Checkered Flag by Chris Fabry Page A

one,” Dale said.
    â€œGood job staying clear,” T.J. said. “You’re in 12th position as it stands now, and when they clean these cars up, you may be even higher.”
    T.J. was right. Though Dale’s engine showed signs of running hot, a blistering-fast pit stop helped (they pulled the grille tape to help cool it off), and he moved into the top 10. There had been a number oflead changes, but Butch Devalon was on top now and leading the pack at the bottom of the track.
    At lap 166, T.J. came on the radio. “Unless you’re hearing voices about what to do, we’re going to be out of fuel soon.”
    â€œYeah, I’m thinking I need to come in for just fuel.”
    â€œYou sure you don’t want right-side tires?” T.J. said.
    â€œNo, they’re good. Let’s come in for enough to get us to the finish.”
    â€œYou got it,” T.J. said.

Chapter 26
Fire
    JAMIE GAVE A SIGH of relief when her dad got back onto the track after a fuel stop. There were several cars out of the race now, and 24 were on the lead lap. After a yellow flag for debris, all 24 started single file with Butch Devalon in the lead. Her dad had pulled out of line to pass earlier, and the wind resistance sent him back to 15th place.
    “Thought I was going to get a push back there from the #51,” her dad said on the radio.
    “We’ll get it back,” T.J. said. “Don’t try to be a hero out there. Let’s get a good finish.”
    Come on, Dad, Jamie thought. Sometimes he did things she didn’t understand. That move was a mistake a rookie would make. He’d seen an opening and moved out, not counting on the wind pushing him toward the back of the pack.
    Butch Devalon led them to the restart at lap 180, with just nine laps to go. At lap 183, three cars finally got out of line, trying to pass Devalon. Her dad moved out of line again, creating a middle lane, but this time four cars followed him. They were three wide now, and her dad was being pushed to the front, right next to Devalon and the line of cars on the outside.
    In turn four, the #16 car, the leader of the outside lane, zoomed ahead and took over the lead from Devalon, but neither Devalon nor her dad was giving up easy. Still three wide, #16 cut to the middle lane right in front of her dad.
    Jamie switched to the network coverage and found the announcer going crazy. “This is going to be an incredible finish,” he said. “The 24 cars on the lead lap are less than 1.5 seconds apart.”
    “And all 12 Chase contenders are right in there hoping they can get more points,” a commentator said.
    “Here comes Butch Devalon pushing ahead on the inside now to retake the lead.”
    “He’s not giving up.”
    “No, he’s not, and neither is the #16 and the #14 right beside him.”
    “You can bet Dale Maxwell is trying his best to push them forward so he can move over ahead of Devalon and get a push from him.”
    “With all that’s been going on between those two, he’s likely to get more than a push.”
    Jamie laughed and looked at Tim, who was into the race. He was leaning against the wall near the Maxwell team, watching intently. Her mom was on the war wagon, standing by the railing with Kellen right next to her, his hands balled into fists.
    “Whoa,” the announcer said.
    “Trouble!” another said.
    “There’s smoke coming from the #33 engine on the outside, and the caution flag comes out here on lap 186. What a bad break for that team here at the end of the 500 miles.”
    “Looks like we’ll get a green-white-checkered.”
    Jamie paced near the team. Her dad didn’t need more fuel. His tires were iffy. A few cars hit pit road, but the leaders stayed out, including her dad. When the green flag waved on lap 191, there were two laps to go. Her dad was on the outside, second car in line. Devalon led on the inside.
    The white flag flew, and as far as Jamie could tell, her dad was in third place—until the middle lane opened up and two