It was ten past noon and Michael was started to get the jitters. The race was supposed to start ten minutes ago, but some last minute haggling over the payout was pushing things back.  Heat was rolling of the asphalt in waves, and a half dozen idling engines wasn’t helping any.  Michael avoided helmets whenever he could, he knew they made it safer but he felt like it cut his peripheral vision down.  They were running an Eclipse today, the engine had been beefed up to three hundred horse’s but there were two skylines in the field, as well as a supra.
The deals stopped and Frank signaled with a thumbs up, but Michael wasn’t watching.  His attention was focused forward.   The heavy weights were behind him, banking their cars could afford them a lower buy in.  Poll was a new guy Frank said something about him running good down south but that could have just been talk.  He was a running a Miata, and from the look of it, it was stock. Every few races someone would try and enter thinking beating a Taurus off the line was the same as a race.
Michael forced his attention back to the car in front of him.  It was Toyota, and had at least a few upgrades.  He would have to watch the gas out the gate, a flag was raised and ever driver started to top out the RPM’s  Keeping it cool Michael built the RPM’s up slowly and waited for the flag too drop.  It was a blonde, she was probably with Turetto he liked to get his arm candy into the act.  Her face was plastered with a big smile as her arm stretched the flag into the sky.  She was spinning it in circles,  her shirt was cut short and had started to ride up.
As she held her stance the drive in front of Michael finally gave way and peaked his head out the window.  Michael cocked his wheels to the right and was ready to take the inside line.  She slammed the flag down and before the Toyota realized it Michael had moved beside him and moving into second.  The Miata started falling back as soon as the race started, hell of a way to spend four grand.  Michael pulled into first and stayed to the inside line
A glance to the mirror and he knew there was going to be trouble the Supra had gotten a bad start, but the two skylines and shot out of the gate like a cannon. And were already close to his tail as he approached the first turn and started to brake.  The first skyline broke too late and over shot the turn, but the second didn’t he keep close and fell in line right behind Michael.  The eclipse could corner and He knew his only chance at winning was getting out of the corner faster and blocking.
Pushing into the gas harder Michael was able to gain a bit of ground but the back tires started too come lose, and before he knew it they were rocketing out of the corner, the skyline kept it’s line and pulled out of the turn behind him. Once out of the turn Michael stopped hesitating and slammed the gas down giving it all he could.   The skyline stayed in line behind him and followed his line through the chicane.  The skyline was playing smart no reason to fight for first now they had five laps to run, Michael just hoped he could hold him off that long.
As they approached the Second Turn Michael could see the supra gaining ground pulling the other skyline with it.  But he couldn’t think about them right now, flying into the turn faster then he should have Michael lost the back wheels and started to skid, it only lasted a sec if even that but it was all the skyline needed to pull a head.  Slipping in behind it Michael was forced to accept second as the hit the third.
He kept reminding himself that he had four laps but all he could see was that supra.  The other Skyline kept falling back at every turn.  The driver must be used to the drag strip, and Michael was starting to wonder how he ended up in the little Nissan but that wasn’t important right now as the supra pulled into line behind him.
Beating the supra on the start finish wasn’t an option, same with the skyline. The supra stayed in line behind him as they exited turn four pulled to the inside.  Michael waited for it to pass him and pulled in behind him, hoping to draft his way to the front.
As the crossed the line the Supra began to pull away but just as quick it had too get into the brakes approaching the first turn.  Michael made his move and it paid off he took the outside line and pulled around the Supra, the skyline had just exited the turn and was almost three car lengths ahead as he accelerated out.  The supra keep a tight line in the turn and slipped in right behind Michael.  A quick glance in the mirror and he smiled, the Supra wasn’t happy and the driver was showing it.
The supra let his anger slip him a car length and that stretched to two as they entered the Chicane. Michael took it faster than wanted but was able to hold the car and gain on the skyline in the lead. Maintaining his speed as long as he could into turn two Michael cut the distance down too half a car.  The skyline was driving hard and pushed it going into turn three, the back tires gave out and he started to slide to the outside.  Michael moved to the inside and gunned, pulling alongside the skyline.  Taking the corner two wide had forced the skyline to stick to the outside line giving Michael a chance.
He was half a length ahead exiting the turn with the supra right on his tail.  If he was lucky the two would fight each other and give him a chance to take a bit of a lead.  They continued their battle through turn four let Michael stretch his lead to almost two car lengths before the start/finish strait.  Once the two got onto open ground they started making up ground. Michael pulled to the outside and pushed the thoughts of the others from his mind as he passed the start finish.
Concentrating on his line Michael moved toward the first turn and hit his brake points perfect the car was coming into its own as the tires warmed up.  It held the line perfect through the first turn and Michael saw just what he wanted, the Miata.  Michael entered the chicane behind the Miata and over took halfway through.  If the supra and skyline could get caught behind him Michael could pull this off.
It was a gamble but he entered turns three and four fast but the tires held and he gained almost a half second as he pulled on to the straight away.  Michael took a moment too glance as the skyline exited the turn with the Supra following a slit second later.  Pushing the car as hard as he could wasn’t enough as Michael moved passed the finish line the Skyline began to overtake him on the outside.  Michael was able to push the engine to its limit’s and keep the car within a half a length as they entered the first turn.
The outside line slowed the Skyline just enough to allow Michael too keep up. And as the exited the turn the Skyline was forced to slam his brakes, giving Michael what he needed to pull ahead. The outside line was blocked by a wreck, the Miata had been t-boned by the other skyline. Michael avoided locking back and gunned the engine hoping to take advantage of the moment.  With Michael too his right the Skyline was forced to swerve left and ran into the grass. Michael was entering turn two before he was able to get back running.
Michael was free and clear until turn four when he came up on some lap traffic.   This time It was a RX-7, the car was fast but the driver wasn’t.  He blocked Michael long enough for the Supra too catch up and fall in behind Michael.  The small eclipse pulled in behind the RX-7 and waited.  Michael knew the Supra didn’t want to battle him out for two more laps he was going to sit where he was and hope for a mistake.
Pulling his eclipse as close as he could Michael was able to let of the throttle and maintain his speed, giving him the reserve he would need once he got around the RX-7.  The seven held a tight line through one and Michael was starting to respect him when he spun out exiting the turn.  Michael did his best to avoid him but still got clipped.  The front passenger fender started to dig into the tire and Michael knew he was finished.
The eclipse limped back around and pulled onto pit road just as the tire blew.  Michael pulled into the nearest stall and slammed his palm into the steering wheel.  This was the last race, run this today and he could get the down payment on a garage to start running his own pro team.  Running his hands through his hair, Michael listened to the engine idle.  She was beautiful. A voice pulled him from his trance, six stalls down Frank was motioning for him to come forward. Michael kept his place as the Miata limped passed and sputtered out two stalls ahead of him.
                The drive tried to open the door and when that failed he climbed through the window. His helmet came off with a scream and flew across pit lane.  One of the track officials started to approach but stepped back when the driver began to kick wildly. Michael couldn’t help but laugh as he slipped the eclipse into first and pulled around, the rim grinding as he drove to where Frank was waiting.
Frank’s face was grim but as Michael drew closer he did his best to hide it. “Buddy, that was a rough knock.”
                Michael nodded as Frank kneeled down and stuck his head in the driver’s window, “I checked out the rest of the drivers and it’s not looking good, not a decent bank roll among them.”
                 “Can we at least break even?” Michael avoided looking at Frank choosing instead to focus on the track as the Skyline pulled past the Surpa for the win. When Frank didn’t answer he turned back and knew the answer.
                  “Were into Toretto for ten large, plus the three grand buy in for the race.” Frank stood up and looked over the track “Personally - I think we should walk, but it is your call.”