For the love of racing book 1: dirty love

My life has never been simple but I like to keep moving. Both on and off the track I’m know for living my life in the fast lane. Me and my sister Ellie grew up on a small town in western New York. Our father used to bring us to the races and when he bought his own car I would help him work on it.

Tragically 4 years ago my father passed in a tragic off track accident. The pain of losing him was crippling. I had to become the man of the house. My mother and Ellie needed me, the racing community needed me.

Ellie’s best friend Shelby helped her stay grounded when dad died. She also knew how to put me in my place. But I do have to say when I put my first car together to go to the track she was right there in the stands with Ellie watching every weekend.

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Ricky’s pov

“Hey are u coming to the track tonight” I ask Shelby who was currently camped out on our couch.

“Have I ever not? Who is going to keep your sister from ripping her hair out” she says not taking her eyes off the tv. “Ricky I don’t know why u chose this sport knowing how dangerous it is”. She hated the way my sister gets when I race.

“I am just keeping on the legacy of my father and I just happened to be good at” she doesn’t even look my way.

“That’s not the point! Your family would not be ok if something ever happens to you don’t u get there. When your father died it took Ellie months to even talk. What do you think will happen if something happens to you”

She is not wrong when dad died Ellie basically became a mute. She stopped talking and doing things she loves. She quit playing basketball she was in line to get a scholarship and she threw it all away.

“I race smart I am not going to let anything happen to me” I say. She just shakes her head and goes back to watching her show.

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Me and the girls pack up and head to the track. I drop them off at the main gate where they can go sit in the stands and I go check in.

My guys already had the car out of the trailer and we’re going through pre race checks.

“Hey Ricky you ready to bring home the big W for the first time” Ian my best friend likes to poke at me about not having won a race yet. I moved up a class 2 years ago and I was still chasing that first win.

“You know it, how’s she looking” I step up next to him he is checking tire pressure.

“Yup she is purring like a kitten. Let’s bring her home with a trophy tonight”

“I will try my best”

Pre race starts we get the drivers meeting and warm up out of the way. Strapping in for my heat race and saying a prayer is always a must. I start 6th out of 7 cars not impossible to get up to the front but it could be better.

At the drop of green I take off passing a few cars but then it happens. My worst nightmare I lost control tagging the wall and next I know I’m seeing the ground hurdling towards me.