[center][b][h2]Joel Nicolosi[/h2][/b][/center]

Joel strained his neck to find one of the large screens that was carrying the event for the spectators when Marlin’s voice broke in over the radio. For a moment he didn’t say anything and just let the car continue up the hill as the news sank in. People were leaning over the stands, waving flags and jumping everywhere he looked and with the engine humming along at low idle, he could easily hear them. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say or feel. In school, he’d never played sports nor did anything really competitive with others. He’d never been to the “big game” or had much school spirit to speak of. It was all completely foreign. As he drove, somewhere down deep was the realization that he never, truly thought they would actually win.

Other drivers and teams came up on the radio to congratulate him and as he came up to the tunnel he glanced over to his side at a small black bag his dad had strapped to the rollcage. Joel wasn’t a very patriotic type, but he did make a promise that if he won he would fly the flag. He protested at first, but his dad insisted and reminded him that the Japanese would fly their flag if they won and so would the Germans and so on. When he protested that the car was built in Japan his dad again, sternly reminded him of the [i]numerous[/i] times they had all helped him rebuild it firmly on US soil. When he emerged from the tunnel Old Glory was flying from the window bringing about a huge roar of approval from the stands at the bottom of the hill and from the harbor. 

When he rounded the last corner he slowed to a stop and set the car in launch mode, this time to take care of something he promised himself. Watching the gantry lights flashing in the distance signaling the end of the race he glanced up and saw the news helicopter flying overhead and smiled broadly as hit put the pedal to the floor and dumped the clutch. The wildly expensive rubber compound of his tires attempted to bite down briefly against the raw torque of the screaming V8, but the car shuddered as traction was broken and tire smoke filled the air with the shouts of spectators. He cooked them halfway up the front straight before they finally bit down again. With a flick of the wheel and another firm stomp of the pedal he whipped back around and headed to the paddock giving the car a few more happy jolts of power along the way.

The second place GT-R and a red Viper for P3 were waiting when he entered the podium area and he carefully drove between the masses of people that leaned over the hood with smiles and shouts. Many touched and patted the car lightly making him briefly think about all finger prints that would greatly annoy him later on. He thought he could hear his name called by a few and it was all a very weird and surreal scene again. He pulled in-between the other two cars finding splashes of red, white and blue along the side of the GT-R and it gave him a sweeping feeling of satisfaction. He could see Marlin, Tommy, Lou and the rest of the crew waiting for him to get out as he shut the car down. A camera crew anxiously waited alongside. He took his helmet off, glancing briefly at the Sol City Orange and stretched flag design modeled after his racing idol. A pang of emotion hit him. A totally new feeling and a slight welling up in his eyes as he looked at all of them from inside the car. [i]He literally couldn’t believe they’d done it[/i].  

He climbed up out of the car and gave a firm pump of his fist in the air drawing a roar of approval from the crew and assembled crowd. He could feel a teardrop fall away, but hoped like hell the amount of sweat across his face would hide it. An outstretched hand gave him a towel and he patteed his face and hopped down from the door. The camera and microphone were immediately in his face.

“Joel, Joel… after years of trying, years of just getting here, you’ve finally done it,” The reporter shouted against the mass of people. “How does it feel to finally be champion in your hometown?”

Joel brought the towel down and shook his head. He had no idea what to say. He’d only seen videos of how [i]others[/i] reacted to being in the winner’s circle on such a grand scale. He looked over at Tommy and Marlin who were the closest and knew that he had some kind of uncontrollable smile on his face, but not really any words. “It’s good,” He said almost stumbling for words. Tommy slid into the frame seeing his teammate a bit awestruck by the limelight and gave him a big bear hug and a firm shake on the shoulder, “We’re all champions,” Joel continued finding a little more presence, “The whole team team,” He said extending his arm for Marlin and the others to crowd into the shot, “Not just me... Tommy, the crew, our sponsors, all of us.” He was gaining slightly more confidence as he spoke. “It’s just a good feeling… I don’t know what else to say.” 

[@PrinceAlexus]