Racing Dreams Storyville

ENGINES ROAR

You're going 200mph,

and that's the length of a football field, every second.

And at the same time, you're six inches from the wall.

Like, you're just sweating,

and your heart's just beating really, really fast,

and I just feel like I'm going to throw up.

-But it's so great!

-ENGINES ROAR

You have to be a person

that can make a decision, and not look back.

That's how life goes.

You've got to make a decision, and you can't look back.

There's millions of jobs out there, but being a NASCAR driver

is the coolest job you could ever have.

-TANNOY:

-'Now at the Ultramax Chassis booth in aisle 400,

'meet champion kart racer, Annabeth Barnes.'

-Thanks!

-You're welcome!

'All my friends are, like, saying,'

"I want to be a doctor, I want to be a lawyer,"

And I'm like, "I want to be a race car driver!"

-And they're like, "That's weird!"

-SHE LAUGHS

Ever since I was just a little five-year-old, I said,

"Daddy, I want to be the first woman to win the Daytona 500."

So that's kind of my goal for my life.

'She's probably going to be the next Danica Patrick in NASCAR,'

if you just give her about five or six more years.

Remember this. You heard it here first.

Annabeth Barnes will be the biggest name in NASCAR,

female, ever, ever, ever. SHE GIGGLES

When I first got into it, there was no girls at all.

The boys were like, "What are you doing here?"

And I would always say, "That's fine. You say that now,

"but wait till we get on the racetrack."

So race time comes around,

-and they're like, "Huh?!"

-SHE LAUGHS

You can't hide speed!

-TV:

-'And the Super Bowl, all rolled into one.

'The Daytona 500, the great American race.'

Do you just want me to scuff, or you want me to sand?

Sand it or scuff it?

We're sanding.

'My grandpa works for a racing team.

'He does their paint and bodywork.

'So I've grown up around it.

'I've been around racing ever since I was born.'

-TV:

-'White flag, one lap to go!

-'It's getting a run off turn four!'

-Oh!

-'It's going to be a drag race!'

-Spin it! Spin it!

Come on, Mighty Mark!

-Yes!

-Spin it!

-'Right to the line!

-'A crash!'

-Oh, he got him! No!

'Kevin Harvick wins the Daytona 500!

'They're wreckin' everywhere!'

'If I'm not racing, I'm not happy.

'That's really all I care about.'

Brandon has no fear.

No fear. Of nothing.

You say, "Brandon, that's hot."

He's got to touch it and see if it's hot.

-Just the boy, the kid is!

-SHE LAUGHS

He is just wide open. I mean, WIDE open.

'This kid's had more scars, more stitches,

'before he was five years old, than I have had in my life.'

Woo-hoo!

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

-TANNOY:

-'Good morning, Marshall Greene Middle School.

'From the time that we're children,'

our parents and teachers try to mould us

into successful and caring adults.

But in the end,

we have to decide our own character.

Each one of us must choose to be responsible,

caring, and trustworthy.

It's a choice no-one else can make for us.

With something to think about, this is Josh Hobson.

So make it a great day, or not.

The choice is yours.

In the cafeteria today,

it's oriental chicken with veggies and rice or a tuna croissant.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

The choice is yours.

I've been principal here for 20 years,

and he's in my top ten of the...

..I guess, 12 to 15,000 students

that have gone through here over that time.

So...pretty terrific kid.

Hey, Mac.

I can't wait till this weekend. I can't wait!

Where are you racing?

-North Carolina.

-Nice!

All right, first race of the season.

-Charlotte, right?

-Yep.

North Carolina.

-SAT NAV:

-Turn left onto I75 South.

-SAT NAV:

-Now arriving at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

15 hours and 35 minutes.

Want to walk the track? At three in the morning? What else?!

What else better to do than walk the track?!

-Getting excited now?

-Yeah, I'm ready.

You're in for a treat.

-ANNOUNCER:

-Welcome to Lowe's Motor Speedway.

The first race in our five-race National Championship series.

The WKA is kind of like the Little League for professional racing.

And a lot of your top drivers started out right here.

'Most people think go-karts are great'

for bouncing around the yard and having fun as a kid.

But these things out here are 70 and 80mph racing machines.

BRAKES SCREECH

'They got one inch of ground clearance.'

Your butt is one inch off the ground,

running 60, 70, 80mph,

with no suspension.

'The National Series brings together

'some of the best kart racers in the entire country.'

If you want to be a professional, this is the series you have to win.

'Over the next six months, we're going to have a five-race series.

'We have different age classes,

'and in each age class,

'the driver with the most points at the end of the year

'will be crowned the National Champion.'

How wide do you get out, right here?

You come to about right here.

And then when that new line starts, from back there...

..probably happen right here.

'I've been around racing for many years,'

and Brandon's one of the most talented drivers I've ever seen.

If he'd just learn to keep his cool, he'll be a good little driver.

This is where you come off at. Right there.

'Last year, he should've won'

the National Championship.

But he got disqualified in the last race for rough driving.

'So Brandon's got a lot to prove this year,

'and to win a National Championship,

'he's just going to have to keep his cool.'

You've got to kind of hit the corner at an angle. Like, arc it.

If you say so.

'This year I'm moving up to a new class, being 11.

'That's going to be hard for me, because everybody else is older.

'I feel a little nervous.'

You know, there are other kids here

that are just as good as me

or better than me, and...

..it's chilling!

When you go down straight away like this...

'I've won state races, I've won tri-state championships,

'but National...

'National is THE best of the best.'

'When you're National Champion,

'and you have the suit that says National Champion on it,

'it's just kind of like a mark.

'People see that suit and kind of expect really good driving.'

-How you doing, Buck?

-Josh!

Uh-oh!

Oh!

-He tried catching it!

-THEY GIGGLE

Do you think that girl's pretty? Tell the truth!

I'm not thinking about that! What do you think?

-No, I'm just asking!

-No, you're asking me the questions!

No! No! You answer!

Just tell, just tell me! Do you think she's pretty?

I don't know. She's...

-a good driver!

-THEY GIGGLE

'A lot of people think racing is all about the equipment,

'but really, how you drive is just as important.

'I mean, the shortest way around the track

'is just hugging the inside.

'But if you're trying to stay on the inside at top speed,

'you're going to spin out.

'So you have to go wide into the turns.

'But if you go too wide through the turns,

'you're going to leave an opening for people to pass you.

'So you have to find the right line

'and hit your marks for all 20 laps.

'But when you get out there, it's crazy.

'Other people's lines cross yours.

'There's people crashing.

'There's bumps in the track.

'So a lot of times, they're just like, "Forget the plan!"

'You've got to trust your guts and instinct.'

-ANNOUNCER:

-'All senior class drivers,

'please report to the grid. Your race is about to begin.'

-ANNOUNCER:

-'Senior class drivers are in formation,

'with Brandon Warren, yellow number two car, on the pole,

as they look for the green flag to start the race.

'And your senior class event is under way.'

Come on, baby! Drive that thing! Let's go!

'With 1 lap down and 19 to go,

'Brandon Warren is holding the lead with Cody Slattery right behind.'

That's right, boy! Go get 'em, boy!

'Slattery, sneaking up on Brandon Warren.

'He takes the lead.

'Warren can't get inside.

'Two more cars get by him, putting him back into fourth position.

'One more lap to go. In third place, Stanley Caroline.

'In fourth, Jeff Lewis, and rounding out your top five,

'is Brandon Warren, coming in at turn two.

'As he comes around turn four, Cody Slattery will win

'your senior class event here at Lowe's Motor Speedway.'

OK, guys, big smile!

Hey! What's wrong?

Nothing.

-Don't walk away mad, OK?

-I'm not mad!

Don't let this little bit of stuff right here upset you, OK?

Trying to get you ready for life. Life ain't all real smooth.

There's a lot of hills and bumps in it.

You gotta be cool under pressure, baby.

You gotta be cool under pressure.

'Junior class drivers, all junior class drivers,

'please report to the grid. Your race is about to begin.'

'Before you race, you work up all this adrenaline.

'But once you're behind the wheel, and the green flag drops,

'all your nerves are gone

'and you get in this kind of zone that you can't get anywhere else.'

-ANNOUNCER:

-'The drivers are in formation. They get the green flag,

'and your junior class season is underway.

'Car 57, of Christopher Rhodes, in your lead.

'Josh Hobson's black number ten, a close second.

'Annabeth Barnes, number four car, goes around turn one.

'Trouble! Spins out at turn two!

'Anna Barnes sneaks between those two karts!

'Josh Hobson comes around turn three, looking for a hole.

'He finds it! Josh Hobson takes your lead.

'Two more laps to go, with your leader,

'number ten, Josh Hobson, pulling down to turn four.

'But look out for Walker! He is making a move on Josh Hobson.

'Takes the lead, but Hobson takes it back.

'Josh Hobson, your leader once again, into the back stretch.

'He's looking to start off the year with a win

'here at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

'He does it! Josh Hobson goes to victory lane.'

Nice racing out there! That was awesome!

Nice job!

-What's your name again?

-Russ.

Yeah, I knew that. Russ.

Down here with your event winner, Josh Hobson!

It's probably one of the best feelings I've had in a long time.

It was really close racing, and that's what we came down for.

What's the deal, Anna?

-SHE SOBS

-They pinched me down the start

and I hate myself! It's not fair!

-Why couldn't you come back up through there?

-I don't know!

That guy that was in front of you,

did you not see how high he was getting in?

I mean, I need you to go ahead and lift that corner,

but at the apex, not at the entrance.

Or to bring your tyres down

to the very bottom in the centre,

but just leave it out there.

-OK.

-You ain't got to worry about it.

-In the turns, Anna.

In the turns. You're completely off the track,

-and you're flying.

-You ain't got to worry about it.

It wouldn't have been possible without KSR Racing Engines

and all the guys from ProKart Racing Chassis.

Excellent! Josh Hobson at victory lane for the first time

in your junior class series here at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Watch out, guys.

-TV:

-'Three wins in a row in the last race.

'Tell me about the last lap.'

'It was a great day. I've just got to thank Dupont and Pepsi

'and Quaker State GMAC,

'Nicorette and Georgia-Pacific.'

I like to look and see how they do interviews, and see how,

when I get into the bigger stuff, how I would do.

I want to learn. I need to learn more.

I've got a lot left I need to learn.

I'm kind of like a perfectionist.

I'll stay up all night writing my essays for school,

until it's the way I want it.

I'm really a perfectionist on the track

and I think that's why I'm fast.

I'm really consistent with my lap times.

GAME: 'Good job!'

This is my room right in here.

That's all my trophies.

They're a combination of the championships and Grand Nationals.

And the littler eagles are all divisional.

And all the other trophies here are National wins.

When you're 11 and 12,

basically your whole life is filled with people telling you what to do.

But when you're racing, you make your own decision.

And when to pass this person now, I'm going to wait a lap.

You're totally independent.

TV: 'Whoa! Annabeth Barnes suddenly goes to take this lap!'

'People don't understand racing, because they think,

'"Oh, they're just running around in a circle."'

But, you know, we don't understand,

like, um...baseball.

People standing out in a field,

and one person hitting 'em a ball. They might not hit it to them.

So we think that's crazy, you know?

Racing is just... It's an addiction.

It's definitely an addiction.

And, you know, we got it bad.

We got it bad.

That's some old stuff!

'My family has been racing for years and years and years.

'Since the Moonshine Runs in the mountains.'

SHE GIGGLES

My momma when she had long hair! And my dad.

'My best friend, her dad's a doctor.

'And her brother wants to be a doctor.

'They have a nice, good family of doctors.

'But we're racers. And I believe I was born to race.

'I believe that that's God's given talent to me.'

-Where's Annabeth?

-I look like a boy!

COCKEREL CROWS

'I got suspended for three days.'

I got in a fight with a kid.

We just started, like, brawling.

Like, he threw me in the mud,

and when I got up, I just took his knees out

and I went like this, I just chopped his knees out from under him.

It was so fun. It was fun, but, like, crazy.

'I got a bad temper. You know, like Tony Stewart?

'I got a bad temper like him.

'I actually grew up here.

'I lived with my mum till I was four years old,

'and then I moved in here,

'and my grandparents raised me from then on.

'So basically, they're my parents.'

Gotta put you to work, baby boy! Take these lights off.

Can't do it!

-My foot hurt!

-Your tail gonna hurt if you don't come up on here!

If you spray me with that, I'm going to take this,

and I'm going to throw it! You don't think I will!

If you spray me with it...

Aargh! HE LAUGHS

Don't you do it! Ah-ah!

HE GIGGLES Oh, my...you just did it!

I know you...I know you better not!

The only thing I can tell you is go for what you know!

HE SHRIEKS AND GIGGLES

This is where he first started.

That's it.

I'd have a car right here, and that boy would take his little shoe,

his little plastic shoe,

and ride that thing around cars all day long.

I'd like to know how many miles is on that thing!

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

'This year, I'm a lot different at school than I am at the track.

'It's like a whole other person.'

# One, two, three, two

# One, two, three, four, five

# Four, three, two, one... #

'Like, my friends, they know I race,

'but they don't think it's a big deal.

'They just don't understand.'

Oh, that's the shirt he got you? Aw! Cute!

'Like, I could not be caught dead wearing my racing shoes to school.

'At school, I'm flirty and definitely more girly.'

What?

-Trevor!

-Trevor?!

What do you say?

Trevor Cook wants to go out with you?!

-Say yes!

-Say yes!

Are you going to say yes?

-Let's just be friends!

-No!

-No!

Bruce come in.

That's Brandon's dad. He come in for the week.

Him going to stay for maybe the week or next week or something like that.

Maybe three weeks. I don't know.

I don't think he knows sometimes!

Brandon's dad was in prison for most of Brandon's life. I'd say...

..almost from the time he was born, basically.

His mother was involved with drugs also.

And, uh...

..Brandon come to live with us. With me and Kathy.

His dad's intentions are real good,

but I get worried when he comes around.

We hit that woman head-on.

The key switch went through my knee.

Put a big hole in my knee. And the airbag went off.

Cracked my sternum.

Then I had a three-and-a-half-inch gash that was down to the bone.

Yeah, it was treacherous. It was rough.

I really don't see him a lot, and then, like,

he just comes around and I just feel weird being around him.

I never get to see him, so...

..I don't know.

When I come to a race, I don't even think about what's going on at home.

It just... Everything goes away.

I don't think about anything except racing.

# I see your lips moving

# But there ain't nothing better...#

'I'm really enjoying spending time with Brandon.'

We're more like brothers than we are father and son.

# I don't call her back... #

What you know about Tracy, buddy?

# She's sorry that she missed me

# And she's been doing fine

# Well, I run it back

# And heard her say those words a hundred times. #

'I remember when I was 13,

'I was hard-headed. He was too.

'He's got it in his blood too. I want him to have patience.'

I never had patience. I always lost my cool so quick, man.

And he's got that, honestly. It's in him.

If my mom was here, her trailer would not look near how it looks.

This is actually pretty clean for two guys in a trailer.

One guy. One guy and a boy.

You know, I've got to call your ma.

Hey, where do you put these crock pots and stuff?

I've got to try to clean this place up.

He's a big boy. That's what I said.

I didn't do that! I didn't tell her!

She said, "Did you eat yet?"

-And I was like...

-Yes! Say yes!

-Dad's been feeding me every since we've been here!

-Oh, yeah!

I'll remember next time!

-TANNOY:

-'Church service is about to begin

'over by the WKA trailer.'

# This little light of mine

# I'm going to let it shine oh, glory

# This little light of mine

# I'm going to let it shine oh, glory

# This little light of mine

# I'm going to let it shine

# Every day, every day

# I'm going to let my little light shine. #

APPLAUSE

Here, put some Red Bull in that.

-It's going to be good!

-It's good with everything!

Yeah, Red Bull goes with everything.

Have you seen Days Of Thunder?

-Is it good?

-It's so cool.

It's about Cole Trickle.

-He rides a Harley Davidson, AND... ANNOUNCER:

-'All drivers to the grid.

'Your race is about to begin.'

'Once again, all drivers report to the grid.'

Brandon! Wait up!

-Are you going to watch my race?

-Yeah, man.

-Are you going to watch my race?

-I watch your race every time.

-ANNOUNCER:

-'Senior class drivers are in formation,

'with Brandon Warren, yellow number 2 kart, on the pole,

'as they look for the green flag to start the race.

'They get the green flag, and your senior class event is under way.

'The leader, Brandon Warren, goes wide into turn three.

'Justin Farmer takes the hold, Richie Goode follows.

'Brandon Warren trying to hold onto the third spot,

'but Searight won't let him in.

'And with a steady pace to the rear,

'this is not what Brandon Warren wanted to see.

'Now currently running in sixth position,

'still with pressure from behind.'

Come on, big dog.

Get out of that thing.

'Coming off turn four, Brandon Warren stays down low.'

Pull on by, pull on by! Don't you back out!

Don't you back out!

Come on, Brandon!

'Brandon Warren gets by Cody Slattery in kart number 71,

'putting him into the fourth spot.

'He turns his sights to car 27.

'He is picking off one kart at a time.'

Make that run, baby! Make that run!

Go get him!

'Look out for Brandon Warren!

'He is down the inside and passes Richie Good for the lead!'

Woooh! Check-out time!

'One lap to go, as kart 11, currently running in second,

'sees Brandon Warren pulling further and further away.

'Brandon Warren, up the back stretch for one last time.

'will win your senior class event here at Orange County Raceway!'

That's what I'm talking about, son!

That's how you represent, baby!

Hey, did you see me on the front when I did that check-out time?!

Good job, baby.

Brandon Warren, an excellent run for you. You're back in victory lane.

Yes, sir. Thank you. First of all,

I'd like to thank Jesus Christ for keeping us all safe out there.

My grandpa, my dad,

and Wayne Oakland. And I love all you guys. Thank you.

Congratulations! Brandon Warren once again visits victory lane

here at Orange County.

Junior class drivers,

please report to the grid at this time.

Your race is about to begin.

'After that first race,'

I think she was just disappointed in herself, cos she knew that

all these kids were thinking she was going to be a pushover.

And I think she knows she has something to prove.

And there's that part of me that's the mum part.

And...

..it makes me just want to hug her and say,

"Hey, it don't matter if you were first or last. I love you."

And then there's that...competitive side.

You know, that wants me to say,

"Yeah, you get in that champ buggy

"and you go out there and show 'em who you are."

'On the pole in the orange number four kart is Annabeth Barnes.

'Dylan Izzo in second, Hayden Newcomb in third,

'Tyler Walker in fourth,

'and Josh Hobson in car number ten, rounding out your top five.

'They work towards the flag stand.

'It's green flag, and they're underway, down on turn one.

'Anna Barnes takes an early lead

'with number 88, Hayden Newcomb, behind her,

'and Josh Hobson, number ten, behind him.

'Annabeth Barnes, feeling the heat, goes a little wide,

'and then a skid will cost her the lead.'

Doing real good.

'Josh Hobson's number ten kart

'pushes past Annabeth Barnes, into second place.

'Hayden Newcomb in the lead, and Josh Hobson in second,

'pulling away from Annabeth Barnes.

'Annabeth Barnes closes the gap,

'and it's a three-man race again.

'Josh Hobson moves down more on Hayden Newcomb,

'and Annabeth Barnes follows him, leaving Newcomb in third place.

'Josh Hobson goes wide in the turn.

'Annabeth Barnes takes the pole,

'Hayden Newcomb drops out underneath here.

'And they're side by side,

'going into the final lap of the race.'

Yeah! Be smart! Go! Go!

Go, Anna!

Go! You got him!

'Down the back stretch for one last time.

'And Hayden Newcomb goes to victory lane.

'Rookie, Annabeth Barnes, takes second,

'and Josh Hobson in third.'

-Congratulations, Hayden.

-Thank you.

Yeah, you guys just pulled away from him.

Good job, Anna.

-You might have had him.

-I should have stuck it in there.

-That last lap.

-It's all right. That's all right, baby.

You've done a good job. You drove a good race.

'She just wants to win every race.'

But she's just got to understand that she's a rookie.

She's one of the youngest ones out there.

She's finishing second and she's aggravated?! I mean, come on!

She's got to realise, hey, this is the National level! You know?

We're with the best of the best now!

Well, then, little brother!

Well, OK, now you're my big brother.

Yeah.

-I'm not that short!

-Nah, not really!

You're just tall, that's all.

I went out with shorter people.

Look, this is what she gave me before I left.

-Who?

-Annabeth Barnes.

She took my trophy, but she gave it back to me.

She said, "Look behind it," and then she ran!

She, like, ran, and I was just looking back.

It's her number.

-Boy, what are you going to do tomorrow at school?

-Pa, I'm tired!

I ain't going to school tomorrow.

Yes, you are going to school! You watch!

-I know all my states. That's all we do.

-And state capitals?

-Yes!

-OK.

-North Dakota.

-Yeah, what's the capital of North Dakota?

Uh...uh, hold on. Pierre.

How about New Jersey?

-Trenton.

-Georgia!

-Atlanta!

-Ally-bammy!

-Montgomery!

-Ohio.

-Columbus!

-What's Oregon?

-Cheyenne.

-Wrong.

You go to school now.

-I ain't!

-I'm going to give you some schooling!

-Don't you touch me!

-You little punk!

-BRANDON LAUGHS

THEY LAUGH Got you! Got you!

-Daddy, help me!

-All right!

-Let me get out of your way!

-THEY GIGGLE

I owe him everything. He's taught me a lot.

And he's done the same with Brandon.

I'd be happy to be half the man he is.

I'd really be happy with that.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

I'm nowhere near it now.

Two races down, three to go.

We have to train, right, Dad?

We don't have to race for a month and a half

-so I don't think we need to train today, do we?

-Yes. Turn the heat on.

That's as high as it gets.

Welcome to the jungle!

During the summer we roll the windows up,

we turn the heater all the way on

so when we go out on the race track we are used to the heat.

Bobby Allison was the driver that used to do this.

That's how he trained for NASCAR racing,

in Alabama, driving around with the heat on, he said.

Josh heard that and...

We've been training ever since.

The first time we did this, his shirt was soaking

and I didn't even have one drop on my forehead!

Heat exhaustion, it can make your mind do crazy things.

You can black out.

No, keep it on!

You can make simple mistakes as a driver

and then you think about it and think, "Why did I do that?"

-OK, we're done training.

-No, we go until I sweat!

I don't think Josh even thinks of the danger.

People say to me, "Aren't you nervous because Josh goes

"so fast on the racetrack?" and I worry about that.

I can't imagine a mother that wouldn't.

But, in every sport there is potential for danger.

I know kids that have blown out their ACLs in basketball,

I know kids that have broken collarbones

in the eighth grade during football. Two kids last year.

But there's times when I get really nervous watching him

and times when I have sat in the trailer and just listened

but every time I look out, I look out.

You like to keep them in that bubble and keep them

your little baby for ever but you can't really do that.

TV ON 'You're my best friend!'

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

'Help me, Jesus! Help me, Jewish God!'

Annabeth loves this movie.

DIALLING TONE

-'Hi.'

-Hello. Is this Anna?

-'Yes.'

-You know who this is?

-'I think I do.'

-Who?

-'Who is this?'

-Brandon.

Notice who's washing dishes. Again.

Brandon got it made.

I know somebody else who got it made too.

He's reading a magazine.

No, you tell me first.

You say it on the count of three, then I say it on the count of three.

All right, one... three.

Why didn't you say something?

No, I really was and I heard you not saying so I mumbled.

I promise on everything I will tell you, if you tell me.

It rhymes with random.

Random.

Is that the name? Is it Brandon? Are you serious?

It rhymes with Santa Rith. Santa Kith.

Santa Kith.

I don't know!

HE LAUGHS

What is so funny? I couldn't think of anything...

I couldn't think of anything else!

Do you get who I'm talking about?

-Straight back.

-I can't do it. Is that it?

This is my last year in karting.

Racing a car is definitely the next step for me.

-Don't you have to be 16 to race this car though?

-12.

-12? That's it?

She is going to be legal age next month to do it.

Some kids are not ready to stock car race at 12, some kids are.

It's bigger. You have to switch gears.

I can't do that that good. I will have to learn.

I'll sell a motorcycle.

Got to pay for this.

I thought you took it out of my college tuition.

I did but I will put it back in again when I sell the motorcycle!

I don't need to go to college!

I go to college every weekend.

Did you go to college?

-No.

-And?

-And I should have.

-Mom didn't go to college.

She should have too.

In this area,

most people work in the textiles and furniture industry

That's what I've done my whole life, too.

Would I have liked to have done something else?

Yeah, I probably would have.

I'm not gonna knock this job cos, you know, it's provided for me

and my family and I can't knock that.

Would I want my kid to do it? No. I wouldn't want my kid in here.

If we would not be racing, I probably wouldn't be working.

But I want to give my kid the opportunity

I didn't have to do and be what they want to be.

We all dream.

But sometimes we don't follow our dreams

because we are scared to or we don't have the money.

But I want Anna to be able to follow her dream.

I didn't have a chance to.

# Brother's wearing beads and he smokes a lot of dope

# Momma is depressed barely makes a sound

# Daddy's got a girlfriend in another town. #

Blarin' Lynyrd Skynyrd on the radio.

Nanny, you get the most mail I've ever seen.

-I don't never get anything.

-You are not supposed to get a lot of mail.

I'm supposed to get letters from girls.

That ain't my fault, dear.

You got a thing from that tortoise school, or whatever.

-Am I definitely going or are you just looking into it?

-I am looking.

Why do you want to send me to that?

-They teach you skills. Discipline.

-I don't care about that stuff.

I've got discipline. What you think Pa does when I mess up?

Good character and personal responsibility.

There are just saying that because it's a book.

It is a military for bad kids.

-No.

-Ain't that what crazy kids go to? ADD kids?

-No.

Yeah, them kids that's hyper... Why do you want to put me in there?

What did I do wrong?

Brandon, it's not what you did wrong, it's what you can do better.

-Hargrave?

-Yes.

-It's got your name written all over it, buddy.

Look at that stupid thing you've got to wear.

I think you would look very handsome.

-I'm not doing that, I swear to God.

-You know what you've got to do.

-No.

You got to quit learning to love to fight.

So that's what I done wrong.

But him got it so naturally, grandma.

I know he did. He got that mouth natural, too.

Him love to fight. Look at him.

I didn't do nothing wrong and then you said fighting.

-Don't you want to be the best at what you do?

-I race.

I welcome everyone back to the fourth annual option benefit golf outing.

Please put your hands together, I would like to say grace.

Lord, we thank you mostly for racing

and the love generally shared in the sport.

Please allow us to make good decisions

and to not look back as we move forward.

We pray in your wonderful name, amen.

ALL: Amen!

Racing is really expensive.

With the equipment, travel, food.

-It's about 5,000 a race.

-We have some 50-50 tickets, one dollar apiece.

This outing definitely helps out get us through another weekend.

Thank you. Good luck.

But when Josh moves up into a car that's going to take

a big, big sponsor.

It's like a race outside of the real race. It's like a sponsorship race.

Sponsors are looking for a good driver but also for someone

that looks good and is a good spokesperson for their company.

The sponsors are putting out the money,

you've got to make sure you do what you are told.

If they tell me to drink Pepsi, every time there's a camera on me...

..I grab my Pepsi and...

Ultramax is one of the big chassis builders in racing.

They give us our chassis for free.

Ultramax sponsor me

because I am a girl so when I win a race then all the other

people's dads say, "If girl can win on an Ultramax

"so can my little boy."

So, they all go out and buy Ultramax.

It is totally sexist and wrong

but if it gets Ultramax more customers then it's OK with me!

Did you get it? Man.

After this year, my racing career is pretty much over.

I'm not going to be able to race next year because it costs too much.

You've just got to have money and we never really got sponsors and stuff.

If he wants to be a champion, this is the last year he needs to do it.

He needs to get in there, drive hard.

It is his last year because we can't afford it.

-Can I do it?

-Yeah. Mix it up.

-OK.

Smells good.

NASCAR has to build up this whole drive for diversity programme

for the minority of female drivers this literally,

a full-time sponsorship.

And we have heard rumours that NASCAR is looking into the programme

and will pick some karters and bring these younger karters on up.

-You want to taste it?

-Yes, to make sure...

It raises the stakes higher.

It means every race somebody might be watching her to bring her

in to the NASCAR drive for diversity programme.

I don't think I've ever seen a waterfall.

-You have too!

-I have never seen

a natural waterfall. I've seen a made one.

-You are such a deprived child(!)

-I know I am. I am so deprived.

-There it is.

-Are those Canadians?!

That is so pretty.

He looks like a dork!

PHONE RINGS

Hey. We're at Niagara Falls.

-Yeah.

-Is that Brandon?

-Was that Brandon?

-Yeah.

-Where is he at?

-He's already at the track.

Come on, Anna.

-ANNOUNCER:

-Annabeth, kart number 4, in third,

Josh Hobson, passes her on the inside.

Got to go, guys. Flying now.

Josh Hobson wins.

Congratulations, Josh Hobson.

Go, Brandon! Go!

Warren still to hold off as they go down the front.

Brandon Warren wins!

With another first-place finish,

Brandon Warren leads the senior class national championship.

And driver Hobson wins again.

# I want to hold your little hand if I can be so bold

# If I can be so bold. #

Yep, there she is. Look how beautiful it looks.

Isn't that cool?

Excuse me.

HE SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS

-Brandon!

-Brandon!

I like racing but my dad, he LOVES racing.

Like, he couldn't go a day without talking about racing

or thinking about racing.

He thinks nothing could be better than racing.

Like, nothing. In the world.

I don't know...

-Can I paint your nails clear.

-No, buddy, I'm sorry.

It'll make 'em all shiny.

Girls are supposed to be shiny. Not guys.

Here.

-What are you doing?

-I am going to be all alone.

-Are you retarded?

-Yes.

I am, for your information!

# Well, night-time let her through

# Yeah, I'm talking to you

# Want to see her

# Precious little thing

# With eyes that dance around without their clothes

# So buy a pretty dress

# Wear it out tonight

# For anyone you think could outdo me

# Or better still

# Be my winding wheel... #

ALL: Happy birthday to you!

Make a wish, Anna!

It's gonna burn up!

You're done!

When they get to middle school, they start changing.

You're almost like, "Where's my kid?"

Just this summer she's changed a lot.

She had all her baby dolls out,

she has had them out this week playing with them.

And she won't play with baby dolls one day

but she wants to be grown up the next.

When I was littler, it was easy. You know, to go to the track,

race and win. That was easy for me because it's all I knew

but now there's all these other doors opening for me.

Summer, boys!

Pretty much there's something going on every week we're gone.

It's so stupid.

You really start to think, "Is this what I want to do?"

And it's hard for a 11, 12, 13-year-old

to think about what they want to do for the rest of their life.

I don't want racing to keep her from being a kid.

But if she's going to do it professionally,

we can't go to the race once a month

and we can't come up here one night a week, you know.

It can't be done like that.

If you're going to be a professional, whatever, tennis player,

you gonna make sacrifices for your ultimate goal.

But as she gets older, there's a lot more pressure on her to...

Or her friends would say...

"Why you gotta race?"

Then she might say, "Why do I have to go racing?" So...

All in all, it's not been that way.

If it was and it continued to be that way you know...

No sense in going through all this.

PHONE RINGS

I can sense when things are starting to mess up,

when Bruce is starting to screw up you can sense it.

I can sense it. Even my wife can sense it.

Both of us talk about something is up. Something is wrong.

Pa, look.

-Don't go crazy.

-That's good, right there.

-That's good.

That's perfect.

The secret is kneading it and putting it up in a ball.

That's the secret.

You get the flour on your hands, son,

that way it won't stick to your hands.

I thought you knew something about this stuff.

I asked Nanny for flour. That's all the flour. I don't know how to cook!

Who taught you to make? I did.

BRUCE: I've spoken some crazy stuff, man.

It's expensive. I didn't know it was that expensive.

Some crazy stuff, man...

-Stranger! How have you been?

-Good.

-How are you? Here he is.

-How are you doing?

-Good. How you?

-Pretty good.

-What's going on?

I don't know what I'm going to get myself into.

Looking at something like this here.

-How was it for you?

-Well, a little scary at first.

It's still scary when he goes out. I know he can handle it.

It's a big transition. From 12 horsepower to 500 horsepower.

-It's fast.

-Hop in over here.

OK.

It feels good climbing into a car.

Oh! This is nice.

-Jeez.

-This is a bad thing.

Oh, man!

-I am getting too excited now.

-I love it.

I want it to be a part of me.

ENGINE GROWLS

Yeah, you will be ready for this year, son. Your daddy's ready now.

He's trying to talk himself into it.

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

It was supposed to be.

All right, I will have a cheque out to you this week.

All right. Thanks.

I'd better not read these bills too much.

Timothy. We have to figure out what we are doing.

We have to think and make some huge decisions.

Right, dear?

Yes, dear.

We are definitely over extended. We probably should be putting money

-away or something.

-Yeah, it should be on somewhere else.

I know both kids need to get to the dentist and get things done

and you wait until season's over and get caught up on that stuff.

We've got 130

or 40 grand in go-karts.

Our goal now is to sell the trailer and everything and buy a race car.

It's something you feel like you've got to do.

-There is no other sport like this. Just look.

-It's like your own city.

-I think they said they get 110,000 people here.

-Wow.

It's amazing.

-Here's Tony Stewart.

-Ladies all over him!

Man, isn't this awesome?!

Richard Petty is standing up there with the hat on.

There's Junior, right there.

Oh, my gosh. He is pretty cute!

Look at all the people standing by Jeff Gordon for his interview.

Jeez.

-Come with me, come with me.

-Where?

-To Jeff Gordon.

-We can't.

Yeah, we can. Come on.

-Hey, Jeff.

-What's up?

If you get a second, I would like to talk to you.

I'm a national champion go-kart racer.

-You are?

-I know were too.

Yeah.

You race road courses or ovals?

Pavement oval, yep.

Where at?

The World Karting Association.

Well, I am not quite sure yet.

13 now.

Yeah, thanks. Appreciate it, Jeff.

All right, take care.

-I can't believe it.

-Did he ask your name?

-No.

I probably should have told him.

I should have asked him to get me some connections.

We had all kinds of mess going on.

Monday night Brandon called me and said,

"Pa, daddy's has been out all weekend."

Drinking, drugging and whatever.

Using foul language and stuff. He cussed out Nanny.

I said, "Well, I will take care of that when I come home."

But when I got home, he called Brandon a snitch.

He said I will whoop him when he comes down here. That's my son.

I said, to be a father you have to be around a child.

Don't put your hands on him.

And he left that night.

I don't really care any more.

Stay, stay!

Look, don't leave me.

I need you. Come here. Don't leave me.

Don't leave me.

And the next thing, it happened.

Bruce broke in the house.

Stuff was stolen.

Put it in the pawnshop, I don't know what he got for it.

My heart feels like it was ripped out last week.

He's in downtown jail right now, waiting on his court date.

No.

'Hey, God. Where are you at?'

Hey, God, I don't know where you've been lately.

Hey, God, what's wrong with life? Hey, God, what's wrong with you?!

That young man out there, he said, "I'm gonna join the Marine Corps.

"When I come back from the Marine Corps," he said,

"I'm gonna whoop my daddy.

"I'm gonna whoop him."

-'..the 26 car bounces off the outside wall.

-And that's just

'how fast it happens, right there.'

Gonna catch us some bass,

you'll be feelin' better, won't you, boy?

I'm OK, it's nothin'.

Man, please.

You keep fishin' this place long enough,

and you gonna get you a nice 'un.

Let's make a bet. I bet we don't catch nothin'. What do you bet?

I fish to get me one here and now.

HE REELS IN LINE

BRANDON MUMBLES

-Hm?

-I can't do nothin' without them bitin' me.

Horse flies.

Brandon, when you're out there racin'...

..when there's a crash next to you, keep your eyes focused

cos if you don't keep your eyes focused, you'll be in a crash.

Here ya go.

Get some?

Oh, snap!

He caught one.

Let me get him, Pa.

Here, boy.

-Dad, no. It's gonna mess up my hair.

-Sorry.

-Dad! I just fixed it.

-It's hot in here.

-Oh, that kicks ass.

-Do you sweat when you race?

-No! It's kinda cold.

Of course you sweat!

-What about when it's cold?

-Yes, it still gets hot.

It's not like a go-kart. It's gonna be 150, maybe 200 degrees.

Put your hands on the wheel,

like you're gonna drive, in the driving position.

Well, I don't know my driving position in here!

We'll make you one.

Does it need to be higher or lower?

It's fine.

-Well, I don't know...

-It really is fine!

-It's going to be way way hotter than that. I

-don't like this helmet!

-Please.

-Urgh.

-Woo!

-It's OK.

-I'm sweating like a hound dog.

Just one more time. I'm going to do my thing.

All right.

OK, here we go.

The moment we've all been waiting for.

-When can I start it?

-One day soon.

-Are you done?

-No.

-You almost done?

-Hey, can I start now?

-No, I'm not finished, honey.

-Dad!

You're absolutely killing me, man.

I don't know what that is, but I'm pushing it.

Oh, I see! I see the light!

-Are you done now?

-No, in a minute.

-Right, now. You can start it.

-Hallelujah!

OK, how do you start it?

OK, so which...? First with this, then the engine.

ENGINE CHOKES

ENGINE STARTS

SHE SQUEALS WITH DELIGHT

SHE REVS THE ENGINE

Well, that was awesome.

'Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

'to the World Karting Association's Grand National Race

'capping off our five race series.'

Brandon's had a tough year but, hopefully,

if he does the right thing today, he'll, you know, he'll bring home

a national championship and I think that would go a long way for him.

-Hi.

-How are you running today?

-Pretty good.

Can't believe I'm not going to see you until the banquet.

-I don't even want to think about.

-Makes me sad.

Brandon.

Just got to be smart.

Just thinking.

Thinking about the race.

What I've got to do.

This last race, I think, is really important to him.

I think it's his last go-kart race he's going to be in.

And we're done after this year running the kart,

so he's going to go out there and do whatever he needs to do

and have fun and try to win the race.

Annabeth's fifth in the points, but she needs to

finish in the top five to hold that fifth place position.

Getting a top five finish is going to be important for them.

Now hit your marks down good down through one and two,

that's two-tenths on there. You've got to ride that bump and go.

'Dylan Izzo on the pole,

Christopher Rhodes in second position,

'Annabeth Barnes in third, Josh Hobson behind her.

'Off turn four the green flag waves

'and your final Junior Class Race is under way.'

'Down the back stretch, Hobson slips Annabeth Barnes,

'putting him into third position.'

'Christopher Rhodes has kart 57, second place,

'Josh Hobson in third, Hobson makes a move

'getting by Christopher Rhodes.

'Just one kart now between him and the lead.'

'Meanwhile, Jake Blackhurst moves to the inside of Annabeth Barnes.

'He knocks her back to fifth with only two more laps to go.'

Hang on.

'Back up front, Dylan Izzo. Josh Hobson pulls up to his rear

'he'll have one more lap to make his move.'

'Into the front, Josh Hobson stays to the inside,

'he slips past, Dylan Izzo. He takes the lead.

'Josh Hobson trying to take home the national championship.

'Josh Hobson will win your Junior Class Race

'here at Chapel Hill Raceway.'

'Dylan Izzo, second, Jake Blackhurst, third,

'Christopher Rhodes, fourth,

'and Annabeth Barnes rounds out your top five.'

I don't know where you came from. You are the best.

That was good racing, buddy. Real nice job.

-I can't believe it's over.

-It's over for another season.

Maybe even for ever.

I'm going to miss it but you have to become serious and I'm ready

to buckle down in my racing career and I'm just ready to move forward.

Next year, once I get in them cars, I mean,

you talk to Jeff Gordon and them, and if you ask them

if they miss being in go-karts, I'm sure they wouldn't.

They wouldn't miss it at all. They're in NASCAR now.

They got cars that go 200mph. What can be better than that?

-Good race.

-So, we're in the top five?

-Yeah, we're in top five.

That's all we need. You did good.

Since this is my first year in the National's,

it feels good to be in the top five.

Yeah, this year, there was a point that I was just like,

"Why do I bother with this?" You know, why do I do it?

And then I figured out even when I'm out,

doing things with my friends and stuff, I mean,

I think about what races I've missed, you know.

Who won. If I could have won. If I could've been right there.

And that's what I love about racing.

Just being right there with that guy or girl, you know,

just lap after lap, him being right there, I love that.

No matter how much I wanna be like all my friends

and go to all the parties, I just couldn't give it up. At all.

It's... It is what I want to do.

It's what I want to do with my life, and...

..I'm living the dream.

You've got to think about the big picture, you know what I'm saying?

No circumstances, I don't care how mad somebody makes you,

you cannot retaliate.

'In the final race of your Senior Class championship,

'the green flag flies down at turn one.

'Three-time gap now between first and second

'as they make their way down the first stretch into turn one,

'David Schneider, your leader, and your second spot, kart number 35,

'Tyler Coughier.'

'Brandon Warren in kart number two falls back to seventh place,

'trying to keep distance between him and the crunch around him.

-What happened?

-Everyone's saying that Brandon took Cody out,

but I don't think he's the ones that hit him.

'Right now, there's a red flag with the officials

'meaning to determine whether there was an infraction.'

Come on!

'The officials have determined there were no infractions.

'Karts please line up single file

'for a green line checker to finish the race.'

Once again, it's with great pleasure that we convene back here

at Hickory for another year to crown our new national champions.

We'd like to start with a special announcement. Most of you have heard

of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity programme,

which is their development team for talented female

and minority drivers.

This year, they expanded the programme to support

a young karter who displayed driving potential and maturity

in a rookie year, consistently finishing in the top five.

Please join me in congratulating Annabeth Barnes.

APPLAUSE

And now please join me in honouring

our Junior Class National Champion, Joshua Hobson.

APPLAUSE

And our Senior Class National Champion, Brandon Warren.

I'm doing RTC at my high school

and I think it's going to be a good thing for me.

I'd still like to be a race car driver

but we just ain't got the money to do it.

It's hard times right now.

And I still love racing, and always will,

but there is just some things you can't do in life.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd