www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Able 2017 1 1 1 1 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of motor racing events. Walking on to the grid is the two-time and defending champion Rowdy Burns and perennial contender from Reading, Pennsylvania, Aldo Bennedetti. Gentlemen, start your engines. Burns makes contact with number 43 Richard Petty. Petty spins to the inside of the rack. A tough break for Richard Petty. Richard Petty is out of the Daytona 500. Also out of the race let's remember the legendary crew chief Harry Hogge, whose great driver Buddy Bretherton died here last year in a fiery crash, hitting the wall at 195 miles an hour. See you're enjoying the good life, Harry. Yeah. I don't mind spreadin' a little fertiliser around. There's worse things. How's the truck running? Runs good. I, uh...I want you to build me a car. Now, Tim, everybody knows some downtown car dealer can't afford a race team. No driver will sign with you. 'Cause they wreck one car, you can't afford another, and they're out. And no car's going to win without a driver. Not even mine. If you built the car, I'd get a damn driver. What kind of driver you goin' to find after the season's started? Some boy that's washed up and wasn't worth a shit anyway. You can work with him. You build a driver like you build a car. Take a look at that hound. That's the best coon dog I ever seen, and I didn't teach him a thing. I got somebody. Who? Take a look at him. Anybody I got to take a look at ain't somebody. Then look at nobody. Look, Tim, I gave up racing. You got to know that. You didn't give up racing, Harry. You quit to avoid an investigation into Buddy's crash at Daytona. Hey, I didn't avoid any god damn investigation. Well, anyway, I, uh... I talked to Nascar. You come back, there's no investigation. How'd you sell them that deal? I'm a hell of a salesman. That's a race car driver. When is your driver due? Harry says your guy runs those Indy deals. Yeah. Sprints mainly. Two world of outlaw championships, three all-star wins, seven straight feature wins, and he's been driving ASA. He's a real statistician. He know anything about the drivers? We'll see. Harry, where did you say your driver's from? Eagle Rock. That's up around, uh, Wilkesboro, isn't it? No. Glendale, California. He's a Yankee? Not exactly. If you're from California, you're not a Yankee. You're not really anything. You said it. (CHUCKLES) Shocks are right. We're dialled in. Don't change a thing. Hey, you ain't buried in horse manure after all. Looking pretty good. You're the one that's lookin' good. It hasn't been easy, Harry. I'll guaran-damn-tee you. But this bitch is ready. We appreciate you letting us use the car, Rowdy. I told you about this, Rowdy. Harry's new driver needs a car for a couple laps. I told you it was Harry Hogge that asked us personally. Who is this driver? Tim tells me you've been runnin' open wheels. That's right. Now you just want to up and drive Nascar. That's right. What do you know about stock-car racing? Well, I've watched it on television, of course. You've seen it on television? ESPN. You'd be surprised how much you pick up. I'm sure I would. This may not be the best time to run this car. What, is there some problem? No, sir. Y'all go ahead. But bend this bitch and I'll tear your balls off. Hey, would you mind very much? Want to hold this? Didn't you hear what that man said? Hold on a minute. Don't you think we ought to talk? What, about how I'm going to run? Sure. About how you've managed to live this long. You're not racing this car. Mm-mmm. What's going on? He's had second thoughts. You said you'd look at him. I've looked at him. I paid $2,500 to use this track. Forget it. He needs a brand name, like Exxon or Richard Petty. I know a damn race driver when I see one. What's going on, Harry? Is this happening or what? Do us a favour, Harry. Let me drive. I won't make a fool out of you. That tunnel turn is real tricky. It can get as slick as a button, and you'll slip and slide and slam into the wall. Just take her easy. I'm dropping the hammer. No, you're not! Under Rowdy's time. It might have been better if he'd cracked up the car. That was fast. Yeah? 31 flat. That's good enough to take the pole in the last race here. I thought this would be a joke. You've never driven stock car? Sprints mainly. What's your name? Buck Bretherton. Cole Trickle. Damn nice to meet you. Damn nice to meet you, too. You were one lucky son of a bitch in that tunnel turn. You were out of shape. If you think it was luck, let's do it again. You run good. Thank you. Get your own car. We'll see how you do in a crowd. So... how come you don't stick to open wheels? Lost my ride. After two championships and seven straight wins, you were fired. I lost my ride. Doesn't matter. I'd have quit, regardless. Why is that? Wasn't going anywhere. Where do you want to go? Indianapolis. But you can't win in Indy without a great car, and my name's not Andretti or Unser. Anyway, a stock car is a stock car. Hey, there's nothing stock about a stock car. Look, I'm not trying to insult you. I'm saying that stock cars are built to run equal, right? So the rule books say. So I won't get beat by another car. In other words, you'll get beat by other drivers. Build me a car, and I'll win Daytona next year. I'm going to give you an engine, low to the ground, extra big oil pan to cut the wind from beneath you. That will give you 30-40 more horsepower. Your fuel line will hold an extra gallon of gas. I'm going to shave half an inch off you and shape you like a bullet. And when we get you primed, painted and weighed... you'll be ready for the race track. You hear me? You're going to be perfect. I'm going to pull this rookie's chain. You're wandering all over the track. That son of a bitch just slammed into me. He didn't slam into you, bump you, or nudge you. He rubbed you. And rubbin', son, is racin'. # Hey,... # Well, my temperature's risin'... when my feet hit the floor... There goes the fender. # Let me in, baby. Got to know what you've got... There goes the quarter panel. # This place is hot, and I'm so glad we made it. # so glad we made it. # You got to... # gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Give me some lovin'... # every day... # All right. While we're still under a caution, go back out on that track and hit the pace car. Hit the pace car? Hit the pace car! What for? Because you hit every other God damn thing. I want you to be perfect! Come on! Go, go, go! # Hey. # Well, I feel so good. # Everything is sounding hot. # Better take it easy... # 'cause this place is on fire. # Been a long day... # and I have some work to do. # We made it, baby. Stay in the groove! # And I'm so glad we made it. # So glad we made it. # You got to... # gimme some lovin'... # every day. # Well, how about that? A side we don't have to fix. I don't want you spoiled, Buck. # Hey... # and I'm so glad we made it. # Hey, so glad we made it. # You got to... # gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # This is going to hurt. Whoa! Move, move! What is this shit? Did you see that guy? # Well, my temperature's risin'... when my feet hit the floor. # Crazy people knockin' 'cause they want some more. # Let me in, baby. Got to know what you got. I got to pit. No, we're busy now. You're what? We're, uh, eating ice cream. Ice cream? # Gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Gimme some lovin'... # every day. Come and get one, but I don't believe Nascar would think much of you. You have enough trouble ridin' around the track. # So glad we made it. # So glad we made it. # You got to... # gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Gimme some lovin'. # Gimme, gimme some lovin'. # Cole! Hey! Hey! Aah! Come on now, Cole! Aah! Aah! Whoa! We messed up big time on Sunday. I had sponsors in the stands, I'm hugging and holding hands and kissing their ears and praying for a good showing. And what do we do? We end up looking like a monkey fucking a football out there. Everybody out. Please. Except you two. I've got a question. What's the one thing you absolutely need to do to win a race? That's pretty damn obvious. You keep quiet. You need to finish the race. I realise Harry's been around a long time. I'm not saying his ways are antiquated, but it'd help having a car that didn't blow engines. If he wouldn't get excited and over-rev the son of a bitch, the engine wouldn't blow. Now, Cole, when you shift the gear, and that little tach needle goes into the red and reads 9,000 rpm, that's bad. It's also my fault the tyres blow, according to this old fart. Hell, yes, it's your fault. There's 40 other vultures who manage to finish on their tyres. You see Darrell Waltrip using up his tyres? There's nothing I can't do. There's only so much I can do. That's obvious. He doesn't need to appreciate your job to do his. How can he race if he don't know what a car can and can't do? What is this shit? You want me in the pit and you drive? We'll try that. I can't talk to this son of a bitch. I can't talk to that son of a bitch. I really can't. Think he can drive? He can drive beyond the limits of the tyres, the engine, the car, anything else. If the son of a bitch listened to me, we'd never lose. We don't get us a sponsor in the next couple of races, my ass is fried. I'm liable to be out of the car business altogether. And Harry, I know you're great, you know you're great, but if the driver doesn't trust you, we'll never win a damn race. Hey, Harry. We got to talk, all right? All right, Harry, talk. No. On the radio during the race. You want to run on the edge, you got to tell us what's going on with the car. You just want to change the way I drive it. Maybe. Maybe set up the car so I don't have to change. I'd be happy to. Just tell me how. What do you want to know? You're the driver. You think she's running loose or tight, tell us. We'll give a turn here, take some wedge out-- We'll win some races. I can't do that. Why the hell not? Because I don't know what the hell you're talking about. How do you mean? Because I don't know much about cars, OK? That don't make you different from any driver I ever met. No. I don't know what you just said about a turn here and wedge there. I don't know. How could that be? What's the difference? They told me to drive, and I could drive. I'd like to help out, but I can't. I'm an idiot. I don't have the vocabulary. Well... Well? Then we're just going to have to figure one out, aren't we? Don't worry about it. All right? How's she feel? Her ass is all over the place. When the rear end's loose, car's fast and on the edge of out of control. Now, Cole, there is something else. Tyres is what wins a race. What the hell you talking about? If the way you run melts the damn tyres, we can't finish a race. So what do you want? Tell you what. You run 50 laps any way you like, then 50 laps like I want you to. I'm going to beat you. Now we're going to do it 50 laps my way, all right? When you raced Indy cars, the tyres were twice as wide, and the car weighed half as much. Now your car weighs twice as much, and the tyres are half as wide. You're burning them up. When you burn them up, they melt and get greasy, and you slip and slide. You're out of control. All right? Hut! Let's go! Yeah, well. His way. My way. I was six seconds faster. Buy me lunch at the highway joint, Tim. What's wrong? We're trying to figure out what to do. About what? About what? We're in trouble. Rowdy took the pole in 30:25. We run 31:10. We're almost a second off the pace. We're looking for some speed out of this thing. Car's perfect, Harry. It's the first race of the season at Darlington International Speedway. And the most treacherous turn is number four. 30:90, the leader's 30:80. You're runnin' 12th. 30 laps to go. Thanks, Harry. You're going to burn the tyres. Take it easy. I'm not going faster. Everybody else is going slower. He's right, Harry. We haven't fallen off as much as everybody else. You're doing good, Cole. You're doing real good. You're fifth, and gaining half a second a lap on the leader. 15 to go. Don't pass on the outside of turn four. That's right. Stay to the inside. 10 laps to go. Trickle has moved into the number two spot, right behind Rowdy Burns. I'm behind the leader. Five laps to go. Remember me? What's going on? Just a little rubbing, Harry. Rubbing's racing. I'm going to take this rookie! God damn it, that's enough. He's going to give you a real ass-rippin'. Just relax. Somebody's got to give, and it's Rowdy Burns who's out. But, oh, an incredible recovery by Rowdy. He retains his position on the lead lap. We have a new leader, Cole Trickle in the number 46 City Chevrolet car. We're under caution with three laps to go. Caution's out. Come in. What for? It's almost over. You've been on the green for 68 laps. Everybody's got to pit. Go, go, go! Air gun's jammed! Give me another one! Give me a gun! Give me a gun! All right. Time's running! Let's go! Damn it! Go, go, go! Get them on quick! God damn it! Son of a bitch! Now, Cole, uh... Son of a bitch! Cole, we're on the air. I pit in first place. Now I'm third with two laps to go. Don't get excited. You're in third place. That's respectable. What you do is this-- When they slow for turn four, keep on the gas and pass on the outside. You said nobody goes to the outside on turn four. Now I'm telling you different. If you go to the outside, you can hold it. He'll hit the wall. The pace car's ducking off. We don't have time to discuss this. Well, tell me how. We've got good matched tyres on her. What? What? Those tyres are matched perfect and staggered special. You'll get him killed! The pace car's ready to duck off. Go to the outside. You can hold it. All right. I'll take your word. The white flag is out. One lap to go. The boy don't have the balls to pass me on the outside. And they're heading into treacherous turn four. Yes! Cole Trickle wins his first Nascar victory. Second place goes to Rowdy Burns. Third to Geoff Bodine. Cole, did you have any idea you could run through that turn and make it stick? I knew all along. How's that? On that last stop, Harry put on special tyres. Special tyres? What's special about them? Well, nothin' in particular. Harry Hogge has some explaining to do. You--You told me... I lied. I had to calm you down. You was acting like such a candy-ass after the air gun stuck. You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch! Try this on for size. We got ourselves a sponsor! Promise me one thing, boys. Whatever else we do from here, we win Daytona. You got it. That's a promise. Sellin' thousands worth of useless mining stock, they call that a dog and a pony show. It may be funny, but it's not when it happens to you, son. Well, it happened to me. What, you bought worthless mining stock? Told you I lost my ride. That's how I lost it. Team owner was a con man, junk bonds, worthless companies... mainly he sold stolen yachts. When I won enough races, he used my name to promote sales. He went to jail, I lost my ride. It was pretty humiliating, actually. Hell, there's no need to be embarrassed by some low-life trash who put you in that position. Well, Harry, that depends. On what? On whether or not you're related to that low-life piece of trash. It was my father. I never really stuck with anything since. They don't trust me, and I don't trust them. You know how that goes. Like, for instance... you lied to me today. Lucky I didn't end up crashed or dead. I ought to punch you out. Yeah? Give it a try. Nah. What, get my ass kicked by a 60-year-old man? 59. Whoa! Whup his ass, Harry. Come on, Cole. Oh, you guys. Come on. Drivers don't go to the outside like that, but I knew you could do it. I knew it. I believed it in my heart. Peach or cherry? Cherry. You see now, there's calculating drivers, and then there's kamikaze drivers. Cole here's a kamikaze like my pappy was. Who was that? Buddy Bretherton. Buddy Bretherton was your dad? Yeah. He died at Daytona, didn't he? Last year. How did it happen? Mind my asking? He hit the wall. Which turn? Probably dead before he hit it. Coroner's report shows massive heart attack. SIREN WAILS I believe we've been pulled over. Everybody out and up against the wall here. You're under arrest. Let's go! Move it. What the hell for? Right in your hand. Transportation of illegal alcohol across state lines for distribution. Well, officer, this is not distribution, this is consumption. That don't exactly make it legal. Up against the wall. What--What is this? Up against the wall! Officer. Well, it looks like we found something. What's that? Concealed weapon. Where? Right... here. Now...the only question is... will he actually use it? (LAUGHS) (WHISTLES) Yeah! Yeah! Please don't be mad. Harry and the boys just thought you might like me. Here we are for summer speed weeks in Daytona Beach, Florida. It's the Firecracker 400, and the favourite today is newcomer Cole Trickle in the number 46 Superflo Chevrolet. He's the hottest young rookie in Nascar history and has won five of his last six races. Stop playing peek-a-boo in Rowdy's rear-view mirror. I'm not doing that, Harry. What are you doing? He loosened his muffler. I'm going to help it come off. His bumper's liable to go through the radiator and take you out of the race. That bumper gets any looser, they'll black flag you. Let him pass. He's waving me by. (WHISTLES) What are you so worried about, Harry? You surely got my attention. Great driving. Great recovery. Cole Trickle now right behind the number 51 car of Burns, and they'll go at it again. There's a crash at turn four. I see it! Can you hear me? I can't see anything. Wiggle your fingers for me. Wiggle your toes. I can't see anything. I'm all right. What have we got? Hook him to a monitor. I'm not a car battery that needs recharging. Relax. It's just standard procedure. You go screw yourself, OK? What, Mr Burns? I wouldn't tell you that, doc. What's going on? You're in a hospital. Tell me what's going on! I'm blind, God damn it! What's your name? Cole Trickle. Cole, lie still, please. C-spine and CAT scan right away. Can you move your fingers? Just tell him he's had a concussion. His brain is bruised, and like any bruise, it will swell. That swelling is almost certainly what's affecting his vision. You have a concussion. Your brain is bruised and will swell. That will affect your vision. Will this go away? Tell him we'll run some tests. What did his helmet look like? Was it cracked? No. Was it scratched? Was the helmet scratched? The front? The back? It was scratched in back and front. Are you a brain doctor? > Could someone talk to me? When I'm driving, I got a guy on the radio who talks to me. I can't see him, but he talks to me. Don't worry. We're going to take care of him. Harry? Are you OK, Harry? Yeah, why? You look all... bent out of shape. Oh, hell, it's probably just my eyes. No, it's me. I've been here all night. Jesus, what are they giving me here? Harry, what happened? Rowdy was spinning across the track. The rule is, you go straight for them. So I never took my foot off the gas. He should have been gone when I got there. Man, but he wasn't. I think, uh... another car knocked you into Rowdy. It came out of nowhere. It's one of those things that never happens. I wouldn't even think about it. You know? I'll get the doctor. I feel great. Cole. Oh, damn nice to see you, Cole. How you doing, buddy? Damn nice to see you, Buck. How you doin'? Cole, you've met Dr Lewicki. It's your doctor, Dr Lewicki. I don't think he's actually seen me before. Yeah, sure, Harry. No. Dr Lewicki. A smock, a stethoscope... that's a great costume, Harry. How are you, doc? Cole, this really is Dr Lewicki. I was just about to go off-duty. And you thought you'd come look me over. It's not a bad idea. Feel your vision's restored? Oh, I think so. Nothing's blurred? Not seeing double? No halos around objects? Flashing lights? Now hold on. What are you going to do with this? Look into your eyes. Now, doc... doc... isn't this what you're really looking for? That's interesting enough, Mr Trickle, but it's just not my specialty. ALL LAUGH She's the real thing? I wouldn't play no joke on you in a situation like this. Sorry. I'm trying not to smile. All right, get out. Get out of here. I can walk, God damn it. Not as long as you're here. I don't want to be next to this clown. Pick up the pace. If you want drugs, see the nurse, OK? Wait! Get out of the way! Good morning, gentlemen. Right this way. So neither Mr Burns nor Mr Trickle present significant intracranial injury. Hold it, doc. Let's have that in English. Did they mess up their squash or not. Their brains are intact. As much as before the accident, anyway. Can they get back on a race track? It's a dangerous way to spend your time. That's a philosophical objection. I want a medical one. I'm not inclined to give them clearance. That's total horseshit. Gentlemen, please. I think they're saying they'd like another opinion. We would like to talk to your boss. You're welcome to, of course. But Dr Wilhare and I are of the same opinion, which is a re-evaluation in a week or two. Now we have something to say to the boys in private. OK, it's Big John's turn. If you want to turn yourselves into a greasy spot on a country road, go right ahead. I don't give a shit, and I don't think anybody else does. But you two monkeys won't do it on my race track. Now, y'all heard of Japanese inspection? Japanese inspection. When the Japs get some lettuce they're not sure they want, they just let it sit on the docks until they're good and ready to look at it. By then it's all gone rotten. Ain't nothing left to inspect. In other words, lettuce is a perishable item, like you two monkeys. You trade paint one more time, you so much as touch, I'll black flag you and take apart your race cars for 300 laps. Then if you pass inspection and put your car together, I might let you back in the race. Now, just to show there's no hard feelings, we're all going to dinner. I've got other plans. Yeah, so do I. You'll have to change them. Not only that, you two are driving together. Dr Lewicki. I want to apologise for what happened with Cole when you come into the hospital room. Mr Hogge, it's nothing to worry about, and in any case, it was hardly your doing. That's just it-- I believe it was. See, not long ago, after he won Darlington, we played a trick on Cole. We dressed up a pretty girl in a highway patrol uniform, and we told her to get real ornery with him, and she did. By ornery you mean... I mean REAL ornery. Why would you want me to know about this? I don't want you to hold a bad opinion of Cole. I believe it scares him. He needs reassurance from you that he's OK. After all, uh... you're his doctor. That's it. Doc. Oh. I heard you thought I was a highway patrol officer. I want to thank you for taking care of me. It's my job. Yeah, well, it's my life. Well, this time, let's shake hands. Of course. Of course. Good luck, Cole. Oh, I'm sorry. Uh... Dr Lewicki... could I see you? Oh, you will, I promise. No, uh, I mean... you know, have dinner, catch a movie. I'll take you to a race. That's very sweet, really. But it won't get you back on the track any faster. No, uh... that's, uh... not what I meant. Well, you got me here. Now what? Here's how I see this deal. Since you agree I ain't going to let you drive, and I agree you ain't going to let me drive, there's only one way to settle this. What are you talking about? Absolutely. Let me tell you something, Tim. If you can't control your drivers better than this... consider sticking to something you can control... like used cars in downtown Charlotte. # This house is on fire. # House. # This house is on fire. # Too close to call? Yeah. You're late. We, uh... had car trouble. What kind of car trouble? I believe it was the radiator. Wasn't it, Cole? Yes, Rowdy, I believe it was. Tim, do you know anybody at Daytona Memorial? The chief of staff. Why? Is he a race fan? I want you to meet Russ Wheeler. He'll drive for us until you get your medical clearance. Pleasure to race your car, Mr Trickle. Thanks for helping out. Yeah, Tim... I need a home address of a doctor. I won't drive it near as good as you, though. I'll see you later, Harry. Yeah, uh, the doctor that... that worked... What? (SETS CAR ALARM) I was desperate to get your attention. Well, you got it. I've walked into a jungle. No, it's nicely extravagant, but really, I can't. I'm a doctor on call. Somebody has to re-examine Rowdy and me. Come do it and I'll take you to a race. I won't watch you guys chasing each other around like dogs on my day off. How about chasing me on your day off? I don't have a day off. I'm on call 24 hours. OK. Doctor, let's suppose you had a couple days off... Sugar? With nothing else to do. Could I interest you in the North Carolina countryside? Speaking theoretically? Speaking theoretically. Maybe. But you'd have to convince my boss. Good, good. How tall are you? What did he say? 'Doctor, fly to Charlotte and check those boys out.' Boy... you're very quick. You ought to see me drive. Rowdy's not here. I told him to meet us at the infield by 5:00. We should probably get started on Cole. Close your eyes. Palms up. Open your eyes. Palms down. Follow my finger. Stand with your feet together, and close your eyes. Walk one foot in front of the other. Open your eyes. And back on the table. (CLEARS THROAT) This is tough. Examinations always are. Why is that? Because I'm looking you over, and I might not like what I see. That has to worry you. Pick a spot on the wall and look at it. Please don't move. I didn't move. Your eyes. Just focus on one spot. What do you see? The retina. What's it look like? Hmm. Very pretty, actually. Seen enough? Just about. Whoa! What did you do that for? It's the Babinsky sign. If the toe goes up, you're in trouble. You're fine. Put on your clothes. You're cleared to race. I'm sorry. You just, uh, drove me nuts in there. How could you ignore me like that? I wasn't ignoring you! I wasn't ignoring you. I gave you a very thorough physical. You're not going to do anything weird on my leg, are you? No. It's just something Harry and I work on together. It's called drafting. When one car tucks in behind another, two cars can go faster than one. They divide the air resistance between them. Now here's where it gets interesting. The lead car has to floor it to hit 200 miles an hour, but the car behind can go just as fast and still have power in reserve. So when these two cars come off that last turn, the car that's in back can move out of the draught and slingshot past the lead car, and beat it to the finish line. Then you go straight to victory lane. You and Harry work on that, huh? More or less. Yeah, right. Is there anything you want to do besides racing? Anything you say. Come on, there must be something else you want to do in life... eventually. Well, I can tell you what I don't want to be in life. That's a fraud. I want to know it's not just dumb luck that gets me around that race track. But that's not the question you're really asking. Well, what's the question I'm really asking? How can I be in bed with this guy? I know the answer to that one. Maybe, but you're still asking it. How could I, a brilliant doctor, be in bed with a guy who drives a car for a living? What's your response to that, by the way? Do something to make me respect you. Do it. Tell me what you love so much about racing. The speed. To be able to control it. To know that I can control something that's out of control. I'd really have to show you. # Hey, babe. Show me. # I need your hand... # to steady me. # I'm not denyin'... # we're flyin' above it all. # Hold my hand, don't let me fall. # Funny about this place. I grew up hating farming. All I wanted to do was work on race cars. I got to racing, and now all I want is make enough money to work on a farm. Hi, Claire. I'm Jenny. Nice to meet you. Hi, Cole. Just beyond that knoll, we're going to build our permanent home. Expensive to build there? About $10 million. Oh, Rowdy. Jenny's going to do the building. She's designing the house. We want a place nobody's lived in but us. Right, honey? Rowdy, what is it? I--I think I'm getting seasick. Seasick? You've never been seasick. You didn't forget about the physical, did you? Nobody in my family goes to the doctor unless they're dying. Just because you ain't feeling good--Shit. Stand with your feet together. Put your arms out. Close your eyes. Ooh! Take it easy. Take it easy. I'm fine, I'm fine. Yeah, I've got you. I'm fine! I'm fine! We've got to get you back to Daytona. Bill Wilhare, the head of neurosurgery, is my boss. He's as good as they come. Did you get sick in there? No. He did. He got sick. Rowdy... You're one hell of a candy-ass. I faint and you throw up. It's imperative you get back to Daytona Memorial and see Dr Wilhare. To report on the birth of another Winston Cup team. The bright orange and blues colours of Hardee's adorn this Chevrolet. To no one's surprise, the driver is Russ Wheeler, who subbed so superbly for the injured Cole Trickle. Listen to this horseshit. He's now joined by car owner Tim Daland. Tim, my question is, you've got two competitive spirits here, and will they cause you a conflict? Jerry, we believe we can maintain the integrity and independence of these teams. Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. Who'll you be rooting for come Sunday, Tim? Jerry, I'll even wave to Cole Trickle every time I lap him. These tyres are terrible. You should have put on struts. You're doing good, Cole. I feel loose. The car just feels all wrong! What's wrong? Cole's upset. What about? About being in that race car. Wheeler just passed the eight car. He's coming up on your inside. Aah! Jesus! What happened? Engine blew. How? I'm not a mechanic, Harry. Claire, I'm in Georgia today, Rowdy's in North Carolina. Somebody better talk him into coming down here. Claire, we've got a trauma in ER. The longer he ignores it, the more damage his brain will suffer. Where's Cole? He's on the phone. He could use a little privacy. What's wrong with him? What's wrong with this deal is you. You're a victim of your own God damn creation. Two race teams! That's one too many roosters in the hen house. It doesn't bother Russ Wheeler. Oh, no. Ever since that crash, Cole's been called a troublemaker. Wheeler figures he can bump Cole all he wants. I don't see Russ doing that. Nascar doesn't see anything like that. Oh, I guess it ain't happening, then, under the watchful eye of EXPERTS like you and Nascar. I'll tell you what is happening. Cole's not running good. He's not looking good. And now he's got sponsor trouble. But you don't, is that it? No, I don't. I want to keep the sponsor and Cole. He's the one who made this happen. I haven't forgotten that, Harry. Right, right. You on the phone with the doc? Fight? Nah, she's too busy to talk right now. What do you think about this young man, Tim? I think Russ ran a great race today. I'm really... really very pleased. 102 laps complete, though we're under caution here at North Wilkesboro. Why hasn't Cole see Rowdy yet? Cole's no different from any other driver. What do you mean he's no different? Of course Cole doesn't want to see Rowdy. Drivers can't stand to be reminded of what can happen to them in a race car. No hospitals or funerals. You get a driver to a funeral before he's actually dead, you've made history, doc. Roll 'em in! Roll 'em in! He's blocking me! That's great, Tim. That's great. Move the son of a bitch! Go, go! Son of a bitch! Trickle moving to the bottom of the track with both right side tyres flat. Russ Wheeler takes the chequered flag. Yeah! Russ Wheeler don't deserve to win. And if Nascar won't call it lowdown, shit-ass racing, you better! It's just racing. Cole overreacted. Oh, yeah? Yeah! Change my tyres. What for, Cole? It's over. Change my tyres. Aah! Uh-oh, there seems to be a little post-race activity just outside of pit lane. You shit! He's destroyed both my cars. He's destroyed both my cars! It's your own fault! He's fired! We're going to get your bags, head off to Daytona. Where are you going from here? Take you to the airport, drop off the rental car, catch a flight to Charlotte. Do you want me to come with you? You don't have to go back to the hospital? We could also try to see Rowdy. HORN HONKS Oh, yeah. HORN HONKS Is there anything wrong with that? Of course not. I guess I just forgot about that. HORN HONKS I know. Cole! Let me out of the car, Cole. Let me out of the car, Cole. Let me out of the car! Let me out or I'm getting out! Hey! Hey! Claire? Wait, just wait. Get away or I'll call the police! I'm not leaving till you talk to me. I got nothing to say. I do! Let's hear it. That's it? Fine. You shouldn't be driving a car anyway! Not on a track, not in a parking lot! You are selfish, crazy, and scared. I'm not scared. You are! You and Rowdy, you have the same sickness. It's called denial, and it is probably going to kill you both. You want to control something that's out of control? That's what you said, wasn't it? I'm going to tell you a secret that almost everybody automatically knows. Control is an illusion. Nobody knows what will happen next. Not on a freeway or airplane, not inside our bodies, and not on a race track with other egomaniacs. Nobody knows, and nobody controls anything. You've gotten a glimpse of that. You might not have the courage to race any more. God, I hate you for this. You make me sound like a doctor. Jenny? Why are you here? Where is he? BABY CRIES Hear you're out of a job. Yep. You're not looking too good. How many do you chew every day? What'd you come here for? Take you to the hospital. If it'd been anybody but a damn woman doctor, I'd been back on the track weeks ago. Is that right? Yeah, that's right. Listen, man, I've raced with my legs broke, heart bruised, eyes popping out of my head like they're on springs. This is going to go away just like anything else. I'm going to live forever, unless I go to some hospital where they make you shut your eyes, and bang-- you're dead. What'd you win this for? This one. Right here. What for? Doesn't it say? Yeah, it's the Winston Cup. That's easy to forget. Has your name slipped your mind, too? Screw you, man. We can fix your head there, or we can fix it here. What's it going to be? Rowdy would like to see you. How is he? He's OK. How are you? Good. You think he'll make Daytona? It's not for a few months. He'll make it out of here, but he'll never race again. Cole, this is Dr Wilhare. He'll be doing the surgery. Cole Trickle. Cole. So, how is he? Well, the doc here says I need minor brain surgery. Well, that's not exactly how I put it. Any surgery on his brain is bound to be minor. Y'all mind if I talk to this guy a second? Of course. They say I've got a busted blood vessel in my brain. So they want to drill a hole in my head and get rid of the leaky blood. You think I should let them do it, Cole? Yeah. You'd let them if it was you? I would. OK. I got to ask you to do something. Hell, name it. Drive my car. What are you talking about? Daytona. You know, Rowdy, you have plenty of time to get ready for Daytona. You don't need me. I lost my sponsor. They put money on me, not the car. I ain't sure I'm going to come out of this. Are you? I got land and plans I ain't paid for. So the only way to get my sponsor back is to make sure my car runs good at Daytona. All that network TV shit, you know. You don't need me. There's plenty of drivers. Don't give me that mealy-mouthed shit. I need a driver that'll finish in the top five before my sponsors will pick up the tab for the year. Maybe after Daytona, I can drive. Maybe it'll be a different driver. In the meantime, I want the best for my family. So don't you bullshit me, Cole. Is there another reason why you can't drive for me? Huh? Then you'll do it? Shit, man. You had me going. Now let's, uh, get down to business here. What's your deal with Daland? Hell, we'll work that out, OK? Excuse me for a second. Cole? Cole, what's wrong? Just tell Rowdy I'll call him. No, no, no, no, sir. Can't use them, don't want them, couldn't afford them if I did. What the hell are you talking about? Race car drivers! I know about you and Rowdy. I ain't settin' up that car for Daytona. Uh-uh. But you're welcome to come in. We'll get the moonshine, tell lies, and call women. But no talk about racin'. All right, no talk about racing. Come on, Buck. I'll race your ass. I'm going to take off. Goodnight, Harry. Why won't you set up the car? Ever since you and Rowdy crashed at Daytona and Rowdy got sick, you've been waitin' on somethin' bad to happen to you. They say Buddy Bretherton started hearing voices. All kinds of them. Everywhere. Atlanta, Richmond, Wilkesboro. All of them had but one thing to say. 'Get out of that race car. 'Get out. Ooh.' You redlined the engine in Atlanta and blew it sky high. Done it deliberate. Done it deliberate. 9,400 rpms accordin' to the little telltale button. You was worried if you didn't get out quick, you'd die. Now call me a liar. You're not lying. What the hell we talkin' about, then? Racing Rowdy's car at Daytona. I can't do it without you. Can't do it, period. I ain't goin' back there, Cole. Uh-uh. Buddy didn't really die of a heart attack, did he? Huh? Buddy didn't really die of a heart attack, did he? No, he didn't. But you don't want to hear about it. Nascar privately claimed the setup on the car's what killed Buddy. That you used thin wall tubing to keep the weight down. Exhaust fumes broke through the fire wall. Carbon monoxide knocked Buddy out. Horseshit. When Buddy hit the wall, he was jabberin' about as fast as his driving. Carbon monoxide, my ass! That was the loudest-talkin' unconscious man you ever heard. Nothin' killed Buddy but his imagination. Why didn't you let them investigate? Why? 'Cause I should've known better than to let him drive. You see, Buddy... Buddy was a terrible pain in the ass. He really was. He thought he knew about cars, which made him twice as ignorant as you. But still... I look at guys like Buddy. I seen him do things in my race car that's absolutely unbelievable. That really showed me what I'd done. Then you're going to automatically have to love that guy, whether you want to or not. Buddy Bretherton. I have to ask you something, uh, Harry. You know...before Buddy hit the wall, how was he actually doing in that race? You ornery, no-good-- Hey, I'm counting on you to set up that car! I'm counting on you! You get back in that car and you'll die! You'll die! You hear? You'll die. I'm not getting back in my car, I'm getting in Rowdy's. Oh, well, that sounds dumb enough to be a race driver. You'll hide from your bad luck in his car? What the hell for? For Rowdy? He'd crash you to win! He's mean! He's no particular friend. So why? Because he asked me to. Horseshit! You just want to race again! Yeah, and so do you. But you're scared. You're scared. Yeah, and so are you. Yeah. What? I need this, Harry. I don't have anything else. You've given me a life. God damn it, I don't want to lose it. Just put me in that race car. Let me be the one to show you what you've done. Just trust me. Let me drive, Harry. I won't make a fool out of you. I, uh... I also just wouldn't know just how this deal is going to turn out, Cole. You know? Neither do I, Harry. I'm setting up for cool weather, but if that sun breaks after you're on the track you're liable to run loose real quick. I don't want to worry you, but Cole's not ready for that. He's changed. You cannot get out of control and expect him to bring you right back. He's liable to hurt you, you're liable to hurt him. I couldn't handle that. So, uh, you've got to take care of him, all right? You got to take care of him. This is not the kind of answer I'm looking for from you. Daytona is a tough race track and I'm sure myself and everybody, we're going to keep an eye on Cole to see if he's there... his reflexes and everything. He's plenty capable of running that race car good. I don't think he has any effects from the accident that would be a factor in the way he performs. I'm glad he's well enough to come back and I hope I beat him at the same time. A lot of guys don't like him. The guy's got a lot of talent, and he's wide open. He just wants to win. I like that. Since the crash, he's been a danger to himself and others. But if he comes near me, I'm going to put him in the wall. I don't expect to see him, except in my rear-view mirror. KNOCK ON DOOR Come in. Harry said you wouldn't mind if I stopped by. How's Rowdy? He's getting better every day. Especially since you said you were looking forward to getting in his race car. So I lied. What are you thinking? How much I'd like to know what you're thinking. Everybody's the same. Got to be good at your job before you can enjoy your life. This is my job. It's all I know. You know I can't watch you do this. Claire... I'm more afraid of being nothing than I am of being hurt. Walk me out? We welcome you to the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of motor racing events. Certainly among the favourites today has to be Russ Wheeler, driving the number 18 Hardee-sponsored car. He's given the fans something to talk about after winning the poll for today's event. But don't count out Cole Trickle who is returning for the first time since a near-fatal accident here last July. You told me you didn't have a sponsor. They gave us about just enough money to put their name on the car. Tim. Cole. Why's the hood up? What's wrong with the car? Take it easy. We had to change engines. Forgot to tighten the oil line. Why did you have to change engines? Found some metal in the oil filter. Where did you get the engine? Well, we stole it. Claire, put the boy in his car. Tell him to get out on the track before he starts sweating. So, you're going to get in your car and take off? Drive carefully. Start your engines. ENGINES ROAR We are underway at the Daytona 500. We're 56 laps into this 200-lap event, Russ Wheeler is in the lead. 47.01. Leaders 45.9. You're running last. What's going on, Cole? Are you all right? Just past the halfway mark. Wheeler still leads. There's a crash at turn three and oil at the bottom of the track. Cars are sliding down, so watch yourself. You better go high, Cole. Take a line you can drive through. Cole, are you all right? Answer me, please. Go around those wrecks. I know it. I know it in my heart. Whoo! Let's do it, Harry. (LAUGHS) I'm outta here. Cole's moved up to ninth. He's coming on strong. Russ Wheeler continues to lead the way, but the man on the move is Cole Trickle. I'm going to make a hole to get through here. Here we go. Wheeler knocked me into Gatt. Gatt spun out. He's going high. God damn it. And on the high side of the track, Trickle takes the lead. Come on, Cole! This is it. This is what it's all about. With just 23 laps to go, Cole Trickle is leading. Take him now, Russ. He's all mine. The accelerator's stuck, Harry. It's stuck on the floorboard. I can't slow down. Get on the clutch and let the son of a bitch blow it. It's over. Son of a... Cole, you OK? The good news is the accelerator's fixed. The transmission is screwed. I'm coming in. Are they out of the race yet? They will be in about 45 seconds. Get me out in front of that pace car or the race is over for us. Just give me the high gear. Get me out there! I got it. Let's go. Come on, man! Go, go! Get out there and help him. Go, go, go! All right. We made it. Good work. I owe you one. You can't do that. It's not your car. It's my engine in that car. And that's what my boys are pushing. Cole, you got to be at max speed when the green flag drops. Pace car pulls off the track and racing resumes. Wheeler broke away. He's still in the lead. Where am I? Running ninth. How many laps to go? Eight. What's between me and Wheeler? Trickle's fifth and moving up fast, Russ. Remember me? I'm going to draft Wheeler. Make him pull me around the track. Son of a bitch is on my ass. He's gonna take me on the outside. I'll put him in the wall. What's going on? I'm setting him up, Harry. There is the white flag. One lap to go. Last lap, Cole. Don't keep this up, Cole. Please. Harry, this guy is going down. Last turn. Careful. He'll try to slingshot pass you, Russ. I know Cole. He always goes the outside. This one's for you, Harry. He's going high. He's going low! Son of a bitch! Here come the cars to the finish line. It's Cole Trickle taking the win. CHEERING I thought you weren't gonna watch. I lied. Where's Harry? Harry? Harry, say something, will ya? I really can't. You didn't know how this was gonna turn out, did ya? Well, it's like you said, there's nothing you can't do in a race car. We won. I know. We won. Yep. Now, can you walk, or am I gonna have to carry ya? Where to? Victory Lane. Oh yeah. Yeah. Walk? Hell... I'll race you.