "But right now it's lunch, and I'm
hungry. Want some pizza?"
"Sure," Adam said. "Thank you."
Still munching on pizza slices, the foursome returned to the garage area about an hour later.
Adam then noticed someone who'd finished his lunch and was poring over a white and red Ford. It
was numbered seven.
"Aren't you Alan?" Adam asked as the man stood up.
"Yeah, I am," Alan said.
"I don't know if you remember me. My daddy and you raced each other and were good pals."
"Alan, this is Adam," Davey said. "Kyle's eldest."
"Oh, how do you do," Alan said. "I'm glad to see you. But what are you doing up here?"
"Well, I didn't exactly plan to come here so soon."
"He's still a little disoriented," Tim said.
"Yeah, that's normal. The first while is a shock. You'll get used to it," Alan said.
"But, Alan," Adam said. "Where's your crew?"
"Up here I don't need one."
"Alan, you almost didn't need one down there, either," Davey said.
"How do you do it?" Tim asked.
"I do my best," Alan said. "I did get some setup stuff from Christian. Isn't he helping out Julian
Martin?"
"Yeah," Neil said. "That car won't be run until his uncle Mark gets here."
"Hey! Break it up over there!" suddenly came from behind them. Looking back, the group saw
Beaty running for another stall.
"What's going on over there?" Tim asked.
The group followed Beaty and saw a scuffle between two drivers.
"That's my great grandfather!" Adam said.
"Lee, when are you and Tiny gonna stop this?" Fireball said as he helped seperate Lee and Tiny.
"Fireball, we wasn't hurtin' nothin'," Lee protested.
"Yeah, we were settling it ourselves," Tiny said.
"Tiny," Fireball said, "it's bad enough you still fight with Leeroy. Lee's only been here a short time
and you start on him too?"
"Guys," Beaty now interceded. "Leave it be."
"Great grandfather," Adam said.
"Adam," Lee said. "I saw Chris a short while back. Have you seen him yet?"
"No, not yet."
"I'm right here," Chris said.
"Chris!" Adam said. "I......"
"Don't say it, Adam," Chris said. "It was all my fault, not yours. Don't feel bad about it. Besides,
I got your car ready."
Adam then saw a Spree #45 Pontiac, sitting next to a blood-red #71 K&K Insurance Dodge.
"Oh, man," Adam said. "It's awesome."
"We got two more practices today to get it going," Chris said. "Then we have to go to
Jennerstown. Evans and Flemke are running with the Mods there tonight, then we got the ASA car for
Saturday night."
But then a gunshot rang out.
"Harry!" a now-exasperated Beaty said. "How many times have I told you? No guns in the
garage area! You've already put five bullet holes in the roof!" "I just wanted to m
ake my and Bobby's point to the official here," Harry said.
"Harry," Isaac now said. "You keep firing that thing and I'm gonna lose my hearing."
"Make your point after the race," Beaty said. "Come on guys, we gotta resume practice. Pocono
today, Talladega next week, Indy next, and so forth."
"Hey, Christian," Chris said. "You got a hot setup today?"
"Sure," Lovendahl said. "What about Bristol next month? That's your bag."
"I guess we gotta start practice, eh?" Adam said.
"Yep," Chris said. "By the way, how's Bodine doing? He dropped by for a quick word with his
dad, then he had to leave."
"He's great," Adam said. "Last I saw him, he ran great at Richmond."
"That's great. Come on, we gotta break in the gear."
They entered their portion of the garage as Fireball's #22 Pontiac led Tim's #25, Neil's #75, and
Davey's #28 to the track.
So Heaven's Association of Stock Car Auto Racing has welcomes its newest member.
