It is the day of the race, there was about 2 hours before the race started and I decided to walk around the track and as I am making my way to go through pit road to make it on the track I heard a voice with a southern accent and a hint of Midwest in that smooth husky tone call out that I turned my attention to where it came from. I saw three boys almost my age, but older by a year or two, gesture for me to come join them. Instead, this is how our first encounter went.

???: Hey, you're new here aren't you?
Eliza: Yeah, this is my first race. I was actually going for a walk around the track before the race starts to get a feel for it.
???: Do you mind if we join?
Eliza: Not at all <she said as they start walking towards the start/finish line>
Joey: I'm Joey Logano <he says making a fist for her to fist bump>
Chase: Chase Elliott <he says raising his fist for her to fist bump>
Ryan: Ryan Blaney <he says raising his fist for her to fist bump>
Eliza: Eliza Coverdale <she says bumping her fist with their while giving them a smile and trying not to freak out as two of the guys were the sons of her favorite NASCAR drivers> Can I ask, how old are you three?
Joey: 12
Ryan: 11
Chase: 11
Eliza: Dang
Ryan: How old are you?
Eliza: 10 <she says shyly and tucks a hair behind her ears trying to also hide her blush on her cheeks>

We walked, talked, and laughed about different topics and also NASCAR as we talked about the ongoing season and past seasons as well. we instantly clicked and for the first time in a long time I finally feel free and part of something bigger than just music. They also gave me advice with legend cars as it is my first time racing in one, excluding practice laps. That race went way better than what I thought it would be for my first race. All of us placed in the top five as the results were as follows: Eliza - 1st, Joey - 2nd, Ryan - 3rd, Chase - 4th. After we took a lot of pictures for the top three winners, we met back up at victory lane after mostly everyone left and all of our parents were talking to each other as we talked about the race.

Joey: You know, I can see this friendship developing into much more than that; more like a family down the road.
Eliza, Ryan, and Chase: Same
Eliza: <starts to smirk when an idea pops in her head> Guys, I think I know of a group name for all of us and a way to commemorate our new friendship. <they look at her as a signal for her to continue> Okay, ball your hands into a fist and place them in the middle <they did as told and copied her movements as they didn't know that their parents were recording them> Before I reveal our team name <she takes a deep breath to not get too emotional and continues her mini speech> I just want to thank you guys for treating me like any other racer and for becoming my first true best friends. So with that being said from this day forward, I now commemorate this group. Racing Badasses on three. One...two...three!
All: Racing Badasses!

We broke away and I was caught off guard as the guys enveloped me in a group hug that had us all smiling and laughing and two of the four of us blushing. Who would have thought that I would find friends and maybe a love interest in my first race. However, I would have never thought that my passion would be taken away from me in the next two years.

2 years later
The last two years have been amazing with the guys as we would come up with signals for us to help one another on the track that will be very useful for all of us down the road. Joey is like a big brother to me as sometimes we would tease each other and mess around with others. Chase is like the ultimate best friend with our shy yet dry and sarcastic humor that will turn a frown upside down. However with Ryan it is different as sometimes I would catch him looking at me and then turn away when I would catch him looking and vice versa, it was cute, and I also realized that I am starting to develop a crush on him.

From that day on our time that we would spend together is so much fun that I felt free and not be involved in anything music related with my parents. During the NASCAR season Ryan and Chase would ask Joey and I to come to a race with them and I will say those getaways are the best as we got to meet a lot of amazing and talented drivers. However, I never would have dreamed that all of this would be taken away from me.

A couple of days before my next race, my parents received a call from my school telling them that my grades and attendance have been slipping and that I was at risk of repeating fourth grade. That same day that I came home from school, they grounded me for a whole month and told me that I was not allowed to race anymore until I turn 21, but they allowed me to race this weekends race. Those words broke my heart as I tried to tell them the truth and they (mostly my mom) started blaming my grade slips on my best friends saying that they were taking away all of my attention from school. I was so hurt that I didn't say anything to them and ran straight to my room crying my eyes out and didn't even bother coming out of my room for the rest of the day. From that day, my parents forced me to go to school, concentrate every day, and do my homework.

A couple of days later, we left for Charlotte, where the next race was going to be at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That day we got there, I left the motorhome without a single word to my parents in search of Joey, Ryan, and Chase to give them the news. A couple of minutes later, I found them by their trailers looking over their cars for the upcoming race. When they spotted me they could tell that something was wrong by the look on my face. Thankfully their parents caught on and told them to go. When they reached me, they immediately enveloped me in a group hug and I could no longer hold in the tears as the flood gates opened and just gripped onto them as if they were a life preserve. Once they noticed I am breaking down, they had a look of concern as I had my eyes closed and felt two of the three release me from the hug and someone just keep me in their arms as I was being led to somewhere more private with the guys so we can talk. We walked for a while without saying anything until we reached pit road and sat on the pit wall.

Ryan: What's wrong Eliza? <he asked with concern>
Eliza: Guys, there is no easy way to say this but I didn't have a choice in making this decision. <she starts off and has to take a deep breath to not break down again> My parents got a call from my school earlier this week and the school told them that I was failing almost every class and how I haven't been concentrating. So, instead of just talking to me and ask me why they sat me down when I got home, grounded me for a whole month, <takes a deep breath> and they are not allowing me to race anymore until I am 21.
All: What?!
Eliza: Yeah and they are blaming you all for my grade slip and that you three were taking up most of my time and concentration from school.
Chase: Man that is messed up.
Eliza: You're telling me. Man, I don't know what I'd do without racing next to you three every weekend much less hangout with you all.
Joey: Hey, we still have two and a half days left together, let's make these worth our while and have one last amazing race together this Saturday.
Ryan: And...I think I know a way to start it off. How about a campout at my parent's motorhome tonight, Friday, and Saturday night after the race with snacks and a movie night with our girl of the weekend choosing to watch even if they are musicals. <they all laugh at Ryan's comment>
Eliza: Hey, don't knock 'em 'til you watch one besides I know you all secretly like them even if you all don't admit it. <they all laugh as Eliza wipes away her remaining tears> But, as far as the campout and movie night I'm down.
Joey and Chase: Same here.
Ryan: Alright, let's head back to our trailers so that I can ask my parents if it's okay with them.

After telling them the news it went as expected, but with Ryan suggesting making this an unforgettable weekend for us made me forget all my problems. We continued talking until we reached his dad's trailer and asked his parents if it was okay to have the campouts and movie nights to which they agreed to an indoor campout, asked what we'd like for snacks and drinks, and they made a grocery trip for us as Ryan stayed behind and Joey and Chase went back to their parents to also ask permission for the campout. However, I didn't want to ask my parents as I was still upset with them and we are not on speaking terms because of this whole ordeal so I'm going to sneak out.

That night we met up at Ryan's parent's motorhome at 7 pm in our pjs and ready to enjoy the last two days with my best friends. Ryan's mom set up the pull out couch for us to be comfortable as his parents went to their bedroom but still keeping an eye on us and still let us have our fun. Our first movie we watched much to their dismay, but secretly to their liking, is my all-time favorite musical, Grease 2. We sang and danced to every song and doing our best impressions of our favorite characters and each one of them danced with me during the last song that came out and fell asleep from exhaustion. However, neither of us knew that that song would be "our" song down the road.

Friday night was our same routine with qualifying for tomorrow's race as Ryan is starting in P4, Joey in P2, Chase P3, and I got the pole position. After qualifying, making sure our cars were all set for tomorrow, having dinner with our parents, meeting back up at Ryan's for our movie night to watch Star Wars V: Return of the Jedi, and once again falling asleep on the pull out sofa. All of that night I tried not to think about the fact that tomorrow is going to be my last race with them before going back home on Sunday, hoping and praying that I will see them again, and also silently cursing myself that I will probably never tell Ryan how I truly feel about him.

The next day is the day that I have been dreading for the past couple of days...our last race together. That morning after breakfast, I headed back to my parent's motorhome to freshen up and prepare for this race. I changed into my fire suit, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, grabbed my water bottle, and headed to my trailer for some time for myself to cherish this memory and hopefully never let it end. I was interrupted from my thoughts as a knock came from someone knocking on the side of the trailer and saw Ryan standing there with a shy smile and a small wave as I gestured for him to come in and he takes a seat next to me and mimicking my seating position.

Ryan: How are you feeling? <he asks looking at her with a small smile trying to lighten her mood>
Eliza: I'm ready for the race, but just not ready to let this all go yet.
Ryan: I know. I just wish there was something we can do to keep you racing with us.
Eliza: No matter how hard I try and bargain with my parents Ryan they will not let me, especially my mom, yes my dad is different and constantly tells me to chase my dreams, but my mom is completely against me racing. <she says taking a deep breath to stop the tears from falling but didn't notice that Ryan moved closer to her, put his arm around her shoulders for a side hug and put her head on his shoulders as they sat like this in a comfortable silence for a while but neither of them saw her dad and his parents see their moment>
Ryan: Hey, we still have the rest of the day to enjoy. So, put those negative thoughts aside and let's focus on winning this race together and end with a bang. <he says as he stands up, faces Eliza, and extends his hand out to her to help her up and once he did they are mere inches apart>
Eliza: Thank you <she says in nearly a whisper as a strong pull directs her close to Ryan, tip toes to his height, and places a sweet kiss on his cheek>

Both of us were shocked and red as a tomato by the gesture I made as I took a step away from him and began to walk out of my trailer and to the track where I spotted my dad not that far from the trailer. He smiled at me and winked with a nod of approval. I gave him a small smile as I was lost in thought of what I wish would become of me and Ryan and also feeling the loss of contact of being in his arms. I just wish the timing was better and not run the risk of losing contact with him and possibly never see him again. Alright, enough of that time for to focus on this race, win, and go out with a bang.

This race is 80 laps around part of the speedway and the front S's that is part of the Roval race. Stage 1 was pretty cool with 20 laps as Joey won that stage as I came in 2nd, Ryan in 3rd, and Chase in 4th. Stage 2 was calm before the storm 40 laps as Chase took 1st with Ryan coming in 2nd, Joey in 3rd, and me in 4th. However, stage 3 was very intense trying to keep our positions, but it ended up being a racing badass sweep of the top four positions with me coming in 1st, Joey taking 2nd, Ryan taking 3rd, and Chase taking 4th using our signature move that we came up with a couple of races after my first race, which is being behind each other, and this move has worked for most of our races. We celebrated our victory receiving our trophies/medals and taking a lot of pictures together.

After celebrating our win with some people and our families, but it was time for our celebration to start with our last campout and movie night. That night we decided to binge watch cartoons instead of a movie as we just wanted to laugh and enjoy our remaining time together. However, all great things came to an end as we woke up, eat breakfast together, and said our final goodbyes, but we made it more of a "see you later" than a goodbye.