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When we walked inside,my husband was approaching the podium.

Pole Position –Jameson

Looking down at myspeech, my thoughts drifted to the season that got me here today and then thespeech again as I scribbled a few more notes.

Who am I on the outside? Am I a distant version or thesame within when clay meets rubber?

When the unforgiving sun and the blaring spotlightdistance me, the version within is who people really see.

Who I am and what I do is a power that only I possess.

I’ll be myself and they will see that it was me all alongracing on the edge.

Tossing the pen aside,I wiped my sweaty palms on my suit jacket.

I could do this butthen I looked at the paper folded in my hand again and realized that I hadn’twrote a speech at all, I’d written my season.

The introduction onstage drew my attention.

“He’s an Americanlegend in the making and a dirt track prodigy from the Pacific Northwest whohas taken his talent to the highest levels. Ladies and gentlemen, pleasewelcome your NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion, andRaybestosRookie of the Year, driver of the number nine Simplex Shocks and Springs Ford,Jameson Riley!”

I think I may be havinga panic attack. Yep, definitelya panic attack.

I tried taking in adeep breath to calm myself.

I’d won championshipsbefore but nothingthishuge. This was beyond words.

My heart poundedrapidly as I trudged toward the microphone, peering through the darkness intothe crowd. I started by speaking about the season and all the changes we had encountered.I joked with everyone in attempt to hide my nervousness. My eyes glanced overmy speech, or whatever it was I scribbled.

“I don’t even know whatto say here...I can’t believe this.For my first season in cup, it had its fair share of ups and downs and trialsand errors. I never thought I’d have the season I’ve had. I never thought I’dwin twelve races and the championship in my rookie season but I guess I did.” Ichuckled lightly peering down at my hands on the podium crumpling the edges ofthe paper. “I have to thank my dad, and car owner, Jimi Riley.” I lookeddirectly at him sitting on stage; he smiled and gave a tight nod. “Without youI wouldn’t have a car to drive but more importantly, when I told you what Iwanted to do for a living you never discouraged me. Mom,” she gave me aheartfelt smile choking back tears, her hands clasped over her mouth. “I...I couldn’t have asked for a moresupportive mother. You deservewaymore credit for having to put up withall of us but you really are the heart of everything we are.”

I noticed Spencer andSway had finally arrived. “Spencer, Emma, Alley, Tommy and Aiden...I love you guys and thanks for puttingup with my attitude and being a friend to me, even though I don’t always tellyou how much I appreciate you guys, I do. You have no idea how comforting it isfor me to have family around, reminding me of what is real and where I comefrom. I may be a champion now but inside I will always be that small town dirttrack racer from Elma Washington.” I heard Spencer scream from the table andpump his fists in the air. “I also have to personally thank the guys on mysprint car team as well—they are just as much a part of this even though theyare not personally on the cup team. Those guys, Tommy, Justin, Tyler...all you have to do is say the word andthey are there for you. Thanks you.

“Kyle, I’m amazedyou’ve stuck by me with the shit I’ve put you through and all my mood swingsthe last few years but you did. You provide our team with the direction andfocus to win. It took us a while to get the hang of each other, but when wedid, we were unstoppable.” I gestured toward the trophy. “I think that trophythere says it all. I know I can be difficult to work with,” I rolled my eyeswhen he arched his eyebrow. “...sothank you. Everyone at Riley Racing who comes to the track or those of you whoare behind the scenes, thank you. You’re the best. Tony, Harry, my grandpa whoprovides our engines, you guys put up with my inability to ever be satisfiedwith the car, which I know is a pain in the ass. Simplex Shocks andSprings, without you none of this would be possible. Thankyou so much for sticking behind us this year as our sponsor and sponsoring mysprint car team. The fans,thank you, without you guys, this sport wouldn’tbe what it is today.”

I looked toward Tateand Bobby. “Tate...you took a chance on asmug kid who smoked you on the track,” he laughed out-loud along with Bobby.“Thank you as well for knocking some sense into me at times.” Tate dipped hishead and clapped. “Bobby, you are one of the most magnanimous people I thinkI’ve ever met besides my mother. As a teammate, you’re the best there is and asa driver you’re incredibly talented. I’m lucky to have you to learn from.”

My head bowed taking ina deep unsteady breath, tears burning my eyes and the vulnerability I tried tohide was there for everyone to see and judge.

Don’t cry on nationaltelevision. Don’t cry.

“This season, after avery unfortunate event...” I drew in anotherdeep breath trying not to let the memories and images overtake me. “I set outdetermined to race the perfect season in an attempt to hide the pain I wasfeeling and prove that I could do it. Someone very special to me asked me towin, to be the kid she met when she was eleven. So for her, for myself, I puteverything else aside. I put that anger, that resentment I felt toward it intowinning.” I looked down at my feet, shifting my weight as I swallowed over theinsanely large lump in my throat. “Sway...mywife...” my voice cracked andI couldn’t help it any longer when my eyes finally looked up and met hers.

She was sitting there,her eyes focused on mine in the most beautiful black dress I’d ever seen her inbesides our wedding day. Her porcelain skin stood out in contrast to the blackand the mahogany of her hair. She smiled closing her eyes, her hands resting onour child inside her.

“Honey, you’ve beenthere for me since I was eleven and I never really thought about what thatreally meant to me until Daytona. I never thought I would ever get here but Idid, because of you and my family. When I left home at seventeen to pursue mydream—everyone thought I was just some wide-eyed kid with an attitude but I wasfar from that, because of you. Every time I’ve thought about quitting, it’sbeen you who has brought me back, showing me this is what I wasmeanttodo. You are my best friend. All of this was for you my beautiful girl. Thankyou...for everything.” I felttears slip down my cheeks as my hands fumbled with the podium. “I never thoughtthe day would come when I could finally call you my wife...but that day did come, and I canhonestly say you make me the happiest man alive. I love you.”

Breathing a sigh ofrelief, I looked out into the crowd as they clapped.

To me,this,was worth all those sacrifices racing on the edge.

I was a champion.