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DARLINGTON RACEWAY - FALL PLAYOFF RACE, ROUND OF SIXTEEN
The roar in her ears wasn't just the engines. It was the blood, sweat, tears, pride, and everything she'd been through for years. NASCAR's "Golden Boy," Chase Elliott, had led most of the day, his NAPA 9 Chevy Camaro smooth as silk while drafting. She had been behind him all race.
She was tired of living in his rearview mirror. Tired of living in the shadow of his greatness. She needed to be her own driver.
Her number 94 Chevrolet was riding third on the inside line. Ryan was behind her, pushing clean. She could win this. She had to win this.
"Two to go." Her crew chief called out.
Carolina Elliott saw her opening. Chase moved high to block her run coming on the outside. She ducked low to pass.
A moment of hesitation.
Chase moved back down too late.
Her front bumper clipped his left rear quarter. The 9 car snapped around. Chaos, everywhere. Smoke filled the air. Cars spun. Chase slammed the inside wall. And Cara? She won. Her chest constricted. The last thing she wanted to do was wreck him. If he was hurt because of her? She would never forgive herself.
"Is he out of the car?!" Cara's voice was wild, terrified.
"Window net's down, Cara. He's fine." Her crew chief called back to her. She breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't celebrate. How could she when it was her own older brother that she wrecked for the win? No. She told herself. It was an accident. Maybe he'll see it that way too.
Cara was wrong. Her media session started normally. Reporters filed in, other drivers stood along the walls, watching the rookie with guarded expressions. The normal questions started.
"How's it feel to win against the big boys?" "Why didn't you burn it down for the fans?"
Before Cara can even answer that question, Chase storms into her media session, his firesuit half-zipped, hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, his eyes full of fury.
"You turned me, Cara!" He shouts. The cameras and reporters catch everything. "You wrecked your own brother!"
"I raced you," she fires back, her voice shaking. "You left the door open, Chase. Don't act like I'm still ten years old and in the stands with a sharpie."
"Oh... so you want to be treated like a real driver now?" he spits. "Fine. Then let's race like enemies." That hits like a gut punch to Cara.
Ryan Blaney, Chase's best friend and Cara's... well, they're not sure what they are yet, tries to step in front of Chase, torn between his best friend and the woman he loves, but neither one is listening to his words of reason.
After the explosive presser, the siblings father, Bill Elliott issued a brief statement.
"They'll sort it out." He'd said. Fans note, however, he leaves with Chase.