//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Beginning // Story: Life in the Fast Lane // by The Wasteland Brony //------------------------------// Applejack sat quietly in her hauler, awaiting the signle to begin driver introductions, deep in thought. When her crew chief, Steve LeTarte, came to let her know it was time, she got up and trotted out to the stage at Daytona International Speedway. The announcers said their names two at a time to where they qualified for the race, when it came time for her name, they said: "From Ponyville, Equestria and the first every pony to compete in NASCAR. Sitting on the pole position: APPLEJACK!!!!!!!" Said the announcer She stepped out to a large and loud crowd of both humans and ponies. It made Applejack think of the party's Pinkie Pie threw back home. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me start from the beginning of this tale. Not even 2 months before hoof, the Princesses of Equestria and the human racing circuit known as NASCAR agreed to not only hold races in Equestria but to also allow ponies to race in not only the races held in Equestria, but also in the races held in the human world. When Applejack had heard about the new racing series, well actually more like had a poster shoved in her face by the pink party pony, and one of her best friends, Pinkie Pie: "APPLEJACK, you've got to see this" Pinkie Pie said, shoving a poster in the orange farmponys face "Woah easy there Pinkie Pie, let me take a look without you tryin to suffocate me" said Applejack with a little chuckle Applejack took the poster from Pinkie in her hooves. Along the top of the poster were some big, bolded white letter that spelled "NASCAR" "What in the hay is NASCAR?" Applejack asked curiously "Just keep reading and you'll see" said Pinkie Pie, who was bouncing up and down in excitement Applejack kept reading. The poster described "NASCAR" as a human Motorsport where 43 "drivers" compete in races around a track, mostly in the shape of an oval. The drivers competed in things called "race cars" and the poster was basically an "invitation" for anypony who wanted to have a tryout to possibly sign a contract to compete in the "NASCAR Sprint Cup series" "Well this sounds interestin" Applejack said with a grin "So are you going to tryout?" Pinkie Pie asked Applejack thought about it for a moment. The poster also said that signing a contract will give a signing bonus of whatever amount of money, or bits, was agreed apon. Applejack thought that it could give her the chance to make some extra money for the farm, and finally get Granny Smiths hips replaced. " Sure why not" Applejack said "I'm so super dopper excited for you AJ, I'm going to throw you a big party when you sign that contract" Pinkie Pie said before taking off like a rocket on a sugar rush Applejack went and called the number on the poster to set up a date to begin her training in a sprint cup car. It was scheduled a few days from then. The person who answered the phone actually turned out to be the president of NASCAR, and he was very excited for her to come and train. He told her that she would be spending 4 days with a veteran driver who will help her get the hang of the car, how it works inside and out and many other things to help her with the process. After she was done on the phone, Applejack decided to do some research on NASCAR, to try and learn as much as she could before her tryout. She decided to go to the one pony in Ponyville who would have anything on the subject, Twilight Sparkle. Twilight was just finishing putting away the new shipment of books that she and Spike got that morning when Applejack came trotting in "Hello Applejack, how are you doing today?" Twilight said with a big smile, looking at her best friend "Howdy Twilight. A'he was wonderin if you had any books on NASCAR? Ya see A'hm goin to be tryin out for one o them there contracts to see about racin" Applejack said, looking at the lavender unicorn "Well as a mater of fact we just got the shipment of the books on NASCAR just this morning" Twilight said "Great, mind if a'he take a look through them?" Applejack asked "Go right on ahead feel free to stay as long as you want" Twilight said as she went and grabbed all the NASCAR books of the shelf and placed them on the table "Thank ya kindly Twilight" Applejack said as she grabbed the top book and begain reading The first book she grabbed talked about all the greatest drivers NASCAR has ever seen. Richard "The King" Petty was one of the most dominating drivers ever, holding the lead for career wins with 200 "That sure is a lot of wins, and trophy for that matter" Applejack thought to herself The next driver was Dale "The Intemidator" Earnhardt. She read that he received his nickname from his aggressive driving style and his black car that when drivers saw him coming, they'd best get out of his. Tragically he lost his life in a crash in the last turn of the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. A tear rolled down Applejacks face when reading how devastated everyone was when he lost his life, especially his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. "A'he never even knew the man and already a'he wish I did" Applejack said, whipping the tears from her eyes. She kept reading until she fell asleep, her head laying down against the book. Twilight used her telekenisis to move Applejack to the spare bed in her room. "Goodnight Applejack, sleep tight" Twilight said before going to bed herself.