//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Meeting a Legand // Story: Life in the Fast Lane // by The Wasteland Brony //------------------------------// When Applejack arrived at the newly built speedway just on the outskirts of Ponyville, the orange farmpony saw the name of the track imprinted on a very large piece of granite. It was so sleek and shiny that it would probably make Rarity, another one of Applejacks best friends, faint: "Ponyville International Speedway" said Applejack shine she read the words From her research over the past few days, Applejack had knoticed that the symbol that was engraved on the granite with the name of the track, very closely resembled the symbol for Daytona International Speedway, more specifically the Daytona 500. The symbol depicted a front/sideways angle of a pony with a combination of a half circle and a triangle behind it. The banner that rapped around the combo, right beneath the pony, said the name of the track. While she had been standing in front of the stone, a somewhat of a short man was walking towards her. Applejack knoticed the man walking towards her and she turned to look at him. "Excuse me, are you Applejack?" The man asked Applejack "Yes sir, a'he am" Applejack replied "It's nice to meet you, my name is Jeff Gordon" Jeff said with a smile Applejack had heard his name before, well more like she remembered reading about him in the books she had borrowed from Twilight. Jeff Gordon wasn't that much taller then Applejack, maybe no more then 8 inches from the top of her hat. He was smaller compared to his fellow drivers though. "It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Gordon" Applejack said with the almost business like tone in her voice, mixed with her southern accent " Oh please, call me Jeff. I want to be more like your friend and mentor" Jeff said with a little chuckle and smile "Well a'right then" Applejack said, laughing a little From what she had read over the past few days, Jeff Gordon was a veteran driver in the sport. His whole career he raced for one team and one team only, Hendrick Motorsports. He had also raced with the same number on the side of his car the whole time as well, that number being 24. She had read that this coming season would be Jeff's 23rd and final season in the sport. When it came to the wins category, there was no shortness there. She had read that he had won 92 races and 4 championships over the past 22 seasons. "That's even more wins then what a'hve been able to do in the rodeo" Applejack thought when she was reading on Jeff just yesterday "I'm going to be your crew chief for the next 4 days and in your tryout next week" Jeff said, adding a warm smile He seemed very enthusiastic and excited to be able to help her with all the training that they will be doing together over the next 4 days. Applejack could already tell that she was going to have a fun time working with Jeff. She already felt like he was a close friend "That sounds great Jeff! A'he can't wait to get started! Speakin of which, when do we get started?" Applejack asked Jeff Jeff could hear the excitement in the young farmponys voice. It made him remember back to the day in 1992 when Rick Hendrick, the man who was the owner of his car, gave him that first chance to compete at what was then known as the Winston Cup series. He could see the fire of determination in Applejacks eyes. He could tell that Applejack will succeed in not only her tryout, but in a very lengthy career. "Just follow me and we can get started right away" Jeff said Applejack let out a long and loud "YEE HAW" Jeff could tell she was eager to get started They headed off towards the tunnel that would take inside the track. As they walked, Applejack started bouncing along side Jeff. It made her look like an orange version of Pinkie Pie.