Unchartered Waters ✅

Chapter 99: Cup Practice

Friday, February 18 – Daytona International Speedway

The Hendrick drivers stood in a circle together, along with the crew chiefs. Normally, these meetings would go quickly with everybody having great suggestions. However, given how the past couple days had gone, it seemed nobody had a solution.

"We could just wait and see how things go Sunday," Alex suggests, earning a couple eye rolls from the entire group. Chase knew they had an opportunity with practice to change things and make it better, so why weren't they working through options?

"So let's just show no speed during practice, not be able to find a perfect comfort between speed and drive ability, let's not try anything – and just hope it works out?" Alan Gustafson questions, as Chase couldn't help but laugh at the comment by the crew chief, even if directed towards Alex. He deserved it for the comment he made.

"We just suck!" Chase lets out, growing frustrated as he was wishing they would've had a solution by now. Why was this so difficult?

"Could we try and form that alliance with the Toyotas again?" Rudy suggests, as Chase shakes his head no immediately. it was clear they weren't making much headway either, as seen by the Duels on Thursday night and speed chart. There was only one group that had speed, and that needed to broken apart. "That way at least we possibly split up the Fords and get some headway."

"They're not showing a lot of speed eith-" Chase writes off the idea immediately, knowing it was probably useless. Besides, it seemed no matter what you planned with anybody else, it didn't work out – unless you were Kaulig in the Xfinity Series it seemed.

"But a combination together, and breaking up the ones that roll so well could deliver the difference, maybe?" A couple others in the group shake their heads no. At least Chase wasn't the only one writing off this diea.

"How about we construct the bumpers better?" Alex suggests, knowing that was one of their biggest problems right now in not being able to draft as well as the Fords with the shape of the bumpers.

"There's this thing called technical inspection, and you have to pass it," Alan begins, knowing Alex's continued ideas were getting them nowhere. Again, Chase couldn't help but chuckle at his own crew chief, not feeling a bit bad about it despite being against Alex here. "Doing what you're suggesting would not do that."

"Why does Chevrolet never get the noses right for that?" Kyle Larson then wonders out loud, knowing this was a topic of conversation even with the previous car as well. Chase had wondered about it himself, as it seemed odd they were always the odd manufacture out.

"I think because the engineering department is looking out for the other events – the intermediates, short tracks. So you have to give up something sometimes to be good there, and here we are right now." Chase wanted to bitch and moan, but knew the crew chief was right in his comments. That's why they were winning races elsewhere. That's why they were consistent beyond anything everywhere. That's why they had won the past two championships as an organization.

"I say we just work through our list of things we wanted to try originally, and see if we can find something – anything – before tomorrow," Cliff Daniels summarizes to which the group nods their heads in approval.

They were obviously going to get nothing done standing around in a confused circle.

*****************

Alex and Chase head back to the motorcoach, unlocking the door as the dogs come scurrying out. They smile as the pups begin to wander, obviously needing some relief after being cooped up all day.

"I can't believe you allowed your crew chief to pick on me," Alex comments, catching Chase's attention. He wasn't expecting the earlier conversation to carry over until now.

"You kind of deserved it for the dumb comments," Chase retorts, earning a hurt glance in response. It was one thing for someone to pick on you, but yet alone your own lover and dearest person.

"I thought out of everybody in that room, you would've stood up for me..." Chase didn't know what to say, whether to continue to roll with the punches, reason, or finally give in to being sweet and feeling bad. The more he spoke with Alex right now, the more he felt bad for allowing Alan to have all the fun earlier.

"Please don't tell me you're going to cry to Ryan about me.." Alex glances over in seeing Ryan was headed back with Sturgis, glancing between the pair as it was like perfect timing in that regard. He wanted to try and play the game back and forth, but knew it was a losing battle no matter what.

"We both know that he'd take your side in a heartbeat." Chase smirks, knowing that was true as he waves the third member of the trio to join them. Sturgis didn't mind either, running off to play with Fletcher and Finn immediately.

"So what argument am I supposed to be solving tonight?" Ryan wonders, having overheard the last bit of the discussion. It was interesting coming up on a lover's quarrel and being the one to solve it, knowing it was his own situation that brought them together.

"Chevrolets needing enough speed to beat the Fords on Sunday." Ryan takes a couple steps back, not resisting the urge to smile wide as it was nice to hear honesty in the fact their competition was nervous. That was better than he could've imagined, not having heard anything so far. "I shouldn't have told you that."

"You haven't resigned your contract yet with Hendrick, and perhaps Roger may have room for you." Alex's jaw drops in shock as he couldn't imagine the pair being separated and not being teammates. He also had to admit not being comfortable in seeing Ryan and Chase find their own time together.

"The fact that I can't bear to be around Joey is stopping me from that immediately." Alex smiles as that was a certain relief, though he hoped for his own comfort that Chase signed the dotted line with Rick very soon. What could he do to ensure that happened, he wondered?

"So now that you know we suck, and the fact that everybody picked on me for my ideas today, can you go about making me feel better?" Alex questions, earning a glance from both boys as they look over at him.

"That'll be Chase's job tonight as I did promise Isabelle I'd spend the night with her," Ryan confesses. He was excited and couldn't wait to see her as it'd been awhile since they saw each other, and his heart cared about her. However, he also couldn't help but feel a bit of sting in missing out on fun with the boys tonight. "You know what they say – distance makes the heart grow fonder."

"Someone is getting laid tonight!" Ryan could only smirk in response as he snapped his fingers, watching Sturgis return right back to his side. The images painted in his mind, of either scenario, he knew he needed to solve a ever-growing problem soon.

"Fortunately, I suppose I can handle this one," Chase says as he wraps his arms around Alex from behind, lying his head against his shoulder. "I probably owe him because I let him become the target for Alan today."

"Have fun." Ryan then heads to his motorcoach with Sturgis in toe, as the boys watch the dogs come running back over to them.

"What do you say we get started on that?" He then places a light kiss on Alex's neck. "I never meant to hurt your feelings today. I should've told Alan to stop. I'm sorry."

"We both know if you would've said something that Kyle would've snuck something in," Alex offers as they head inside the motorcoach, allowing the dogs to enter first. Though once the door was closed, Chase wasn't allowed to move as he got pinned there by Alex. "Fortunately for you, I am fine with whatever happens there, as long as I get to call you my own every single night."