CHAPTER 10

NOW OR NEVER

Round and round they went, lap after lap. The karts were still all close together. Tony was in last place, but he was slowly gaining on the other guys.

Tony came around the final turn and saw the lap marker.

One lap to go.

It was time to get serious.

He pressed down hard on the accelerator.

Tony drove through the Lefty and onto the straightaway. He pulled closer to Corey, but Corey moved right.

Corey was trying to pass Jon. He wanted to move up too!

Jon moved right to block Corey. Corey pulled farther over, but they had reached the Swing Back. Corey pulled behind Jon and went around the Swing Back.

Once they reached the straightaway, Corey tried again to pass. He moved his kart to the right, edging close to Jon’s. But once again, Jon blocked him. It was a stalemate.

By the time they were near the Double S, Corey was right on Jon’s tail, trying to pass at each turn.

Corey just won’t give up, thought Tony.

The track straightened out after the Double S. Corey tried to pass again, but Jon drove right in the middle of the track.

Last turn! Jon pulled left and turned. Corey followed.

Tony could see the finish line. He pushed down the accelerator and gripped the steering wheel as hard as he could.

Ahead of him, Corey pulled to the left to try to pass Jon. Jon pulled even farther left to block him.

They’re both on the left! Tony suddenly realized. The right side was clear. It’s now or never.

Tony pressed the accelerator down as hard as he could and steered to the right.

His kart roared forward. He could hardly breathe. Slowly, he inched around Corey’s kart — and crossed the finish line!

Tony couldn’t believe it. He had made it. He had won third place.

His dad came running over, and as soon as Jon got out of his kart, he ran over too.

“Tony! Dude, you made it to finals!” Jon yelled.

Tony’s dad couldn’t stop smiling.

And neither could Tony.