To say that I am extremely excited to be back behind the wheel racing is an understatement. I was a little bit rusty at first, but with 15 laps into stage one I was back to my to my racing self and make my way through the field. I placed just outside of the top 10 in stage one. However, stage two was quite interesting as I avoided being in several wrecks and having only minor damage after being bumped around a few times and placed 12th at the end of the stage. Right before the final stage, most of the field pitted for four tires and fuel, but we had a slow pit stop and bumped me down from 12th to 14th but that mishap is not going to slow me down nor stop me. Stage three I was able to work my way through the field while avoiding some wrecks and finished in the top 10 at P5 earning 6 stage points.

Now it is the final stage of the race, restarting P12 after another slow pit stop and this is for all the marbles and boy I didn't know I was in for a wild ride. A couple of laps after restarting, I was doing good until I started getting several door bumps on each side of the car. Oh shit, I'm caught in a three-wide situation between Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon. I made myself a mental reminder to have a little chat with those two.

Brian Wilson (No. 2 Crew Chief): If we get about 1-2 more door hits from those two we are going to get loose and wreck.
Eliza: Copy that. I'm trying my best to get out, but I'm too squeezed in between these two nitwits. <she says over the radio until an idea pops in her head> Jake, I need the positions of the 9, 12, and 22.
Jake (No. 2 Spotter): 9 is P4, 12 is P15, and 22 is leader.
Eliza: Copy. Jake I need you to tell the 12 spotter peace squared Ryan knows what it means.
Jake: Copy that. <after a minute of silence and silently praying that Ryan gets the message> 12 said 10-4 let's see what happens.
Eliza: I know you all don't know me well enough yet but trust me things are about to change. <she says with a smirk starting to form>

While focusing on the track ahead the spotter kept me up to date and informed me that Ryan is right behind me. I looked at my rear view mirror for less than a minute, give each other a nod of confirmation, and started feeling the push and the speed from Ryan moving us up and into the top 10. With 15 laps to go in the final stage, Ryan and I are in P4 and P5 when there was contact between the 2nd and 3rd place drivers, which took them both out, and bought out a caution moving Ryan, Chase, and I taking the top four spots with Joey still leading the field. Most of the field came down to pit road to top off on fuel and we exited pit road with neither one of us changing positions. Right before lining up for the restart I saw Joey give one of our signals that we used to use as another code, that signal is flashing the double peace sign, which is used for when we are in the top four positions we haul it and pull some ways away from the field and stick together on each other's bumpers and haul it.

When the signal to line up came from the flag stand, I chose to be on the inside of Joey with Ryan behind me and Chase right behind Joey. The Crew Chief and the spotter told me to go to the outside and questioned me why I didn't, but I told them to trust me on my choice. Once the green flag waived for the restart we hauled it and gave us enough space between us and the rest of the field staying two wide most of the way. On the final lap of the race, Joey started to slow down a bit but enough to not take out Chase and allowed me to pass him and we stuck together as we came out of the final turn and quickly approaching the start/finish line to collect the checkered flag.

Once the checkered flag waived as we crossed the finish line, the team spotter radioed me with my finishing position and everyone congratulated me on the win. Our results came out as Chase taking P4, Ryan taking P3, Joey taking P2, and yours truly taking the win. Now this is a proper welcome back to racing. I am so overcome with emotion while everyone did their cool down lap as I see my best friends and most of the other drivers congratulating me with a thumbs up. Once all of the drivers made their way down pit road I was getting close to the grandstands and was given the all clear message to celebrate. I smirked knowing that my definition of celebrating is going to consist of burning it down just like Joey taught me all those years ago.

After doing the craziest burnout anyone has ever seen, I parked my car near the start/finish line where I took off all the seat belts and gear, took down the window net, climbed out of the car, and onto the roof and started celebrating with the crowd. While the crowd still cheered I took off my helmet and ponytail as I received louder cheers from the crowd. Once I hopped off the roof of the car all of the No. 2 team surrounded me with a lot of congratulations and celebratory cheers as I went up to the official for the flag, but then I decided to give it to a young fan that is decked out in a Team Penske driver merchandise. After that I did my post-race interviews while the team replaced the tires so that I can drive the car to victory lane.

While I drove my way to victory lane, I listened to some of the post-race interviews that were taking place especially Joey, Ryan, and Chase's interview congratulating me on the win and speaking very positive and highly of me that I start to get very emotional by just listening to my best friends talk about me that way, especially Ryan's interview. Now I know that when you celebrate in victory lane, everyone is there with you celebrating the win, but for me I feel like there is one thing (more like 3 others) that should be here celebrating with me and I hope what I am about to do will not get me in trouble, but if it does it will totally be worth it. When I get to victory lane, I take a deep breath while everyone is waiting for me to come out and celebrate, but I have a different agenda. I get out of the car and literally run to pit road in search of my best friends and that special someone.

The first one I spotted is Joey as he is just about to finish doing an interview. I waited around and once he sees me he almost spit out his coke and pulled me in for the biggest hug as Ryan and Chase see us hug and decide to join us as we all knew it is time to celebrate in style. I just pulled away from the hug with Joey that I didn't notice the other two running towards us and I turn around just in time and I am immediately engulfed in another hug by Chase and another hug with Ryan as ours lingered a little longer than what either one of us expected.

Chase: Congrats Eliza. <he says giving her a side hug while drinking his coke>
Ryan: Yeah definitely a well deserved victory and of course the most badass way to make a return to racing.
Joey and Chase: Cheers to that brother.
Eliza: Thank you guys, but this wasn't just My win and a No. 2 team win <they look at her confused> This is Our win. We took the top four spots with pure talent and it wouldn't be much of a celebration without you three there, you guys are my second family. What do you say, care to join me in Victory Lane?
All: Hell yeah!
Eliza: Alright then let's... <she starts to say until she spots two familiar faces that she needs to have a chat with> Actually, hold on a second there is something I got to do first then we can make our way to Victory Lane. <the guys look at her confused until they follow her eye line and get the message>
Joey: Don't do anything I would do <he said giving her a wink and a smirk right before she walked away to her main targets>

I calmly made my way to where Austin and Kyle B. are talking as I can feel eyes belonging to my best friends following my every move. As I reached where they are and congratulated them on a great race. However, the next thing that will come out of my mouth will possibly shrink their egos to the size of gold balls.

Eliza: <gets close enough for only them and no one else to hear> Oh by the way, the next time you dunderheads decide to TRY and wreck me; you two are going to be playing without an ace in your deck. <I said giving them the wittiest smirk and turned back to her best friends and head to victory lane as she left the other two drivers speechless>

Once I caught up to the others, each of them put an arm around me and give me a side hug as we started to make our way to victory lane. Not giving a crap on what anybody else says. However, when they asked me how my chat went with Dillon and Busch and this is how our conversation went while walking to victory lane.

Chase: So what did you say to Dillon and Busch?
Eliza: Mainly, I congratulated them on a great race, called them dunderheads, and told them that if they try and wreck me again that they are going to be playing without an ace in their deck. <they started laughing their asses off at her comment>
Ryan: I should have known that you would be using one of many song lyrics to scare someone like that <he says after wiping away some tears from laughing too much>

Once we make it to victory lane, a security guard allowed us through as Ryan, Joey, and Chase got on stage and I stepped on the edge of the window and got on the rood of the car and started cheering with the crowd and getting drenched in a mixture of bodyarmor and coke while the photographers take lots of pictures. When I got off the edge of the car and onto the stage to congratulate everyone and celebrate, the owner of the track gifted me the trophy and took a lot photos with everyone on the team, some of just me, and some with the guys. When I was taking the pictures with the guys, we recreated some of our old photos and even creating some new poses including one of two of our newly signature poses. This signature pose is us forming a v shape facing slightly inward with our arms crossed and our game faces on.

After a couple of hours celebrating the win, taking pictures, doing what drivers call "the hat dance", and other media obligations, I decided to celebrate this win in a different way; plus I also need to move my belongings to North Carolina. Seeing as though it is barely going into the evening hours, there is still time to catch a flight home. As we are walking back to our motorhomes, I asked them if they would like to help me move my stuff and my car from my parent's house to Ryan's house and they happily agreed to help and also meant spending quality time together and celebrating my win. Chase already left for his motorhome to pack leaving me, Joey, and Ryan to head to ours and just as we are getting close to our respective homes, we are stopped by Mr. Penske as he congratulated us on a top three finish and asked to speak to me. I gave the guys a nod and told them that I will catch up with them in a bit.

Mr. Penske: Thank you again for taking over for Austin and also congratulations are an order on your first win with Team Penske.
Eliza: Thank you again for the opportunity to race tonight, sir. It really is a true honor to race for your team and also having the chance to see my best friends again because I never thought I would see them again after almost 12 years later.
Mr. Penske: Wait, you're actually best friends with Ryan, Joey, and Chase? <he asks surprised>
Eliza: Absolutely, I have known them since I was 10 and also raced with them in Legend cars. That is why I brought them to victory lane, because they are much more than best friends to me, they are more like my second family. Then 2 years into racing, my parents forced me to quit racing until I turn 21 to focus on school and that was the last time I saw and raced with them.
Mr. Penske: Wow, that is an amazing story Eliza. So, if you don't mind me asking, how are you going to celebrate your first win?
Eliza: Not at all sir, I am actually going to go back home to pack my belongings and my car and move them here and I hope you don't mind me taking Joey and Ryan with me to help pack.
Mr. Penske: Not at all Eliza, you all can log in to the meeting on Tuesday virtually. Actually, why don't you three take one of the company's private jet, I'll let the pilot know and have him fly you all there at 7 and I will see you all when you get back.
Eliza: Thank you Mr. Penske.
Mr. Penske: You are very welcome Eliza, now I'll let you go so you can get ready and be on your way. Congratulations again on your first win Eliza.
Eliza: Thank you and thank you again for the opportunity sir.

After my little chat with Mr. Penske, I head back to Ryan's bus to freshen up, pack up my stuff and we can meet up with the rest of the gang. Once I was back at Ryan's bus, he was already changed out and ready to go and is waiting for me. I told him about how Mr. Penske offered us to take one of the jets and that I will be out in less than half an hour as I already had a change of clothes, started to take off my fire suit, and shower to freshen up. After I am done with everything, I am trying to put on the necklace Ryan gave me earlier, but I am having trouble putting the clasp on. Well, I guess this can be considered a way of making the first move, right?

Eliza: Hey Ryan, can you help me clasp on the necklace, please?
Ryan: Sure.

As he takes a hold of the necklace and I hold up my hair, I can feel his soft, yet calloused hands brush against the back of my neck and once the necklace was clasped I can feel his hands linger on the back of my neck and trail down my spine causing me to shiver at his touch. I turn around only to notice just how close we are and I am still in his arms as his hands are softly placed on my hips.

Eliza: Thank you <she says barely above a whisper while simultaneously trying to hide the blush appearing on her cheeks>
Ryan: You're welcome. Ready to go?
Eliza: Hell yeah, it's time to celebrate in a different style.

We stepped out of the motorhome waiting for Joey and Chase to meet up with us. Once Joey and Chase stepped out of their motorhomes already packed and ready to go as Brittany offered to pick Ryan, Chase, and I up at our homes and drive us to the airstrip and we accepted her offer. Ryan, Chase, and I headed back to Ryan's house, since Chase was staying with him for this race, while Joey and Brittany followed us to the house so that way we can drop off Ryan's truck and head to the airstrip. After dropping off  Ryan's truck, we hopped in Joey's truck and took off to the airstrip. While on the drive there, I texted my family driver that we trust to pick us up once we land and take us home to the house.

As we arrived at the airstrip and got out of the vehicle, we thank her for the ride as we grab our bags while Joey was thanking her and giving her a kiss before we board the plane. I told the pilot what airfield to land at and thanked him for the ride. Once the plane is ready to go, we board and settle into our seats as we get ready for takeoff to Reno. I cannot wait to surprise my family and I am also hoping that their reaction will be a good one when I bring my friends over.