Smokin' & Spinnin' by Andrea Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

area who looks to be in his fifties, too—“he oversees Ryan’s car and any adjustments or repairs that need to be made to it during the race. Throughout the race, Ryan will have to bring the car into pit for gas and new tires. And sometimes any other adjustments the car may need. So, you can hear what is going on between these three major components.” Ben smiles as he completes my mini NASCAR lesson.
    When I finally catch my breath, I take the headset, place it over my ears, and adjust the volume. The radio crackles to life, and I can hear Ryan going through a serious of checks with his crew chief, Bobby, as forty-four cars make their way down pit road and onto the track. As the green flag falls, the cars roar to life again. I can feel a slight anxiety build up in my chest, or maybe it is nervousness. Whatever this feeling is, it is foreign to me.
    The laps go quickly as the cars speed around the track at upward of 195 miles per hour. Watching the race in person is a hell of a lot different than watching it on television. This is actually exciting, watching the cars sweep into the curves and fire down long straightaways. The speeds alone are thrilling. I listen as Bobby calls the lap speeds out to Ryan. Into the last corner, Ryan accelerated to 210 miles per hour.
Wow!
    Halfway through the race, Ryan radios into Bobby. “There is a problem with the car since the last pit stop,” he says anxiously.
    “What?” Bobby spouts back.
    “The car is good through the straightaways, but it is really tight in the corners. I am having a hard time holding it down.”
    I look down into the pit area to watch Bobby as he responds, “Well…fight it until a caution comes up or until the next stop! We can’t lose track position.”
    Ryan comes unglued. “What? The next caution will be courtesy of me slamming into the wall!”
    I watch as Bobby throws his hands in the air. “Well…I guess you are going to have to work for it today. I will make a track bar adjustment when you come in! Stop whining and concentrate, Goddamn it!”
    I wince at Bobby’s harsh expletive. It must have taken Ryan by surprise, too, because he doesn’t say another word.
    The track conditions are excellent, as is the weather. The laps start to count down. I keep waiting for an accident as the stock cars battle for position. The cars go three, sometimes four, wide through the back straightway. After the last pit stop, Ryan has not complained about the car being tight; however, he has been unable to get good track position thanks to an accident mid field. I can tell from his actions on the track that he is trying desperately to gain positions. Ryan chases the eighth-place car into turn four in an attempt to gain another position, but he eventually runs out of racetrack. He manages to pull his car across the finish line and take the checkered flag in ninth position.
    The whole team is excited since this is Ryan’s highest finish all season. Ben jumps up from his seat. “’Bout damn time!”
    I laugh as I follow him down off the pit box. I walk over to the garage where Ryan pulls his car in. The whole team rushes over to congratulate him. I watch from the side as he takes off his helmet and racing gloves inside the car. Several reporters are clamoring for a comment on his season’s best finish. This is where my job comes in. I step over to Ryan as he climbs out of the car. Immediately, I can tell he is pissed.
    “Whitney! Deal with them! I don’t have a comment!”
    “Ryan!” I exclaim. “What is wrong? That was a great finish!”
    Ryan turns back to me. “Do what I fucking said!” And he stalks away. Sweet Jesus!
    I turn back to the reporters, who thrust microphones into my flushed face. “I am sorry, but Ryan does not want to be interviewed at this time.” I apologize profusely.
Third time today!
I am getting good at this. It seems as though expressing regret is going to be at the top of my job description.
    The reporters retreat, and I realize