Cole’s POV
Iron Blade finished the first qualifying stage in fourth place overall. Fourth out of thirty two clubs. Nobody expected that, least of all the clubs that had been looking down at us since we rolled into the paddock.
The guys were celebrating around the support truck, passing around cold beers and slapping each other on the back like we had already won the whole damn thing. Travis was telling anyone who would listen about his overtake on the canyon section. Cody was showing off the tire marks on his leathers from a close call on turn nine. Even Big Mike, who never got emotional about anything except barbecue, had a grin on his face wide enough to split his beard in half.
I should have been right there with them. I should have been celebrating. We earned this. But instead, I wa
