Lady Driver (2020) - full transcript
When a rebellious teen embarks on a solo summer journey to connect with her roots, she finds herself in a new world, geared up for the ride of her life, and discovers she had the drive in her all along.
♪ Get your motor running ♪
♪ Head out on the highway ♪
♪ Looking for adventure ♪
♪ And whatever comes our way ♪
♪ Yeah darling gonna
make it happen ♪
♪ Take the world
in a love embrace ♪
♪ Fire all of your
guns at once ♪
♪ And explode into space ♪
♪ Like a true nature's child ♪
♪ We were born,
born to be wild ♪
♪ We can climb so high ♪
♪ I never wanna die ♪
♪ Born to be wild ♪
- [Woman] Ellie
we're gonna be late.
- You know, you forgot a
minus sign on this one.
- Couldn't you just put it in?
- I'm not the one in 3rd grade.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Sit and have some breakfast.
- Can't, you said so
yourself, I'm gonna be late.
- Sit.
Fix your outfit please.
- Yeah, seriously.
- Shut up.
- Ellie, don't talk to
your sister like that.
- Half sister.
- Mom!
- Vance!
- Guys, make this woman happy.
Or I'm gonna have to pay for it.
- Okay.
- I have a showing after school.
So I need you here
to watch Dakota.
- Mom, no, I have my
driver's test after school.
You said I could
borrow your car.
- Ugh, well I'm sorry El.
I totally forgot.
- Mom, I've only talked
about it every day this week.
- Well we'll reschedule.
- My permit's about to expire.
When are we gonna reschedule it?
- Ellie, we'll got to the DMV.
It's driver's ed, not
the end of the world.
- Yeah, like you didn't
do this on purpose.
- Teenagers, am I right?
- Ya kinda are.
♪ Born to be wild ♪
♪ Born to be wild ♪
- Hey weirdo, you wanna race?
Oh that's right, you
don't have a car.
Seriously, a skateboard?
(school bell rings)
- [Announcer] It's the
last day of school, folks.
Remember, clean
out your lockers.
What I find left
behind becomes mine.
- There she is.
- What's up freak?
- [Teacher] Look who I found
loitering in the hallway.
- She's late.
- You've been making
quite a habit out
of this Ms. Lansing.
She's all yours.
- Sorry I'm late.
- The final exam's
already started.
- She's gonna get an F, man.
- Oh look, there's
the nerdvicular, man.
- Eyes on your tests, gentlemen.
(tense music)
- Thank you.
- This one's firing,
you can go ahead.
- You know if you guys
just go adding more air,
you're gonna mess up...
- I already rejetted
the carburetor, Mr. Hicks.
Air fuel ratio should be good.
- Okay.
And you didn't
wanna take my class.
- She's a natural.
- I'd rather be driving
a car than fixing one.
- Well, you'll finally
get your chance today.
- Actually I won't.
My mom won't be here
on time with her car.
- You just need a car?
Use the shop car.
- Does it actually drive?
- It's registered
and everything.
Go on.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Now let's finish up.
Oh, well then.
- Let's try a left turn.
All right, why don't you
take her back in lot there
and we'll try parallel parking.
- Mm 'kay.
- So are we partying this
weekend guys, or what?
- [Student] I hear Dice's
parents are outta town.
- No way, we gotta go.
- Why don't you go
ahead and try and park
between those two cars up there.
- No problem.
- Oh hey, hey, hey, let
me see that really quick.
Let me see.
Check this out, guys.
(examiner yelling)
No, look out.
(exclaiming)
(yelling)
- Uh...
Well okay.
Well you passed, young lady.
I need to get a new job.
- Hey moron, you
scuffed our soccer ball
with your ugly car.
(metal crunching)
- Oops.
- What the heck?
- You knew I did not have
time to come here today.
What is this, punishment?
And you wonder why I didn't
want you to get your license.
- So you did blow me
off on purpose today.
- Yes and you just proved
that I was right to do so
because the second
you get your license
you smash some kid's car.
- Mom it was an accident.
- Is that what
you're gonna go with?
It was an accident.
There were a ton of
witnesses, Ellie.
- Mom, he started it.
- Well insurance doesn't
cover "he started it".
- Vance can afford it.
- Yes Vance can afford
it and he's not going to
because you are getting
a job this summer
and every dollar you make
will go to pay for
that poor kid's car.
(boys laughing)
(sighs)
- [Vance] Well at least
the cops weren't involved.
- Yeah, not this time.
She's just like her dad.
- [Vance] Well,
you may be right.
- [Mom] God, her temperament
and her attitude,
it's just so much like Elliott.
And I tried to give
her a different life,
we tried to give her
a different life.
- Maybe she would benefit
from a more rigid
learning environment.
- She is already at the best
private school in Monterey.
I mean what are you talking
about, boarding school?
(sad music)
(phone rings)
- Hey.
- You okay?
- No.
- Your folks pretty mad?
- They don't even want me here.
- [Friend] What are
you talking about?
- I just, maybe everyone'd
be happier if I were gone.
I just, I wanna
get outta Monterey.
I don't fit in here.
And I got my license today.
I can go anywhere.
- [Friend] So what,
you're gonna run away?
- I don't know.
- Be serious.
They love you.
You have a good life, Ellie.
Where would you even go?
- I wanna find out
who my dad was.
Where I came from.
- You can't drive off, Ellie.
New cars all have GPS.
The cops can track
you in a heartbeat.
- Well maybe I don't need
one of their stupid new cars.
(dramatic music)
Sorry, Mom.
Can't have you finding me.
♪ I'm calling home ♪
♪ I'm calling a jail house ♪
♪ Gotta get outta this place ♪
♪ Too much to lose when
your life's on cruise ♪
♪ All I wanna do
is race to the ♪
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
(car hisses)
- No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
(coughing)
(dramatic music)
- Need a little help?
- No, I'm good thanks.
- [Officer] It's a little
late for a young lady
to be out driving
these roads alone.
- I'm just headed home.
I'll be fixed in a few seconds.
- You got a license?
- Well I just got it today.
So I only have my driver's test.
But I passed with flying colors.
- I'm gonna need to see it.
This is quite the car.
- I got rear ended in a
parking lot a few days ago.
Haven't had a chance
to fix her yet.
- Ellie Lansing, that's you.
- That's me.
- All right, well you just
stay here, Ms. Lansing,
you understand?
- Yes sir.
- Hey, is your head clear?
(thoughtful music)
(radio transmission garbling)
- I thought you were
taking me to the station.
- All right, who's gonna sign?
- Uncle Tim?
(scoffs)
- She's fine, Jess.
Yeah, for real.
'Cause I'm looking
at her right now.
Uh yeah, yeah, she's just fine.
Well now she is.
So I.
Why don't we take a
step back, breathe.
Take a step back.
Jess, you need to calm down.
We didn't really have
a chance to discuss it.
What more she knows, but also,
let me ask her.
All right.
I hear ya.
(sighs)
(sighs)
- Is she pissed?
- Well I'll tell ya something.
I don't know of a word
in the English language
that sums up how
mad your mom is.
Gimme a hand with this light.
Pull that leg up.
- Okay.
Well she'll be much happier
without me there, trust me.
- [Tim] Really?
'Cause I'll tell ya she
didn't sound very happy.
- You got kids?
- I do not have kids, no.
- Then you don't know
how much parents hate
having them around.
- Well that may be.
But I do have parents.
As frustrating as they can be,
the good ones always love ya.
That's a fact.
- Have you been living
here this whole time?
- I do get out during
the day sometimes.
- Mom said she didn't know
how to get ahold of you.
- Okay well don't blame
your mom for that, okay?
I completely understand
someone like me
not fitting into your
mom's new lifestyle.
Okay?
I don't have a problem with it.
So you shouldn't have
a problem with it.
- But you're family.
- Every family
has a black sheep.
Okay, who the
hell's car is this?
- Ah, this is the shop
car from my school.
- And they just let you take it?
- I left a note.
- You left a note
when you stole it then
is what you mean.
Which is great.
Now I gotta make another
phone call tonight.
- I'll handle it.
- Okay well handle it before
the police find out, okay?
There's only so much
Sheriff Cooper can handle.
- Yeah, will do.
- All right, I'm in the loft.
Cot's for you.
- You want me to sleep on that?
- To be honest I don't really
care what you do on it.
But I'm going to bed.
- Wow, you're a real charmer.
- Or we could get back in the
car and I could take ya home.
- No thank you.
- Then the cot.
You understand me?
- Yeah.
This place is disgusting.
- Well you know what, your
dad almost lived here.
And this crap was
good enough for him.
- My dad?
(gentle music)
- Soon as I wake
up I'll take a look
at your stolen shop
car, see what I can fix.
- It's something in
the radiator system.
Coolant leak maybe,
I can fix it.
- Well good.
That's even better.
Got my own crap to take care of.
(sighs)
(door creaking)
(suspenseful music)
(sighs)
- Um.
- Come on in, buddy.
She's not gonna bite.
That's my niece, Ellie.
- Hi.
I'm Merle.
- Nice to meet you, Earl.
- Oh no, it's, I'm Merle.
- What did I say?
- Earl.
- What did you say?
- Merle.
- Merle, okay, got it.
- Like Merle Haggard.
- Yeah, of course,
like Merle Haggard.
- You two done over there?
- I brought you a couple
of breakfast sandwiches.
And there's some fresh fruit
that just came in this morning.
And that's it.
- What's that?
- What?
- Merle.
You were just about
to show me something.
What was that?
- Um, it's just,
my mom said that women
like men who smell good.
So.
- Is that right?
So a man's gotta smell good
for a woman to like him?
Is that about right?
- It doesn't hurt.
- Well I guess I need
to wear that stuff then.
What's it's, what is
that called, ultra?
- Deodorant.
- What will science
think of next?
- Okay I'm just gonna
leave this here.
- Thank you for coming buddy.
- (chuckles) Here's another one.
It's really nice
to meet you, Ellie.
- It's nice to meet
you too, Merle.
Ha.
- Okay, so that boy's
got a crush on ya.
Let's take a look at
this car of yours,
see if we can get
it back on the road.
Okay, can't see from here,
but let's make sure the lock
washer's on the inside...
- Or it'll back out.
I got it.
- Yeah, it'll back out.
I gotta say, you
know your engines.
- Yeah, auto shop's
pretty much the only class
I got a decent
grade in this year.
And I didn't even wanna take it.
- Why not?
- Because being an auto mechanic
wouldn't really make
my mom that happy.
No offense.
- No, no, none taken.
And you're probably right.
But that doesn't mean you
can't tinker under the hood
in between doctoring
and lawyering, you know.
Whatever it is you wanna do.
Plus ya save a lot
on car repairs.
- Tim, Tim that's it.
I can make money doing this.
- Yeah.
You didn't know that.
- No, I mean I could work
here for you this summer.
- Well I didn't know
I was hiring, but...
- My mom said I
need a summer job
and this could be it.
- Well I think she
meant down the block.
Not a couple hundred miles away.
- This is perfect.
You said so yourself,
I'm good at it.
- Okay Ellie, look
around this place, huh.
This is not a place a teenager
needs to spend a summer.
You need to be back
home at a shopping mall,
getting into trouble or...
- I need to work this
summer and this is it.
Now look, I know it.
- Your mom would
never go for that.
- You don't know that.
Let met talk to her.
- Ellie.
- Please Tim, I need this.
(hopeful music)
- What are you gonna do
about the stolen shop car?
- We could drive it back
and that would be the
perfect opportunity
to talk to my mom in person.
- No.
Then I'd be there.
- So?
- You said you would
talk to Jessie.
There's no way, I'm not
sitting down for that
fire and fury, I, I...
- A wise man once told
me that the good parents
always love you.
- Well they don't
always love the uncle.
- Let's give it a shot.
If my mom says no
then I won't bring it
up again, case closed.
(sighs)
(thoughtful music)
I'm just gonna throw
this in the truck.
- Sounds good.
(sighs)
Thank you for letting
this happen, Jess.
- I'd be lying if I said
I felt good about it.
But I haven't seen her
this happy in a long time.
- Well she's got some
real skills around
cars, I'll tell ya.
And I'm gonna enjoy the help.
- Just gotta grab
the last of my stuff.
- I'll take good
care of your girl.
- Better than you've been
taking care of yourself I hope.
- I probably deserve that.
But I won't let ya down.
- This is it.
- Okay.
Okay.
Be good.
- Thank you.
(hopeful music)
We're back?
- (sighs) Something tells me
you didn't sleep all
that well last night.
- Please, I had a
deluxe cot in auto bay.
How could I not?
- Oh come on.
You just got upgraded
off the shop floor.
- My my.
- You all good?
- Better than ever.
- All right then.
- So what are we doing tonight?
- You're looking at it.
You're gonna unpack,
I'm gonna go upstairs,
I'm gonna go to bed.
- No way.
Show me around
town or something.
- You were asleep like 10
minutes ago out in the truck.
- Yeah, well I'm not anymore.
Come on, what did you and my
dad used to do around here?
- Well the same thing we
did every Saturday night.
- Okay cool, so what.
- I don't think so, Ellie.
- Why, was it a strip
club or something?
- It's nothing bad, it's just
nothing I have any desire
to do anymore.
- I just wanna know
what my dad used to do.
Come on, please?
- You normally have success
with that level of please?
- Yes.
Otherwise I wouldn't
continue using it.
- Let's just drive
by, all right?
- Ta da.
(upbeat music)
This place is awesome.
- [Tim] Yep, every weekend,
standing room only.
Lotta energy here, huh?
- Mm hmm.
Hey Merle.
Whatcha doing here?
- Uh, I come here
almost every weekend.
Everybody does except
for your uncle.
- Well I'm certainly
glad to see him.
Hey Tim.
- How you doing, Loretta?
This is Ellie, by the
way, she's my niece.
She's staying with
me for the summer.
- Well hello young lady.
Welcome to Petaluma.
- Thank you, thank you.
- You know we should
probably get inside,
they're getting ready to start.
- We actually just stopped by
to take a look at the track.
You guys go ahead.
- Oh no, we should go in.
- No, Loretta, we don't
have tickets or anything.
- Oh we got plenty of seats.
Come with me.
- Loretta, El!
- We're going.
- [Announcer] Need some
strategy here driving.
There is some speculation
this weekend by some people.
(engines revving)
(crowd cheering)
- This place was
our whole world.
- [Announcer] 23
holds onto the lead
coming out of curve number two.
- It was?
- We spent every
waking moment here.
If we weren't racing we
were watching, studying.
- Studying.
Doesn't look that hard.
I mean you just go in circles.
- Yeah.
You just go in circles.
About 90 miles an hour.
And if you make
one tiny mistake,
the only forgiveness
to be had is dealt out
by a concrete wall
about five feet away.
- Tell me more.
- [Announcer]
Number 22 with Reed,
trying to take
over Hendrix in 27.
- It's the only thing
I've ever done in my life
where when you're doing it it's
the only thing that matters.
(engines revving)
- [Announcer] And
that's the white flag,
only one lap to go.
(whistling)
- What is that smell?
- That's methanol.
These babies don't run on
pump gas, special race gas.
Ah, okay they locked the
gate to the parking lot.
I'm gonna have to
go around the side.
Stay here, I'll get the car.
Tommy, keep any eye on my niece.
They locked the gate.
I'm gonna go pick
up the car, okay?
Thank you.
- [Tommy] Sure thing, Tim.
See that tire on there.
- This is so cool.
Oh my god.
- Ah yeah, I see that.
- Wow.
- I see that.
- [Man In Truck] Need
a ride, little lady?
- Uh, no, I'm just
waiting for my uncle.
- So you don't wanna ride
with tonight's big winner?
- Did you race tonight?
- (laughs) Yeah.
And I won.
- You're kidding.
Are you Buck McCreadie?
- That's my name,
don't wear it out.
- [Ellie] I got a question.
- Huh?
- Is it really so hard
to just race in circles?
- That's the hardest
kinda racing there is.
- That seems to be
the standard response.
- What was that?
- Nothing.
- It's your first time
to the race track?
- Yeah, I live in Monterey.
I'm just visiting
Petaluma for the summer.
- You should let me show
you around town then.
- Is there really much to see?
- Is there much?
Darlin', Petaluma has
all the hot spots.
We got a Waffle House,
less than 20 miles away.
(Ellie laughs)
Cracker Barrel under 30.
- Oh Cracker Barrel, yeah.
- [Tim] El, you good?
- Yeah.
I just met the king
of the oval track.
- Yeah?
Is that what he told ya?
- You know it's true, Tim.
- What are you doing
slumming around the old
Petaluma track, Buck?
- Just keeping my skills sharp.
Racing Calistoga next weekend.
- I thought your whole family
was banned from
Calistoga Speedway
after your old man got
DQed so many times.
- You throwing shade
at my dad, Tim?
Won a lot more trophies
than you ever did.
Though yours do look real nice
sitting in that garage of yours.
(chuckles)
Nice to meet you, Ellie.
- You too.
- She's 16.
- Yeah, and I'm 19.
That used to be marrying age.
- Back off.
- All right Tipsy Tim.
(laughing)
- He seemed nice.
- Oh Ellie, come on.
- Well he seemed nice
until you go there.
What, do you have
history with Buck?
- Nothing other than the
fact that I used to race
with his old man.
- Is he the reason why you quit?
- 'Cause of Buck's idiot father?
I didn't give two
shits about him.
- Oh yeah, sure.
Doesn't sound like it.
- Well, that's the truth.
- Can you tell me more
about the racing or my dad?
You guys were close, right?
- El, there's gotta be a reason
your mother never brought it up.
- What?
What reason?
- I don't know, you'd
have to ask her.
- No, I'm asking you.
- Look, Ellie, I'm really
glad that you're here.
And I have loved every minute
of getting to know my
brother's little baby.
But I can't read
your mother's mind.
(gasps)
- Are you okay?
- I'm gonna stop.
(panting)
That's gotta be something I ate.
- Must've been
everything you ate.
- Would you mind
driving us home?
- What good's a license
if I don't use it?
- Good point.
Thanks for driving, huh?
- [Ellie] Yeah.
You gonna be all right?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm just gonna
grab a couple things
outta the office.
(thoughtful music)
- Thanks for tonight, Tim.
I really loved the racing.
- Yeah.
I used to as well.
'Night El.
- Mornin'.
- What are you doing?
- I thought this place
could use a good cleaning.
- What the hell kinda
teenager are you?
- The kind that works here now.
I gotta earn my paycheck.
- Okay, well this just in.
You don't have to
work on Sundays.
- I am not taking
my first day off.
Now come on, you too.
I'm not doing
this by myself.
- Well I'm gonna
need a cup of coffee
to keep up with you today.
(Ellie laughs)
(sighs)
- So you had a race car, right?
- I did.
- What happened to it?
- I don't know.
- Is that right?
- That's right.
- 'Cause what is under
that tarp over there, Tim?
- Ellie Lansing, you
stop right where you are.
- [Ellie] I can't
help but notice
this giant massive thing...
- I wouldn't do that
if I were you.
(coughing)
I told you not too.
- This is a race car?
- It's a modified.
I know visually it's an
acquired taste, but it's,
it's exactly what you saw
running last night
at the speedway.
- Did you ever win in it?
- I did, yeah.
As a matter of fact the
car you're looking at
held the Petaluma Speedway
record for quite some time.
- How?
You drop it from a plane?
- (laughs) There's
the old man of yours.
- Yeah?
Does it run?
- Nah, it's pretty much
just a big paperweight
at this point.
- Well can we try
and turn it over?
Where are the keys?
- The keys.
Hmm.
I don't know, actually.
- I call bullshit.
You made this big
decision to quit racing.
And then you carefully
covered up your car.
And then what you just tossed
your keys into the corner?
- Well that's not exactly
how it went down, no.
- Where are they?
- Why don't you check in
the trophies back there.
- Which one?
- Try the smallest one.
- That doesn't really
narrow it down for me.
(Tim laughs)
- Son of a.
Ellie.
- It is in none of those.
- Come here, come here.
That's a race car.
- Yeah?
- It's not your
momma's Mercedes.
Doesn't have keys, doesn't
have a blip, blip, blip.
No keyless entry, there's no...
- Okay.
- Six.
- Okay, okay,
- disc changer in the trunk.
- You're real funny,
you know that?
How do I start it?
- Well just to turn it over
it's gonna need a new battery.
No telling what else
is wrong with that.
- Okay, well let's
get it a battery.
- Shh.
Just the adult needs
a minute, okay?
Plus we have another
car to work on.
Think you're gonna like this.
♪ Wake up, today's the day ♪
♪ We gotta get things underway ♪
- Okay.
That should do it.
Twist it.
- Yeah?
(engine revs)
- Okay kill it, kill it.
Whoo!
- Oh!
Tim that sounded amazing.
What is this?
- That is a Chevy LS9.
Pretty much the holy grail
of street power plants.
- Must be for a very
special customer.
- Very.
I gotta tell you, you're
turning out to be a gear head.
Mighta found your calling.
- Yeah?
So can we work on
the race car next?
- You ever think of anything
else, anything at all?
- Not today I don't.
- What about food?
Can I interest you in some food?
- If we must.
God, where's Merle
when ya need him?
- Well Merle's probably still
nursing a nacho hangover.
- So why'd you stop racing?
- Oh really?
- Okay, when did
you stop racing?
- You're relentless, aren't you?
Like a dog with a bone.
(Ellie barks)
I stopped after your
dad died, you know.
- But you loved it,
you said so yourself.
- Yeah well I did then I didn't.
- Hey, dirt track.
Let's check it out.
- Nothing to check
out, it's closed.
- I just wanna see
it during the day.
Please?
- What the hell, but
then after we eat.
Okay?
- Yeah.
(horn honks)
- How you doing, Rocko?
Just gonna show the kid
around if that's all right.
- You're good, Tim.
- Thanks, buddy.
(engine revs)
(tense music)
- What are we doing?
- Well you said you wanted
to see the track, right?
So what the hell.
Let's see the track.
(rock music)
(Ellie exclaims)
(laughing)
- Whoo!
(screams)
Okay, okay.
- So what do ya think?
- Can we do it again?
- Why not?
Your turn.
- What?
- What good's a driver's license
if you're not gonna use it?
Swap spots.
Drop it in first, go
easy on the clutch.
Just easy, delicate on the gas.
There ya go, there ya go.
Feel it.
There's a lotta
power, so go easy.
Up to second before the corner.
- [Ellie] Okay.
- Looks nice, El, that's
beautiful, El, beautiful.
(whimpers)
Yeah!
- Who the hell's that?
- I think it's Tim
Lansing's old car
or pieces of it anyway.
- I think you're right.
Let's have some fun.
- Brakes, brakes,
brakes, brakes.
- We're good, we're good.
- Whoo hoo hoo!
- Wouldn't you know that's Buck.
(guys laughing)
- Think we can take him?
- Maybe 30 years ago when
this rolled off the
assembly line.
Not now.
- Yeah, yeah buddy, come on.
- Catch 'em, catch 'em.
- Come on, old man,
let's see what you got.
- [Tim] All right,
enough of this crap.
Lose him.
(engines revving)
- Yeah, here we go.
Okay, okay.
Yep, yep, yep.
- All right, all
right, all right.
- Stay on your line,
keep him in sight.
- Okay, you gotta catch him,
catch him, now catch him.
- All right, so roll on
the power, up to third,
up to third, up to third.
- Old man's still
got some skills.
- Now it ain't worth hurting
your truck, now Buck.
Easy takes it.
- That's what insurance is for.
- Okay.
- Yes, El!
El.
- I lost him.
- He's high and wide, El.
High and wide.
Son of a.
Gonna hit us, El.
Brakes.
- What are you doing, Buck?
Buck, Buck, Buck.
- Hey, you okay?
- Yeah, we're fine.
- Both of ya?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- You watch yourself and
that diving late apex crap.
You understand me?
- Hey.
Who the hell was driving?
- Hey, aren't you the
king of the oval track?
- No shit.
- Why don't you bring
that car by the shop
and we'll see if we can't
buff that out for ya.
- That was a girl.
- Yeah, no shit, Kenny.
- Wow.
(Buck sighs)
- [Ellie] Did you see his face?
- Why don't you
swing by the shop
and let me buff it out?
I almost peed myself.
(laughing)
You are more like your dad
than I could've imagined.
- What do you mean?
- Oh, he never backed
down from a fight.
Even once he knew
he couldn't win.
I mean I got more bumps and
bruises and scraped up knuckles
than you could
imagine defending him.
(thoughtful music)
- Is that a good
thing or a bad thing?
- I don't know.
Maybe it's just a thing.
- Okay.
Now I'm starving.
(patrons murmuring)
- [Tim] Okay.
- [Hostess] Hi Tim,
nice to see you.
- [Tim] Good to
see you too, Grace.
All righty.
- You should race again.
- Let's just enjoy
what happened today
and let's leave it there.
That's my suggestion.
- I could be on your race team.
Help you fix up your car,
we could show Buck what
a real driver can do.
- Racing is behind me, Ellie.
- It doesn't have to be.
- Come on, it's a
young man's sport.
I know that and
I've accepted it.
You need to accept it.
- Well what about a young woman?
- Oh boy.
- You could be on my race team.
Show me the ropes.
- El you came out here to work
in the shop for the summer.
That's a promise that
I made your mother.
- I can't break that...
- I can still work in the shop.
- We would only race
on the weekends, right?
- Your mother would kill me if
I put you behind the wheel...
- She knows that you race.
It wouldn't be that
big of a surprise.
- No Ellie, El!
Your dad didn't just
die in a car wreck.
He died in a car
wreck on that track.
- My dad raced?
- Yeah your dad raced.
(solemn music)
My brother was the best
friend I've ever had.
We did everything together.
Of course he raced, El.
- What happened?
- He went on his
lid exiting turn two
and we think a fuel line
most likely ruptured
and the car caught on fire.
The flames spread
pretty quickly,
so quick nobody had time
to really do anything.
You know?
(explosion booms)
Nobody had time.
- Why would my mom
keep that from me?
- Oh come on, El.
Your mother was
nine months pregnant
the night it happened.
She was welcoming
you into the world
and saying goodbye to a
husband the same moment.
Your birth is always gonna
be tied to his death.
And I don't think she
ever really had any chance
to process it properly.
I mean I was overwhelmed.
Suddenly the shop was
a one man operation.
Your mother met Vance,
they went to Monterey.
- That's not fair.
It's not fair what she
did to me or to you.
- You can't blame
your mother for that.
What's not fair is losing
a husband that you love.
- Or losing a dad.
- And I'm sorry for that.
- Thank you.
- And that was when your dad
got this perfect opportunity
to pull out the shotgun.
- No way.
- And shoot.
It works too.
Gimme the 15, will ya?
Like scared the crap out them.
I'll tell ya something, they
didn't mess with us ever again.
- How old were they again?
- I mean Otis had to be nine.
Okay.
I don't think there's
anything here we can do
until the differential
ships at least.
- You know what that means.
- Don't say it.
- Race car.
- El, I think we
talked about this.
Neither one of us are
driving that thing.
- Yeah, yeah, we don't have to.
We can just clean out the
cobwebs and tinker with it
when we get home from
being lawyers or whatever.
- Do you remember every single
thing that I say to you?
- Tim, I'm here to work
on cars for the summer.
And I want the next
one to be that one.
(Tim sighs)
- Okay.
Where are you going?
- It needs a new battery,
if I'm not mistaken.
(thoughtful music)
- You are not mistaken.
(engine chugging)
Shut it down.
- Whoo!
Let's get this baby on the road.
- The road?
What kinda car do
you think this is?
This baby runs on dirt.
- Okay, let's get her dirty.
- [Tim] Okay.
Let's see what this baby can do.
- Who's driving?
- Who do you think is driving?
- Well I don't know, I did
most of the work on her.
- You did most of the work?
- Well I was in the top two.
- Okay, this baby hasn't
seen the dirt in 15 years.
And you think I'm not gonna
be the first one to drive it?
- I could live with that.
- So could I.
- You know it's really
more of a young man's...
What'd you just say?
- Try these on.
See what you can do.
(Tim sighs)
Okay.
Now the mud's pretty
tacky out there.
That means the car's
gonna feel pretty loose.
And as you roll on the power,
the back end's gonna step out
so you be ready for that, okay?
- Yeah.
- Only left turns.
The best left turn
is when the steering wheel's
pointing to the right, okay?
(rock music)
Whoo hoo hoo hoo!
How did that feel?
- [Ellie] Awesome!
- I'll tell ya, you
look good out there.
Really good.
I don't think I've ever
seen that kinda car control
on a first drive in my life.
- [Ellie] That was awesome.
- You're a Lansing.
(sighs)
(Tim grunts)
'Kay, you know what, let's
roll it into bay two.
Give a couple
cranks to the right.
- You know, this is
a great car, Tim.
- I always knew she was.
- Yep.
It's a real shame that
she just has to sit here
in the shop all day.
- El.
- It was built to be
on that track, Tim.
- Ellie, stop.
- It is a genie, Tim.
- I'm sorry, what?
- What you have here is a
magical, all powerful creature
that is just spending
year after year
stuffed in this crappy old lamp.
- You are good.
- Rub the lamp, Tim,
set the genie free.
Let it fly through the dirt.
- Okay there's absolutely
nothing that could convince me
to let you do dirt
track this summer.
I'm sorry, it's...
- Shop open?
- Hey Buck, what
are you doing here?
- Ah, you guys said you
could help out with my truck.
So.
- You paying cash?
- No actually.
The insurance lady
was real sympathetic
when she heard about the
hit and run I suffered.
- Is that right?
- Yep.
This is your old race car here?
- It is.
- You donating it to
a museum or something?
- No, no we took her out in
the old field over there.
She handled so nicely.
- Real nice for
a relic I'm sure.
You know you should take my car
out for a few laps
around the track.
You're a pretty good driver.
- You think?
- Yeah.
- You know I think we're all
good with the relic here Buck.
Thanks for dropping by.
I'll let you know
about your truck.
(horn honking)
- Yeah, I'm coming.
- Your mom waiting for you?
- No, Kenny's giving
me a ride home.
I meant what I said earlier
about you trying
out a real race car.
You just let me know.
Possibly get us access
to Calistoga Speedway.
- Shut up!
- Mm hmm.
- I mean no, thank you.
I wanna earn my trip there.
- All right then.
Suit yourself.
Hey, I need it by Friday, Tim.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Maybe spend a little less
time on your stupid race car
and a little more
time working, huh?
(horn honking)
Yeah, I said I'm coming, Kenny.
Bye Ellie.
- [Ellie] Bye Buck.
- Gotta make sure it's
okay with your mom first.
- Yes, thank you.
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
- Okay, there's no
guarantees here, all right?
We're just gonna take
a little bit of time
and see if we can get you ready.
That's it.
- Oh I'm prepared.
I'm ready.
- This is up to you.
- I got the best
teacher in the world.
- Ya think?
(Ellie laughs)
(hopeful music)
- Okay, let's get
you registered,
get you past tech inspection,
pay a quick fee and
get you some seat time.
(energetic music)
Okay.
First of all this is
not an open field.
There's walls here.
Let's just take it
slow at first, okay?
- Who the hell am I kidding?
You're gonna put your foot
through the floorboard
as soon as you get
out there aren't you?
(Ellie laughs)
Get in the car.
(engine rumbles)
(upbeat music)
(engine revs)
(Tim exclaims)
- No, no, no.
(growls)
- Okay well that sucked.
- Yeah.
- Look, I want you
to find the edge.
But do it gradually, okay?
We creep up to the edge.
When you approach the
corner, select your line
and commit to it.
It's a lot easier than later
when there's 10 cars trying
to ram into you, okay?
- Yeah, yeah, got it.
- Make me proud.
(engine rumbles)
(upbeat music)
(engine revving)
Test one two, test one two.
- God?
Is that you?
- Yes, Ellie, as a
matter of fact it is God.
I'd like you to pay attention
to everything your uncle
tells you from now on.
- I'm hanging up on you.
(Tim laughs)
- Okay, I think we're good.
- Yeah, paces, buddy.
- Wow.
I wouldn't have believed it if
I hadn't seen it for myself.
- Buck, what are you doing here?
- Yeah, aren't you supposed
to be up in Calistoga
slamming into a wall?
- That's good.
No, I'm leaving in the morning.
I got a buddy
racing here tonight,
I told him I'd
come check him out.
Now I'm real glad I stayed.
- We got the car in great shape.
- Love the enthusiasm.
Just try and keep
it in one piece.
- Not a problem.
- Yeah, we're all
good here, Buck.
But thanks for dropping by, huh?
- All right.
Good luck out there.
- Thank you.
See?
Told you he was nice.
- Yeah.
Punk that tried to slam
into the side of my
car's a real winner.
- Okay, everyone's
got their flaws, Tim.
- Are you gonna be able
to focus out there?
- Yeah, I got Lansing
blood in these veins.
You tell me. (chuckles)
- Yeah, you'll be fine.
(hopeful music)
- [Announcer] It's a sunny day
here at the Petaluma Speedway.
We're got 40 laps of dirt
sliding and pushing
your cars to the limit.
Now, you've got to
be sharp out there
or you'll end up in the wall.
- Wakey, wakey, El.
How you doing out there?
- I'm not gonna lie.
Got me some jitters.
- Comes with the territory, kid.
How's the car feel?
- Feels good, Uncle.
- Then let's see if she's
still got a little life
left in her, huh?
- [Announcer] Welcome
to this young lady.
Ellie Lansing is car 18.
All right folks, we're
moments away as the green flag
is about to fly.
(rock music)
(engines revving)
- [Ellie] Hey, that
bastard took my line!
- Can't call dibs, kid.
Stay focused.
- [Announcer] 76 with a
nice slide on the inside,
passing rookie Lansing.
- [Ellie] Dammit,
I'm getting passed.
- Don't worry about
the other cars, El.
You're out there learning.
You're sliding wide, kiddo.
Need to slow down the entry.
- Okay.
- [Announcer] The
track's getting slick
as we put in the laps.
- Opportunity'll present itself.
Be patient.
- [Announcer] Nice move
by the rookie in car 18.
- Beautiful, beautiful.
- I can't find an opening.
- That's a Puffer
in front of ya.
It means he can make
himself wide, hard to pass.
- [Announcer] This
is a promising start
for Lansing in 18.
She can drive!
- Good job El, good job.
Down on the power.
- I got it, I got it.
- No, no, no, no.
- [Announcer] Ooh, looks
like young Lansing
in 18 has spun out.
- Oh come on!
- You okay?
- I'm fine.
The clutch is out
but it's not moving.
Something's broken.
- And it appears she's having
trouble with the car now.
- Okay, sit tight
and I'll tow you out.
- [Announcer] Tough
break for the newcomer.
Better luck next time.
(disheartening music)
- Okay, well this column's
definitely stripped.
But I can get it retapped
before next weekend.
- Forget it.
- What was that?
- I said forget it, okay?
I don't know what
I'm doing out there.
- You just got your
license a few weeks ago.
You think you're gonna
miraculously know
how to run on the dirt?
- I thought it'd be easier.
- I thought a lotta
things'd be easier.
Turns out that the things
worthwhile just aren't.
Maybe I was wrong, huh?
Maybe we should quit.
- No, I don't want to.
- [Tim] What?
- I said I don't want...
- What was that?
- I said I don't want to, okay?
I'm just pissed.
- Hey lady driver.
- We'll finish this later.
- Whoo!
Thought I said you should
keep the car in one piece.
(chuckles)
- Oh yeah, you know
I forgot about that.
That was some good advice.
You know next time, McCreadie.
- So you're gonna
try this again, huh?
- Yeah, yeah I can't quit now,
just when I'm getting good.
- (laughs) Oh you gotta
funny definition of good.
I think you took four
cars out at once.
- Don't worry, I told
the insurance lady
some guy cut me off.
(laughs)
- Well you keep plugging
away, lady driver.
Oh and you know if
this doesn't work out
maybe you could pose in
a magazine or something.
Keep that dirt on you.
It's hot.
- Back up, Buck.
Too close to my niece.
Back up.
- All right.
- See you ladies on the podium.
I'll be the one on top.
- Definitely starting
to see some flaws.
- Finally.
- When do I get to race him?
- You don't.
You race modifieds,
he races late models.
- I don't see that
much of a difference.
- Yeah well you buy one,
you'll know the difference.
You need a big dog sponsor
for something like that.
- Well how do I get that?
- Wins, a lotta wins.
The only currency a sponsor
respects is victory.
- I can do that.
What else?
- (sighs) A team.
We need a team.
Easy, Merle.
- I got it.
- This is our great race team?
- Even have an office
coordinator as well.
Hope you don't mind
sharing your bedroom.
- Yeah, whatever it takes.
- Good, because we have six
days 'til the next race.
- Yeah, can do boss.
- It's coffee.
Like I told ya.
I'm committed as
long as you are.
Merle, both hands,
buddy, both hands.
(upbeat music)
♪ Mustang Sally ♪
♪ Huh, huh ♪
♪ Guess you better slow
your mustang down ♪
♪ Oh Lord, what I said now ♪
♪ Mustang Sally,
now baby, oh Lord ♪
♪ Guess you better slow
your mustang down ♪
♪ Huh oh yeah ♪
- On the race track to go to
you gotta enter low and just
slide up in front of the guy
and hope you get clear.
And if you don't, you
wipe both of you out.
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I gotta put your flat
feet on the ground ♪
♪ Huh, what I said now ♪
♪ Let me say it one
more time ya'll ♪
♪ Now all you want to do
is ride around Sally ♪
♪ Ride, Sally, ride ♪
♪ All you want to do
is ride around Sally ♪
♪ Ride, Sally, ride ♪
- Lunch has arrived.
- Hey Merle.
- How come you're not
working on the race car?
- I still have to
actually earn my living.
What's that?
- Oh, Protect the Harvest.
Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway.
- What is that?
- It's like the
Superbowl of dirt racing.
Thought we could use
it for motivation.
- We can put it by
Tim's trophy shrine.
- Yeah, won't he get mad that?
- I can handle Tim.
Come on.
- [Merle] I bet you can.
- Will you roll it down?
- Yeah.
That looks good.
- Yeah.
So I'll see you at
the track tomorrow?
- Yeah.
We're gonna win
this time, Ellie.
Go Team Ellie!
- Go team!
Why am I not winning?
- Gees kid.
You're young.
You just started driving.
Have some patience.
- No, I've been racing
over a month now.
- That's nothing.
Half the kids out
here at the track,
they've been racing since
their feet could touch
the pedals on a go-kart.
- No, I'm missing
something, Tim.
Or maybe I'm just not as
good as you thought I was.
- You're better than
I thought you were.
- Then what's wrong?
- Kid, there is an
intangible component
that goes with every dream.
Sometimes it's desire,
sometimes it's heart,
sometimes it's making a peace.
But only you're gonna
know where that is.
Your dad found it
before I could.
- He was better than you?
- Oh god, yeah.
He coulda driving late
models on the pro circuit
or anything with a steering
wheel for that matter.
- Well why didn't he?
- Finances.
He had a family to think about.
Your mom and you
were on the way.
It's called responsibility.
- But you think he coulda won?
- I know he coulda won.
(thoughtful music)
- I wanna race late models.
- Listen Ellie, I
know you want to.
But it's probably not
gonna happen this summer.
There's a couple of
variables that are missing.
Wins and funding.
- What if I talk to Buck,
see about maybe his sponsors
coming and taking a look at us?
- Well why don't you call
the devil while you're at it?
We could have hell
for a sponsor.
- Tim.
- No, hey think about this.
We'd have flames going
down the side of the car,
horns coming outta the radiator.
- Tim?
- We'd have a tail
with a trident...
- Tim!
- Don't interrupt me. I think
we're onto something here.
- Your nose is bleeding.
- Ah yeah, that's
probably the dry weather.
Listen, you better
get some sleep.
We got a race tomorrow.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
I don't think I'm gonna bleed
out before daylight, okay?
Get some sleep.
- Okay.
Goodnight.
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] As we enter lap
20 this is turning out to be
quite a night of racing.
- You're looking really
smooth out there, El.
You eat your Wheaties
this morning?
- My dad spoke to me
in a dream last night.
Gave me the secret.
- Yeah, what did he say?
- [Ellie] Wouldn't
you like to know?
- [Announcer] The track
is finally slicking up
as everyone's flying
through the turn.
Number 18, Ellie Lansing
looking to make a move.
(engine revs)
(metal crunching)
(crowd exclaiming)
Looks like a caution
flag out there.
Henson and Flanders
had a small collision
just before turn one, coming
outta the straight away.
We're gonna make
sure they're okay.
Once the cars are
cleared to the infield,
the race can get back underway.
(engines revving)
That's the green flag,
ladies and gentlemen.
And we're back in action.
- Go Ellie!
(Loretta cheers)
- [Announcer] There's another
pass by young Lansing.
Lansing's now in
podium position!
- Beautiful El, beautiful.
You got two to
wide, three to check
and you're P3.
Could be your first podium.
Hold onto it.
- There are two other spots
in that podium you know.
- That a girl, Ellie.
(upbeat music)
(clinking)
Okay El, stick
your nose up high.
Low, low, low, low,
low, low, clear.
Clear, clear.
- Josie in the lead,
but Lansing closing in.
- All right, come on Ellie!
- Come on Ellie!
- Inside, El.
(crowd cheers)
Come on!
- [Announcer] Looks like it's
gonna be sprint to the finish.
And there's the checker!
Josie in first,
(cheering)
Lansing in second.
- Yeah, second!
- [Announcer] Followed
by Henson in third.
- Ellie, good run!
- She did it.
- You got a lotta heart.
You ran a great race.
- Thanks, you too.
- [Announcer] Let's
hear it folks,
for our second place
finisher, Ellie Lansing.
(cheering and applauding)
- And our first place finisher,
let's hear it for Brian Josie.
(cheering and applauding)
(thoughtful music)
- I have cake.
- What?
Why?
- Uh, my mom was so
impressed last night
she wanted to make you
a little something.
- Let me see.
Aw, that's so cute.
- I know, right?
Smells good.
You got it pretty good, Ellie.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Racing cars all summer,
living with Tim.
Tim!
It's pretty cool.
- I guess.
I just, I wish I
was winning more.
- This is a winner's
cake, Ellie.
- But I didn't win, Merle.
Why is everyone so psyched?
- You were on a podium.
- Yeah, but second place
isn't winning though.
- Ellie you don't have to be
on top of the
podium to win, okay?
Appreciate what you've got.
- Who's on the podium?
- Mom?
- Congrats, Ellie?
- No, no, no, Mom.
- Jess!
- Ellie's racing?
- Yes, she's racing.
What are you doing here?
- I don't need a reason to
come and check on my kid.
- Listen Jess, I thought you
were aware of her racing.
There's no way that I...
- In what world Tim, do I
approve of Ellie Lansing
racing a car?
I thought she was
just working here.
- And she is working
here, very hard.
We just thought the racing
might be something that she...
- No, the racing
can't be anything.
- Okay, could you just let
me please talk to Ellie?
- We will both talk to Ellie.
- Mom, I'm sorry, okay?
(Tim gasps)
I didn't.
I.
Tim? Tim?
Mom?
- Call 911.
- Is he breathing?
- Tim.
- Tim.
- [Woman On PA]
Dr. Retkey to OR 1.
Dr. Retkey to OR 1.
(Tim sighs)
- [Jessie] That's
a hell of a way
to get out of an argument, Tim.
- Well you know I hate
getting screamed at.
Hey kid.
- How are you feeling?
- Like I got punched in
the gut about 85 times.
- Doctors say that your
liver function is down
to about 30%.
Alcohol related cirrhosis.
- That's not good.
- So bed rest,
lots of meds and we'll see.
(thoughtful music)
(siren wails)
- Jess, you mind if,
you mind if I talk
to El for a minute?
- [Jessie] Okay.
- She's pretty pissed, huh?
- I don't think there's a word
for just how pissed she is.
(laughing)
(wincing)
- Don't make me laugh.
- I'm sorry I lied to you.
- You know that's not the point.
Right?
You don't lie to family.
- I know.
- Look, I screwed up, kid.
I walked away from my family
and then my whole
life fell apart.
But you made me realize
you get one of those.
That's the most important
thing you'll ever have.
I love you, kid.
- I love you too.
- You do me a favor, all right?
While you're out there,
if you see a nurse,
you tell her to use a
smaller needle next time.
(Ellie laughs)
- Okay.
You look so happy there.
- I was.
- I wish I could've
seen Dad race.
- Yeah me too.
- I'm sorry that I didn't
tell you I was racing.
- I'm sorry I didn't
tell you about your dad.
- Tim said he was pretty good.
- Mm hmm.
He was the best.
- Do you ever miss it?
- I miss him.
But no, I have a better
life in Monterey.
For you and me.
- Tim thinks I'm pretty good.
(Jessie sighs)
- Tim doesn't really
know anything else.
He doesn't know what
other possibilities
are out there for you.
- Mom, I think I'm
pretty good too.
- Ellie, dirt track
racing is not a living.
It's a side gig.
And I bet working in
this shop for the summer
was a whole lot of fun.
But are you really gonna
spend the next 50 years
working long hours in a shop
so you can go race
on the weekend?
- I don't know.
You know I don't know
about the next 50 years.
But I know about right now.
I know that this matters to me.
This all matters to me.
(thoughtful music)
This is what I
need from you, Mom,
this is what I actually want.
(sighs)
- [Woman On PA] Paging Dr.
Moore, you're needed in post op,
paging Dr. Moore, you're
needed in post op.
(sighs)
- What?
- Seven days a week,
this, same stuff.
What would it take to
get me some grape Jello?
(laughing)
- I mean you must
be feeling better
if this is the biggest
problem you have.
Grape.
You ornery old fart.
- Yeah.
You're probably right.
How's Ellie doing?
- She and Merle have
that shop handled.
You're gonna be out of a job.
- Hope they don't fire me.
I need the insurance.
You know that
little girl of yours
is the best thing to
happen to me in 16 years.
- She's loved every minute
of this summer with you.
- She gave me some
great memories.
To replace some pretty bad ones.
- Is she really that good?
- Hand me my phone.
Watch that.
That is her first podium.
Better than Elliott
and I ever were.
Her instincts, her car control.
- Shit.
- Jess you can't teach that.
- Mm.
- Can you pass me
a quarter inch?
- Uh yeah.
I told Scooter we'd have
this done by tomorrow.
- Yeah no, I get it,
Scooter wants his car.
I'm doing the best I can.
- Hey guys.
How's it going?
- Merle is PMSing again.
- You're the PMSer.
- Oh well, I don't think
that Scooter's truck's
gonna get done on time.
- I told you.
- Why?
- 'Cause we have
another car to work on.
- Mom, we're kinda swamped here.
- Oh.
Well I just thought that
when I told my race team
that we had work to do
that they would hop to.
- Your race team?
- Yeah, Tim didn't think it
was the right time to call it.
So he put me in charge.
- Mom, seriously?
You're gonna run the team?
- Yeah, this was my
world as much as Tim's.
And I can't think
of a better driver
I'd like to run
the race team for.
- [Merle] Yes!
Thank you!
- All right, all right.
- Yeah all right. Yeah.
- We got work to do.
- We've been working on
Tim's car on the side.
It's ready to go.
- Oh.
Yeah but you, you can't run
Tim's car in late model.
- But we don't have
a late model car.
- Mm, uh oh.
You better not say that
to your new big sponsor.
- Mom, what's going on?
Mom, what's going on?
Mom, Dakota's our new sponsor?
Vance are you serious?
Hey munchkin, I missed you.
- I missed you too.
- Oh my...
- I made you this.
- What is this?
This is amazing.
Thank you!
You guys, you guys
bought a late model?
- All we need now's a driver.
- You got it, thank you!
- Our pleasure, El.
- Oh my god.
- Now who's this guy?
- This is the brains
of the team, Merle.
- Nice to meet ya, Earl.
- It's Merle.
- It's what?
- It's Merle.
- Okay.
Like Merle Haggard.
- Where are we racing where
we're going to need all of this?
- Well it's not Petaluma.
- No, we are entered
in the $100,000 to win
Protect the Harvest Nationals
at Lucas Oil Speedway.
- That's the Superbowl
of dirt track.
- Yes, I mean it's the
biggest race of the season.
And it's in Wheatland, Missouri.
- We're going to the Superbowl.
- We're going to the Superbowl.
- In Wheatland.
(girls laughing)
- All right.
One last thing.
Are you okay if
I'm your spotter?
- Female spotter, I don't know.
- Yeah.
- What do you think, Merle?
- You don't listen to anyone
anyway, so what do you care?
- Oh I like you.
I like you.
- Then we're good to go.
We're good to go!
- Whoo!
- Hey El.
- Hey.
- Hi Rocko.
Thank you for this.
- You're welcome.
This isn't modified, Ellie.
A late model your
wheelbase is wider
so it'll handle better but
you got 300 more horsepower
under the hood.
You're gonna be
carrying a lot of speed.
- I think I got it, Mom.
- Ellie, speed can be dangerous.
- I understand.
- Oh, well, you're lucky 'cause
this series allows spotters.
So get used to listening
to me in your ear.
(upbeat music)
♪ If I, I get to
know your name ♪
♪ Well, if I could trace
your private number, baby ♪
♪ All I know is that to me ♪
♪ You look like
you're having fun ♪
♪ Open up your lovin' arms ♪
♪ Watch out here I come ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ I want your love, love ♪
(crowd cheering)
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby, right ♪
- Can you had me
the long flathead?
- [Jessie] How's she doing?
- Fit as a fiddle.
We're ready to
take on Wheatland.
- Ah.
- Hi Mom.
- Hi honey.
Ellie, I got
something to show you.
- Okay.
Can you make sure that jay
bar's raised half an inch?
- I know.
- Okay.
What is this?
- Take a look yourself.
(thoughtful music)
- This is Dad's stuff?
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Oh my god.
This is incredible.
You just held onto all of this?
- Yeah.
I don't know when the
last time I looked at is,
but I didn't get rid of it.
- Maybe you should've
gotten rid of this one.
(both laughing)
Wow.
I wish I knew him.
- You do.
He's in you.
Every time I look at you
it's his face looking back.
Okay, I'm not proud of this.
- What is this?
- Tim tried to stay
in touch with you.
But I wouldn't let him.
- Mom.
- Yeah.
It was a mistake.
Think I thought I
was protecting you,
but I was just
protecting myself.
- Just look at all of these.
- One for every birthday.
- Except when I turned seven.
- What?
I saw that one sitting
on top of the mail.
I took it up to my room and
never told you about it.
- Can you ever forgive me?
- Yeah.
Yeah, of course.
(gentle music)
- Gees, it's just mail.
(both chuckling)
(upbeat music)
- Merle?
- Yeah, yeah I got ya.
- Copy me?
- [Merle] Loud and clear.
- There ya go.
- Lady driver wants to run
with the big boys now, huh?
- You're not scared,
are you Buck?
- A little scared you're
gonna crash into me.
I've seen what you
can do out there.
- Well, can't crash into
you if I'm ahead of you.
- You dream that dream.
Maybe after the race you can
come by the winner's circle
and we can go out and
celebrate my victory.
- Sorry, I have other plans.
- Oh yeah?
Better than hanging out with me?
- Oh yeah.
(Buck laughs)
- Right.
You call me when
you're done with Earl.
- It's Merle.
Nice work Merle.
- I didn't really do anything.
- I know.
- So who was that?
- That was Buck McCreadie.
- Get out.
- You know him?
- Oh I know that last name.
And I know you're gonna need
to beat the snot
outta him tonight.
- Can do, boss.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
we've reached the
main event tonight,
here at the spectacular
Lucas Oil Speedway.
(cheering)
We've got 100 laps for $100,000
in the Protect the
Harvest Nationals.
Locked into that front row
are your top qualifiers,
Bob Paxton and Jimmy Crunden.
They'll lead this 32 car
field to the green flag.
- [Ellie] Can you hear me?
- Loud and clear.
Good luck out there, kid.
- [Announcer] In the
second row, in the 1 car,
is the talk of the
track this week:
up and comer Buck McCreadie
out of Petaluma, California.
He's one of the youngest
racers out here tonight.
But his lap times this
season have been fantastic.
(fireworks popping)
Car advance coming
out of turn four,
a salute to America, the
greatest country on Earth.
And to you, the greatest
fans in automobile racing.
- All right Buck, stay
focused out there.
- [Buck] Always focused.
- This is gonna bring
us to the green flag
for our main event.
- You got this, kid.
(engines revving)
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] Box Paxton,
Jimmy Crunden at the line.
Here we go.
- [Jessie] You can do it, Ellie.
Just drive the car.
- Only five laps in
and Buck McCreadie
already finds himself
in second place,
chasing down the leader.
(tense music)
Buck McCreadie's
not the only driver
from Petaluma, California.
In the middle of the
pack in the 32 car
is Ellie Lansing, a young
lady who's only 16 years old.
(tense music)
Buck McCreadie
takes over the lead.
- Oh this is your
race to lose tonight.
- [Buck] You know it.
- All right El,
track's getting slick.
- I'm gonna try and
squeeze on the inside.
- Nothing Ellie Lansing
does here tonight
seems to be doing any good.
(metal clanking)
(metal clanking)
Oh, Mason Syler and
Jimmy Briggs collide,
hanging into turn three.
Looks like everyone's okay
but a caution flag has come out.
It's certainly an endurance
test out here tonight, folks.
Staying clean and green for
100 laps is no easy feat.
- I think I'm in over my head.
- All right listen, if you
take away the fancy stadium
and fireworks, you
know what's left?
- No, what?
- A dirt track.
Same size as the one back home.
Show me what ya got.
- You're right.
Thanks, Mom.
- With that green flag,
we're back to racing,
ladies and gentlemen.
37 in the books, 63 to go
and Buck McCreadie will
not let go of that lead.
- Hold your line, Buck.
- [Buck] Now don't
worry, I got this.
- [Announcer] McCreadie
with an impressive lap time.
He's actually starting to
lap some of the competition.
The 32 car, Lansing,
with a clean pass on car 5.
- Yes!
Damn!
Found another gear, kid.
- Just another dirt track, Mom.
- [Announcer] McCreadie
still out in front.
But the real story
out here tonight
is the rookie Lansing in car 32,
who started in 14th but is
now all the way up to 6th.
Make that 5th!
(laughing)
- All right, 20 laps to go.
- [Ellie] 20 laps, copy.
- [Buck's Spotter] Stay sharp,
Buck, this race is yours.
- [Buck] I ain't worried.
(engines revving)
- [Announcer] Lansing in 32
makes another pass on car 20,
moving up to 4th place.
- [Jessie] Double
zero on your tail.
- What's he doing?
(metal clanking)
- Ooh, the double zero,
he threw a fender.
- [Ellie] Hey!
- [Announcer] The 32 car
almost into the wall.
But Lansing pulls out of it.
- I'm good.
- [Announcer] This young
lady sure can drive.
- Payback time.
- [Announcer] Lansing
looking for revenge,
dive under double zero
to move back into 4th.
- She's pretty good, huh?
- She's the best.
- [Announcer] Lap 87,
McCreadie still unchallenged.
We're closing on the final 10.
Can McCreadie shut the door
on the rest of the pack?
- [Jessie] Are you comfortable
with 4th place young lady?
- Not tonight.
My sponsor's in the stands.
- Whoo!
- [Announcer] Lansing with a
powerful move on the outside.
She might claim a podium
spot here tonight.
- (laughs) Yes!
(crunching)
- Oh, that did not look pretty.
He just came in too
hot and spun him.
- Six laps to checker, Ellie.
- [Ellie] Roger that.
- Buck McCreadie's gotta
be feeling the heat
from the hard charging
Ellie Lansing,
who's now right on
his back bumper.
- [Jessie] You like
following that McCreadie boy?
- No.
And I think he's led
this race long enough.
(laughing)
- There you go kid.
(gentle music)
- After a hard night of racing,
it's all come down to
these final six laps.
- Bring her home.
- Hey El.
- God?
Is that you?
- It's your Uncle Tim here.
Coming to you in a dream.
- Oh I see.
You got a secret for me.
- [Tim] Yeah, drive
faster than Buck.
- (laughs) I miss you.
- I miss you too.
- [Announcer] And the
race is back under way.
- All right El, let's do this.
Now, now, commit El.
- [Announcer] 32 and
39 side by side to,
oh there's some contact.
And Lansing comes out
of it in second place,
right behind Buck McCreadie.
- Watch your six, Buck.
- Come on, Ellie.
- [Announcer] Lansing
just can't find a way
to make a run on McCreadie.
- I'm gonna set him
up to dive in late.
- Right on the bumper.
- Buck!
She's right behind you.
- The white flag's out, folks.
Just one lap to go.
- Here I come.
- [Tim] Inside, inside.
- Come on Buck, do not
let that girl pass you.
What are you doing?
- [Announcer] Oh, McCreadie
gets loose on the outside.
It's a clear shot.
- [Buck] No, no, no, no, no.
- No, no!
- Clear El, clear.
- Come on!
- [Announcer] And the
winner is the newcomer,
taking the checkered flag.
Congratulations on your first
Protect the Harvest
Nationals win.
(fireworks popping)
(happy music)
(cheering)
- [Vance] Ellie!
Yeah!
- [Loretta]
I'm gonna make you
the biggest cake
you've ever seen.
- [Merle] Good job, Ellie.
- One, two, three.
Cheese.
(phone camera clicking)
(thoughtful music)
♪ Black or white ♪
♪ Tamed or wild ♪
♪ Rich or strife ♪
♪ Gray or child ♪
♪ Pennies or gold ♪
♪ Silver lining ♪
♪ We're just all
shattered diamonds ♪
♪ So shine if you need,
we're born to be free ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the
world will believe in you ♪
♪ So shine all you want ♪
♪ In the light in the dark ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day
the world will need ♪
♪ In due time, strength
will guide you ♪
- God, I can't believe
it's finally done.
You never told me who
the special client is.
Have they even seen it yet?
- They have, actually.
You know this is the first
car your dad and I ever owned.
We did everything in this baby.
It's yours kid.
Let's take it for a spin.
- [Ellie] This is incredible!
(engine rumbles)
(tires peeling)
♪ So shine if you need
we're born to be free ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the
world will believe in you ♪
♪ So shine all you want ♪
♪ In the light in the dark ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day
the world will need ♪
(thoughtful music)
(tense music)
(rock music)
♪ Head out on the highway ♪
♪ Looking for adventure ♪
♪ And whatever comes our way ♪
♪ Yeah darling gonna
make it happen ♪
♪ Take the world
in a love embrace ♪
♪ Fire all of your
guns at once ♪
♪ And explode into space ♪
♪ Like a true nature's child ♪
♪ We were born,
born to be wild ♪
♪ We can climb so high ♪
♪ I never wanna die ♪
♪ Born to be wild ♪
- [Woman] Ellie
we're gonna be late.
- You know, you forgot a
minus sign on this one.
- Couldn't you just put it in?
- I'm not the one in 3rd grade.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Sit and have some breakfast.
- Can't, you said so
yourself, I'm gonna be late.
- Sit.
Fix your outfit please.
- Yeah, seriously.
- Shut up.
- Ellie, don't talk to
your sister like that.
- Half sister.
- Mom!
- Vance!
- Guys, make this woman happy.
Or I'm gonna have to pay for it.
- Okay.
- I have a showing after school.
So I need you here
to watch Dakota.
- Mom, no, I have my
driver's test after school.
You said I could
borrow your car.
- Ugh, well I'm sorry El.
I totally forgot.
- Mom, I've only talked
about it every day this week.
- Well we'll reschedule.
- My permit's about to expire.
When are we gonna reschedule it?
- Ellie, we'll got to the DMV.
It's driver's ed, not
the end of the world.
- Yeah, like you didn't
do this on purpose.
- Teenagers, am I right?
- Ya kinda are.
♪ Born to be wild ♪
♪ Born to be wild ♪
- Hey weirdo, you wanna race?
Oh that's right, you
don't have a car.
Seriously, a skateboard?
(school bell rings)
- [Announcer] It's the
last day of school, folks.
Remember, clean
out your lockers.
What I find left
behind becomes mine.
- There she is.
- What's up freak?
- [Teacher] Look who I found
loitering in the hallway.
- She's late.
- You've been making
quite a habit out
of this Ms. Lansing.
She's all yours.
- Sorry I'm late.
- The final exam's
already started.
- She's gonna get an F, man.
- Oh look, there's
the nerdvicular, man.
- Eyes on your tests, gentlemen.
(tense music)
- Thank you.
- This one's firing,
you can go ahead.
- You know if you guys
just go adding more air,
you're gonna mess up...
- I already rejetted
the carburetor, Mr. Hicks.
Air fuel ratio should be good.
- Okay.
And you didn't
wanna take my class.
- She's a natural.
- I'd rather be driving
a car than fixing one.
- Well, you'll finally
get your chance today.
- Actually I won't.
My mom won't be here
on time with her car.
- You just need a car?
Use the shop car.
- Does it actually drive?
- It's registered
and everything.
Go on.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Now let's finish up.
Oh, well then.
- Let's try a left turn.
All right, why don't you
take her back in lot there
and we'll try parallel parking.
- Mm 'kay.
- So are we partying this
weekend guys, or what?
- [Student] I hear Dice's
parents are outta town.
- No way, we gotta go.
- Why don't you go
ahead and try and park
between those two cars up there.
- No problem.
- Oh hey, hey, hey, let
me see that really quick.
Let me see.
Check this out, guys.
(examiner yelling)
No, look out.
(exclaiming)
(yelling)
- Uh...
Well okay.
Well you passed, young lady.
I need to get a new job.
- Hey moron, you
scuffed our soccer ball
with your ugly car.
(metal crunching)
- Oops.
- What the heck?
- You knew I did not have
time to come here today.
What is this, punishment?
And you wonder why I didn't
want you to get your license.
- So you did blow me
off on purpose today.
- Yes and you just proved
that I was right to do so
because the second
you get your license
you smash some kid's car.
- Mom it was an accident.
- Is that what
you're gonna go with?
It was an accident.
There were a ton of
witnesses, Ellie.
- Mom, he started it.
- Well insurance doesn't
cover "he started it".
- Vance can afford it.
- Yes Vance can afford
it and he's not going to
because you are getting
a job this summer
and every dollar you make
will go to pay for
that poor kid's car.
(boys laughing)
(sighs)
- [Vance] Well at least
the cops weren't involved.
- Yeah, not this time.
She's just like her dad.
- [Vance] Well,
you may be right.
- [Mom] God, her temperament
and her attitude,
it's just so much like Elliott.
And I tried to give
her a different life,
we tried to give her
a different life.
- Maybe she would benefit
from a more rigid
learning environment.
- She is already at the best
private school in Monterey.
I mean what are you talking
about, boarding school?
(sad music)
(phone rings)
- Hey.
- You okay?
- No.
- Your folks pretty mad?
- They don't even want me here.
- [Friend] What are
you talking about?
- I just, maybe everyone'd
be happier if I were gone.
I just, I wanna
get outta Monterey.
I don't fit in here.
And I got my license today.
I can go anywhere.
- [Friend] So what,
you're gonna run away?
- I don't know.
- Be serious.
They love you.
You have a good life, Ellie.
Where would you even go?
- I wanna find out
who my dad was.
Where I came from.
- You can't drive off, Ellie.
New cars all have GPS.
The cops can track
you in a heartbeat.
- Well maybe I don't need
one of their stupid new cars.
(dramatic music)
Sorry, Mom.
Can't have you finding me.
♪ I'm calling home ♪
♪ I'm calling a jail house ♪
♪ Gotta get outta this place ♪
♪ Too much to lose when
your life's on cruise ♪
♪ All I wanna do
is race to the ♪
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
(car hisses)
- No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
♪ You're not the boss,
not the boss of me ♪
(coughing)
(dramatic music)
- Need a little help?
- No, I'm good thanks.
- [Officer] It's a little
late for a young lady
to be out driving
these roads alone.
- I'm just headed home.
I'll be fixed in a few seconds.
- You got a license?
- Well I just got it today.
So I only have my driver's test.
But I passed with flying colors.
- I'm gonna need to see it.
This is quite the car.
- I got rear ended in a
parking lot a few days ago.
Haven't had a chance
to fix her yet.
- Ellie Lansing, that's you.
- That's me.
- All right, well you just
stay here, Ms. Lansing,
you understand?
- Yes sir.
- Hey, is your head clear?
(thoughtful music)
(radio transmission garbling)
- I thought you were
taking me to the station.
- All right, who's gonna sign?
- Uncle Tim?
(scoffs)
- She's fine, Jess.
Yeah, for real.
'Cause I'm looking
at her right now.
Uh yeah, yeah, she's just fine.
Well now she is.
So I.
Why don't we take a
step back, breathe.
Take a step back.
Jess, you need to calm down.
We didn't really have
a chance to discuss it.
What more she knows, but also,
let me ask her.
All right.
I hear ya.
(sighs)
(sighs)
- Is she pissed?
- Well I'll tell ya something.
I don't know of a word
in the English language
that sums up how
mad your mom is.
Gimme a hand with this light.
Pull that leg up.
- Okay.
Well she'll be much happier
without me there, trust me.
- [Tim] Really?
'Cause I'll tell ya she
didn't sound very happy.
- You got kids?
- I do not have kids, no.
- Then you don't know
how much parents hate
having them around.
- Well that may be.
But I do have parents.
As frustrating as they can be,
the good ones always love ya.
That's a fact.
- Have you been living
here this whole time?
- I do get out during
the day sometimes.
- Mom said she didn't know
how to get ahold of you.
- Okay well don't blame
your mom for that, okay?
I completely understand
someone like me
not fitting into your
mom's new lifestyle.
Okay?
I don't have a problem with it.
So you shouldn't have
a problem with it.
- But you're family.
- Every family
has a black sheep.
Okay, who the
hell's car is this?
- Ah, this is the shop
car from my school.
- And they just let you take it?
- I left a note.
- You left a note
when you stole it then
is what you mean.
Which is great.
Now I gotta make another
phone call tonight.
- I'll handle it.
- Okay well handle it before
the police find out, okay?
There's only so much
Sheriff Cooper can handle.
- Yeah, will do.
- All right, I'm in the loft.
Cot's for you.
- You want me to sleep on that?
- To be honest I don't really
care what you do on it.
But I'm going to bed.
- Wow, you're a real charmer.
- Or we could get back in the
car and I could take ya home.
- No thank you.
- Then the cot.
You understand me?
- Yeah.
This place is disgusting.
- Well you know what, your
dad almost lived here.
And this crap was
good enough for him.
- My dad?
(gentle music)
- Soon as I wake
up I'll take a look
at your stolen shop
car, see what I can fix.
- It's something in
the radiator system.
Coolant leak maybe,
I can fix it.
- Well good.
That's even better.
Got my own crap to take care of.
(sighs)
(door creaking)
(suspenseful music)
(sighs)
- Um.
- Come on in, buddy.
She's not gonna bite.
That's my niece, Ellie.
- Hi.
I'm Merle.
- Nice to meet you, Earl.
- Oh no, it's, I'm Merle.
- What did I say?
- Earl.
- What did you say?
- Merle.
- Merle, okay, got it.
- Like Merle Haggard.
- Yeah, of course,
like Merle Haggard.
- You two done over there?
- I brought you a couple
of breakfast sandwiches.
And there's some fresh fruit
that just came in this morning.
And that's it.
- What's that?
- What?
- Merle.
You were just about
to show me something.
What was that?
- Um, it's just,
my mom said that women
like men who smell good.
So.
- Is that right?
So a man's gotta smell good
for a woman to like him?
Is that about right?
- It doesn't hurt.
- Well I guess I need
to wear that stuff then.
What's it's, what is
that called, ultra?
- Deodorant.
- What will science
think of next?
- Okay I'm just gonna
leave this here.
- Thank you for coming buddy.
- (chuckles) Here's another one.
It's really nice
to meet you, Ellie.
- It's nice to meet
you too, Merle.
Ha.
- Okay, so that boy's
got a crush on ya.
Let's take a look at
this car of yours,
see if we can get
it back on the road.
Okay, can't see from here,
but let's make sure the lock
washer's on the inside...
- Or it'll back out.
I got it.
- Yeah, it'll back out.
I gotta say, you
know your engines.
- Yeah, auto shop's
pretty much the only class
I got a decent
grade in this year.
And I didn't even wanna take it.
- Why not?
- Because being an auto mechanic
wouldn't really make
my mom that happy.
No offense.
- No, no, none taken.
And you're probably right.
But that doesn't mean you
can't tinker under the hood
in between doctoring
and lawyering, you know.
Whatever it is you wanna do.
Plus ya save a lot
on car repairs.
- Tim, Tim that's it.
I can make money doing this.
- Yeah.
You didn't know that.
- No, I mean I could work
here for you this summer.
- Well I didn't know
I was hiring, but...
- My mom said I
need a summer job
and this could be it.
- Well I think she
meant down the block.
Not a couple hundred miles away.
- This is perfect.
You said so yourself,
I'm good at it.
- Okay Ellie, look
around this place, huh.
This is not a place a teenager
needs to spend a summer.
You need to be back
home at a shopping mall,
getting into trouble or...
- I need to work this
summer and this is it.
Now look, I know it.
- Your mom would
never go for that.
- You don't know that.
Let met talk to her.
- Ellie.
- Please Tim, I need this.
(hopeful music)
- What are you gonna do
about the stolen shop car?
- We could drive it back
and that would be the
perfect opportunity
to talk to my mom in person.
- No.
Then I'd be there.
- So?
- You said you would
talk to Jessie.
There's no way, I'm not
sitting down for that
fire and fury, I, I...
- A wise man once told
me that the good parents
always love you.
- Well they don't
always love the uncle.
- Let's give it a shot.
If my mom says no
then I won't bring it
up again, case closed.
(sighs)
(thoughtful music)
I'm just gonna throw
this in the truck.
- Sounds good.
(sighs)
Thank you for letting
this happen, Jess.
- I'd be lying if I said
I felt good about it.
But I haven't seen her
this happy in a long time.
- Well she's got some
real skills around
cars, I'll tell ya.
And I'm gonna enjoy the help.
- Just gotta grab
the last of my stuff.
- I'll take good
care of your girl.
- Better than you've been
taking care of yourself I hope.
- I probably deserve that.
But I won't let ya down.
- This is it.
- Okay.
Okay.
Be good.
- Thank you.
(hopeful music)
We're back?
- (sighs) Something tells me
you didn't sleep all
that well last night.
- Please, I had a
deluxe cot in auto bay.
How could I not?
- Oh come on.
You just got upgraded
off the shop floor.
- My my.
- You all good?
- Better than ever.
- All right then.
- So what are we doing tonight?
- You're looking at it.
You're gonna unpack,
I'm gonna go upstairs,
I'm gonna go to bed.
- No way.
Show me around
town or something.
- You were asleep like 10
minutes ago out in the truck.
- Yeah, well I'm not anymore.
Come on, what did you and my
dad used to do around here?
- Well the same thing we
did every Saturday night.
- Okay cool, so what.
- I don't think so, Ellie.
- Why, was it a strip
club or something?
- It's nothing bad, it's just
nothing I have any desire
to do anymore.
- I just wanna know
what my dad used to do.
Come on, please?
- You normally have success
with that level of please?
- Yes.
Otherwise I wouldn't
continue using it.
- Let's just drive
by, all right?
- Ta da.
(upbeat music)
This place is awesome.
- [Tim] Yep, every weekend,
standing room only.
Lotta energy here, huh?
- Mm hmm.
Hey Merle.
Whatcha doing here?
- Uh, I come here
almost every weekend.
Everybody does except
for your uncle.
- Well I'm certainly
glad to see him.
Hey Tim.
- How you doing, Loretta?
This is Ellie, by the
way, she's my niece.
She's staying with
me for the summer.
- Well hello young lady.
Welcome to Petaluma.
- Thank you, thank you.
- You know we should
probably get inside,
they're getting ready to start.
- We actually just stopped by
to take a look at the track.
You guys go ahead.
- Oh no, we should go in.
- No, Loretta, we don't
have tickets or anything.
- Oh we got plenty of seats.
Come with me.
- Loretta, El!
- We're going.
- [Announcer] Need some
strategy here driving.
There is some speculation
this weekend by some people.
(engines revving)
(crowd cheering)
- This place was
our whole world.
- [Announcer] 23
holds onto the lead
coming out of curve number two.
- It was?
- We spent every
waking moment here.
If we weren't racing we
were watching, studying.
- Studying.
Doesn't look that hard.
I mean you just go in circles.
- Yeah.
You just go in circles.
About 90 miles an hour.
And if you make
one tiny mistake,
the only forgiveness
to be had is dealt out
by a concrete wall
about five feet away.
- Tell me more.
- [Announcer]
Number 22 with Reed,
trying to take
over Hendrix in 27.
- It's the only thing
I've ever done in my life
where when you're doing it it's
the only thing that matters.
(engines revving)
- [Announcer] And
that's the white flag,
only one lap to go.
(whistling)
- What is that smell?
- That's methanol.
These babies don't run on
pump gas, special race gas.
Ah, okay they locked the
gate to the parking lot.
I'm gonna have to
go around the side.
Stay here, I'll get the car.
Tommy, keep any eye on my niece.
They locked the gate.
I'm gonna go pick
up the car, okay?
Thank you.
- [Tommy] Sure thing, Tim.
See that tire on there.
- This is so cool.
Oh my god.
- Ah yeah, I see that.
- Wow.
- I see that.
- [Man In Truck] Need
a ride, little lady?
- Uh, no, I'm just
waiting for my uncle.
- So you don't wanna ride
with tonight's big winner?
- Did you race tonight?
- (laughs) Yeah.
And I won.
- You're kidding.
Are you Buck McCreadie?
- That's my name,
don't wear it out.
- [Ellie] I got a question.
- Huh?
- Is it really so hard
to just race in circles?
- That's the hardest
kinda racing there is.
- That seems to be
the standard response.
- What was that?
- Nothing.
- It's your first time
to the race track?
- Yeah, I live in Monterey.
I'm just visiting
Petaluma for the summer.
- You should let me show
you around town then.
- Is there really much to see?
- Is there much?
Darlin', Petaluma has
all the hot spots.
We got a Waffle House,
less than 20 miles away.
(Ellie laughs)
Cracker Barrel under 30.
- Oh Cracker Barrel, yeah.
- [Tim] El, you good?
- Yeah.
I just met the king
of the oval track.
- Yeah?
Is that what he told ya?
- You know it's true, Tim.
- What are you doing
slumming around the old
Petaluma track, Buck?
- Just keeping my skills sharp.
Racing Calistoga next weekend.
- I thought your whole family
was banned from
Calistoga Speedway
after your old man got
DQed so many times.
- You throwing shade
at my dad, Tim?
Won a lot more trophies
than you ever did.
Though yours do look real nice
sitting in that garage of yours.
(chuckles)
Nice to meet you, Ellie.
- You too.
- She's 16.
- Yeah, and I'm 19.
That used to be marrying age.
- Back off.
- All right Tipsy Tim.
(laughing)
- He seemed nice.
- Oh Ellie, come on.
- Well he seemed nice
until you go there.
What, do you have
history with Buck?
- Nothing other than the
fact that I used to race
with his old man.
- Is he the reason why you quit?
- 'Cause of Buck's idiot father?
I didn't give two
shits about him.
- Oh yeah, sure.
Doesn't sound like it.
- Well, that's the truth.
- Can you tell me more
about the racing or my dad?
You guys were close, right?
- El, there's gotta be a reason
your mother never brought it up.
- What?
What reason?
- I don't know, you'd
have to ask her.
- No, I'm asking you.
- Look, Ellie, I'm really
glad that you're here.
And I have loved every minute
of getting to know my
brother's little baby.
But I can't read
your mother's mind.
(gasps)
- Are you okay?
- I'm gonna stop.
(panting)
That's gotta be something I ate.
- Must've been
everything you ate.
- Would you mind
driving us home?
- What good's a license
if I don't use it?
- Good point.
Thanks for driving, huh?
- [Ellie] Yeah.
You gonna be all right?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm just gonna
grab a couple things
outta the office.
(thoughtful music)
- Thanks for tonight, Tim.
I really loved the racing.
- Yeah.
I used to as well.
'Night El.
- Mornin'.
- What are you doing?
- I thought this place
could use a good cleaning.
- What the hell kinda
teenager are you?
- The kind that works here now.
I gotta earn my paycheck.
- Okay, well this just in.
You don't have to
work on Sundays.
- I am not taking
my first day off.
Now come on, you too.
I'm not doing
this by myself.
- Well I'm gonna
need a cup of coffee
to keep up with you today.
(Ellie laughs)
(sighs)
- So you had a race car, right?
- I did.
- What happened to it?
- I don't know.
- Is that right?
- That's right.
- 'Cause what is under
that tarp over there, Tim?
- Ellie Lansing, you
stop right where you are.
- [Ellie] I can't
help but notice
this giant massive thing...
- I wouldn't do that
if I were you.
(coughing)
I told you not too.
- This is a race car?
- It's a modified.
I know visually it's an
acquired taste, but it's,
it's exactly what you saw
running last night
at the speedway.
- Did you ever win in it?
- I did, yeah.
As a matter of fact the
car you're looking at
held the Petaluma Speedway
record for quite some time.
- How?
You drop it from a plane?
- (laughs) There's
the old man of yours.
- Yeah?
Does it run?
- Nah, it's pretty much
just a big paperweight
at this point.
- Well can we try
and turn it over?
Where are the keys?
- The keys.
Hmm.
I don't know, actually.
- I call bullshit.
You made this big
decision to quit racing.
And then you carefully
covered up your car.
And then what you just tossed
your keys into the corner?
- Well that's not exactly
how it went down, no.
- Where are they?
- Why don't you check in
the trophies back there.
- Which one?
- Try the smallest one.
- That doesn't really
narrow it down for me.
(Tim laughs)
- Son of a.
Ellie.
- It is in none of those.
- Come here, come here.
That's a race car.
- Yeah?
- It's not your
momma's Mercedes.
Doesn't have keys, doesn't
have a blip, blip, blip.
No keyless entry, there's no...
- Okay.
- Six.
- Okay, okay,
- disc changer in the trunk.
- You're real funny,
you know that?
How do I start it?
- Well just to turn it over
it's gonna need a new battery.
No telling what else
is wrong with that.
- Okay, well let's
get it a battery.
- Shh.
Just the adult needs
a minute, okay?
Plus we have another
car to work on.
Think you're gonna like this.
♪ Wake up, today's the day ♪
♪ We gotta get things underway ♪
- Okay.
That should do it.
Twist it.
- Yeah?
(engine revs)
- Okay kill it, kill it.
Whoo!
- Oh!
Tim that sounded amazing.
What is this?
- That is a Chevy LS9.
Pretty much the holy grail
of street power plants.
- Must be for a very
special customer.
- Very.
I gotta tell you, you're
turning out to be a gear head.
Mighta found your calling.
- Yeah?
So can we work on
the race car next?
- You ever think of anything
else, anything at all?
- Not today I don't.
- What about food?
Can I interest you in some food?
- If we must.
God, where's Merle
when ya need him?
- Well Merle's probably still
nursing a nacho hangover.
- So why'd you stop racing?
- Oh really?
- Okay, when did
you stop racing?
- You're relentless, aren't you?
Like a dog with a bone.
(Ellie barks)
I stopped after your
dad died, you know.
- But you loved it,
you said so yourself.
- Yeah well I did then I didn't.
- Hey, dirt track.
Let's check it out.
- Nothing to check
out, it's closed.
- I just wanna see
it during the day.
Please?
- What the hell, but
then after we eat.
Okay?
- Yeah.
(horn honks)
- How you doing, Rocko?
Just gonna show the kid
around if that's all right.
- You're good, Tim.
- Thanks, buddy.
(engine revs)
(tense music)
- What are we doing?
- Well you said you wanted
to see the track, right?
So what the hell.
Let's see the track.
(rock music)
(Ellie exclaims)
(laughing)
- Whoo!
(screams)
Okay, okay.
- So what do ya think?
- Can we do it again?
- Why not?
Your turn.
- What?
- What good's a driver's license
if you're not gonna use it?
Swap spots.
Drop it in first, go
easy on the clutch.
Just easy, delicate on the gas.
There ya go, there ya go.
Feel it.
There's a lotta
power, so go easy.
Up to second before the corner.
- [Ellie] Okay.
- Looks nice, El, that's
beautiful, El, beautiful.
(whimpers)
Yeah!
- Who the hell's that?
- I think it's Tim
Lansing's old car
or pieces of it anyway.
- I think you're right.
Let's have some fun.
- Brakes, brakes,
brakes, brakes.
- We're good, we're good.
- Whoo hoo hoo!
- Wouldn't you know that's Buck.
(guys laughing)
- Think we can take him?
- Maybe 30 years ago when
this rolled off the
assembly line.
Not now.
- Yeah, yeah buddy, come on.
- Catch 'em, catch 'em.
- Come on, old man,
let's see what you got.
- [Tim] All right,
enough of this crap.
Lose him.
(engines revving)
- Yeah, here we go.
Okay, okay.
Yep, yep, yep.
- All right, all
right, all right.
- Stay on your line,
keep him in sight.
- Okay, you gotta catch him,
catch him, now catch him.
- All right, so roll on
the power, up to third,
up to third, up to third.
- Old man's still
got some skills.
- Now it ain't worth hurting
your truck, now Buck.
Easy takes it.
- That's what insurance is for.
- Okay.
- Yes, El!
El.
- I lost him.
- He's high and wide, El.
High and wide.
Son of a.
Gonna hit us, El.
Brakes.
- What are you doing, Buck?
Buck, Buck, Buck.
- Hey, you okay?
- Yeah, we're fine.
- Both of ya?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- You watch yourself and
that diving late apex crap.
You understand me?
- Hey.
Who the hell was driving?
- Hey, aren't you the
king of the oval track?
- No shit.
- Why don't you bring
that car by the shop
and we'll see if we can't
buff that out for ya.
- That was a girl.
- Yeah, no shit, Kenny.
- Wow.
(Buck sighs)
- [Ellie] Did you see his face?
- Why don't you
swing by the shop
and let me buff it out?
I almost peed myself.
(laughing)
You are more like your dad
than I could've imagined.
- What do you mean?
- Oh, he never backed
down from a fight.
Even once he knew
he couldn't win.
I mean I got more bumps and
bruises and scraped up knuckles
than you could
imagine defending him.
(thoughtful music)
- Is that a good
thing or a bad thing?
- I don't know.
Maybe it's just a thing.
- Okay.
Now I'm starving.
(patrons murmuring)
- [Tim] Okay.
- [Hostess] Hi Tim,
nice to see you.
- [Tim] Good to
see you too, Grace.
All righty.
- You should race again.
- Let's just enjoy
what happened today
and let's leave it there.
That's my suggestion.
- I could be on your race team.
Help you fix up your car,
we could show Buck what
a real driver can do.
- Racing is behind me, Ellie.
- It doesn't have to be.
- Come on, it's a
young man's sport.
I know that and
I've accepted it.
You need to accept it.
- Well what about a young woman?
- Oh boy.
- You could be on my race team.
Show me the ropes.
- El you came out here to work
in the shop for the summer.
That's a promise that
I made your mother.
- I can't break that...
- I can still work in the shop.
- We would only race
on the weekends, right?
- Your mother would kill me if
I put you behind the wheel...
- She knows that you race.
It wouldn't be that
big of a surprise.
- No Ellie, El!
Your dad didn't just
die in a car wreck.
He died in a car
wreck on that track.
- My dad raced?
- Yeah your dad raced.
(solemn music)
My brother was the best
friend I've ever had.
We did everything together.
Of course he raced, El.
- What happened?
- He went on his
lid exiting turn two
and we think a fuel line
most likely ruptured
and the car caught on fire.
The flames spread
pretty quickly,
so quick nobody had time
to really do anything.
You know?
(explosion booms)
Nobody had time.
- Why would my mom
keep that from me?
- Oh come on, El.
Your mother was
nine months pregnant
the night it happened.
She was welcoming
you into the world
and saying goodbye to a
husband the same moment.
Your birth is always gonna
be tied to his death.
And I don't think she
ever really had any chance
to process it properly.
I mean I was overwhelmed.
Suddenly the shop was
a one man operation.
Your mother met Vance,
they went to Monterey.
- That's not fair.
It's not fair what she
did to me or to you.
- You can't blame
your mother for that.
What's not fair is losing
a husband that you love.
- Or losing a dad.
- And I'm sorry for that.
- Thank you.
- And that was when your dad
got this perfect opportunity
to pull out the shotgun.
- No way.
- And shoot.
It works too.
Gimme the 15, will ya?
Like scared the crap out them.
I'll tell ya something, they
didn't mess with us ever again.
- How old were they again?
- I mean Otis had to be nine.
Okay.
I don't think there's
anything here we can do
until the differential
ships at least.
- You know what that means.
- Don't say it.
- Race car.
- El, I think we
talked about this.
Neither one of us are
driving that thing.
- Yeah, yeah, we don't have to.
We can just clean out the
cobwebs and tinker with it
when we get home from
being lawyers or whatever.
- Do you remember every single
thing that I say to you?
- Tim, I'm here to work
on cars for the summer.
And I want the next
one to be that one.
(Tim sighs)
- Okay.
Where are you going?
- It needs a new battery,
if I'm not mistaken.
(thoughtful music)
- You are not mistaken.
(engine chugging)
Shut it down.
- Whoo!
Let's get this baby on the road.
- The road?
What kinda car do
you think this is?
This baby runs on dirt.
- Okay, let's get her dirty.
- [Tim] Okay.
Let's see what this baby can do.
- Who's driving?
- Who do you think is driving?
- Well I don't know, I did
most of the work on her.
- You did most of the work?
- Well I was in the top two.
- Okay, this baby hasn't
seen the dirt in 15 years.
And you think I'm not gonna
be the first one to drive it?
- I could live with that.
- So could I.
- You know it's really
more of a young man's...
What'd you just say?
- Try these on.
See what you can do.
(Tim sighs)
Okay.
Now the mud's pretty
tacky out there.
That means the car's
gonna feel pretty loose.
And as you roll on the power,
the back end's gonna step out
so you be ready for that, okay?
- Yeah.
- Only left turns.
The best left turn
is when the steering wheel's
pointing to the right, okay?
(rock music)
Whoo hoo hoo hoo!
How did that feel?
- [Ellie] Awesome!
- I'll tell ya, you
look good out there.
Really good.
I don't think I've ever
seen that kinda car control
on a first drive in my life.
- [Ellie] That was awesome.
- You're a Lansing.
(sighs)
(Tim grunts)
'Kay, you know what, let's
roll it into bay two.
Give a couple
cranks to the right.
- You know, this is
a great car, Tim.
- I always knew she was.
- Yep.
It's a real shame that
she just has to sit here
in the shop all day.
- El.
- It was built to be
on that track, Tim.
- Ellie, stop.
- It is a genie, Tim.
- I'm sorry, what?
- What you have here is a
magical, all powerful creature
that is just spending
year after year
stuffed in this crappy old lamp.
- You are good.
- Rub the lamp, Tim,
set the genie free.
Let it fly through the dirt.
- Okay there's absolutely
nothing that could convince me
to let you do dirt
track this summer.
I'm sorry, it's...
- Shop open?
- Hey Buck, what
are you doing here?
- Ah, you guys said you
could help out with my truck.
So.
- You paying cash?
- No actually.
The insurance lady
was real sympathetic
when she heard about the
hit and run I suffered.
- Is that right?
- Yep.
This is your old race car here?
- It is.
- You donating it to
a museum or something?
- No, no we took her out in
the old field over there.
She handled so nicely.
- Real nice for
a relic I'm sure.
You know you should take my car
out for a few laps
around the track.
You're a pretty good driver.
- You think?
- Yeah.
- You know I think we're all
good with the relic here Buck.
Thanks for dropping by.
I'll let you know
about your truck.
(horn honking)
- Yeah, I'm coming.
- Your mom waiting for you?
- No, Kenny's giving
me a ride home.
I meant what I said earlier
about you trying
out a real race car.
You just let me know.
Possibly get us access
to Calistoga Speedway.
- Shut up!
- Mm hmm.
- I mean no, thank you.
I wanna earn my trip there.
- All right then.
Suit yourself.
Hey, I need it by Friday, Tim.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Maybe spend a little less
time on your stupid race car
and a little more
time working, huh?
(horn honking)
Yeah, I said I'm coming, Kenny.
Bye Ellie.
- [Ellie] Bye Buck.
- Gotta make sure it's
okay with your mom first.
- Yes, thank you.
Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.
- Okay, there's no
guarantees here, all right?
We're just gonna take
a little bit of time
and see if we can get you ready.
That's it.
- Oh I'm prepared.
I'm ready.
- This is up to you.
- I got the best
teacher in the world.
- Ya think?
(Ellie laughs)
(hopeful music)
- Okay, let's get
you registered,
get you past tech inspection,
pay a quick fee and
get you some seat time.
(energetic music)
Okay.
First of all this is
not an open field.
There's walls here.
Let's just take it
slow at first, okay?
- Who the hell am I kidding?
You're gonna put your foot
through the floorboard
as soon as you get
out there aren't you?
(Ellie laughs)
Get in the car.
(engine rumbles)
(upbeat music)
(engine revs)
(Tim exclaims)
- No, no, no.
(growls)
- Okay well that sucked.
- Yeah.
- Look, I want you
to find the edge.
But do it gradually, okay?
We creep up to the edge.
When you approach the
corner, select your line
and commit to it.
It's a lot easier than later
when there's 10 cars trying
to ram into you, okay?
- Yeah, yeah, got it.
- Make me proud.
(engine rumbles)
(upbeat music)
(engine revving)
Test one two, test one two.
- God?
Is that you?
- Yes, Ellie, as a
matter of fact it is God.
I'd like you to pay attention
to everything your uncle
tells you from now on.
- I'm hanging up on you.
(Tim laughs)
- Okay, I think we're good.
- Yeah, paces, buddy.
- Wow.
I wouldn't have believed it if
I hadn't seen it for myself.
- Buck, what are you doing here?
- Yeah, aren't you supposed
to be up in Calistoga
slamming into a wall?
- That's good.
No, I'm leaving in the morning.
I got a buddy
racing here tonight,
I told him I'd
come check him out.
Now I'm real glad I stayed.
- We got the car in great shape.
- Love the enthusiasm.
Just try and keep
it in one piece.
- Not a problem.
- Yeah, we're all
good here, Buck.
But thanks for dropping by, huh?
- All right.
Good luck out there.
- Thank you.
See?
Told you he was nice.
- Yeah.
Punk that tried to slam
into the side of my
car's a real winner.
- Okay, everyone's
got their flaws, Tim.
- Are you gonna be able
to focus out there?
- Yeah, I got Lansing
blood in these veins.
You tell me. (chuckles)
- Yeah, you'll be fine.
(hopeful music)
- [Announcer] It's a sunny day
here at the Petaluma Speedway.
We're got 40 laps of dirt
sliding and pushing
your cars to the limit.
Now, you've got to
be sharp out there
or you'll end up in the wall.
- Wakey, wakey, El.
How you doing out there?
- I'm not gonna lie.
Got me some jitters.
- Comes with the territory, kid.
How's the car feel?
- Feels good, Uncle.
- Then let's see if she's
still got a little life
left in her, huh?
- [Announcer] Welcome
to this young lady.
Ellie Lansing is car 18.
All right folks, we're
moments away as the green flag
is about to fly.
(rock music)
(engines revving)
- [Ellie] Hey, that
bastard took my line!
- Can't call dibs, kid.
Stay focused.
- [Announcer] 76 with a
nice slide on the inside,
passing rookie Lansing.
- [Ellie] Dammit,
I'm getting passed.
- Don't worry about
the other cars, El.
You're out there learning.
You're sliding wide, kiddo.
Need to slow down the entry.
- Okay.
- [Announcer] The
track's getting slick
as we put in the laps.
- Opportunity'll present itself.
Be patient.
- [Announcer] Nice move
by the rookie in car 18.
- Beautiful, beautiful.
- I can't find an opening.
- That's a Puffer
in front of ya.
It means he can make
himself wide, hard to pass.
- [Announcer] This
is a promising start
for Lansing in 18.
She can drive!
- Good job El, good job.
Down on the power.
- I got it, I got it.
- No, no, no, no.
- [Announcer] Ooh, looks
like young Lansing
in 18 has spun out.
- Oh come on!
- You okay?
- I'm fine.
The clutch is out
but it's not moving.
Something's broken.
- And it appears she's having
trouble with the car now.
- Okay, sit tight
and I'll tow you out.
- [Announcer] Tough
break for the newcomer.
Better luck next time.
(disheartening music)
- Okay, well this column's
definitely stripped.
But I can get it retapped
before next weekend.
- Forget it.
- What was that?
- I said forget it, okay?
I don't know what
I'm doing out there.
- You just got your
license a few weeks ago.
You think you're gonna
miraculously know
how to run on the dirt?
- I thought it'd be easier.
- I thought a lotta
things'd be easier.
Turns out that the things
worthwhile just aren't.
Maybe I was wrong, huh?
Maybe we should quit.
- No, I don't want to.
- [Tim] What?
- I said I don't want...
- What was that?
- I said I don't want to, okay?
I'm just pissed.
- Hey lady driver.
- We'll finish this later.
- Whoo!
Thought I said you should
keep the car in one piece.
(chuckles)
- Oh yeah, you know
I forgot about that.
That was some good advice.
You know next time, McCreadie.
- So you're gonna
try this again, huh?
- Yeah, yeah I can't quit now,
just when I'm getting good.
- (laughs) Oh you gotta
funny definition of good.
I think you took four
cars out at once.
- Don't worry, I told
the insurance lady
some guy cut me off.
(laughs)
- Well you keep plugging
away, lady driver.
Oh and you know if
this doesn't work out
maybe you could pose in
a magazine or something.
Keep that dirt on you.
It's hot.
- Back up, Buck.
Too close to my niece.
Back up.
- All right.
- See you ladies on the podium.
I'll be the one on top.
- Definitely starting
to see some flaws.
- Finally.
- When do I get to race him?
- You don't.
You race modifieds,
he races late models.
- I don't see that
much of a difference.
- Yeah well you buy one,
you'll know the difference.
You need a big dog sponsor
for something like that.
- Well how do I get that?
- Wins, a lotta wins.
The only currency a sponsor
respects is victory.
- I can do that.
What else?
- (sighs) A team.
We need a team.
Easy, Merle.
- I got it.
- This is our great race team?
- Even have an office
coordinator as well.
Hope you don't mind
sharing your bedroom.
- Yeah, whatever it takes.
- Good, because we have six
days 'til the next race.
- Yeah, can do boss.
- It's coffee.
Like I told ya.
I'm committed as
long as you are.
Merle, both hands,
buddy, both hands.
(upbeat music)
♪ Mustang Sally ♪
♪ Huh, huh ♪
♪ Guess you better slow
your mustang down ♪
♪ Oh Lord, what I said now ♪
♪ Mustang Sally,
now baby, oh Lord ♪
♪ Guess you better slow
your mustang down ♪
♪ Huh oh yeah ♪
- On the race track to go to
you gotta enter low and just
slide up in front of the guy
and hope you get clear.
And if you don't, you
wipe both of you out.
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I gotta put your flat
feet on the ground ♪
♪ Huh, what I said now ♪
♪ Let me say it one
more time ya'll ♪
♪ Now all you want to do
is ride around Sally ♪
♪ Ride, Sally, ride ♪
♪ All you want to do
is ride around Sally ♪
♪ Ride, Sally, ride ♪
- Lunch has arrived.
- Hey Merle.
- How come you're not
working on the race car?
- I still have to
actually earn my living.
What's that?
- Oh, Protect the Harvest.
Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway.
- What is that?
- It's like the
Superbowl of dirt racing.
Thought we could use
it for motivation.
- We can put it by
Tim's trophy shrine.
- Yeah, won't he get mad that?
- I can handle Tim.
Come on.
- [Merle] I bet you can.
- Will you roll it down?
- Yeah.
That looks good.
- Yeah.
So I'll see you at
the track tomorrow?
- Yeah.
We're gonna win
this time, Ellie.
Go Team Ellie!
- Go team!
Why am I not winning?
- Gees kid.
You're young.
You just started driving.
Have some patience.
- No, I've been racing
over a month now.
- That's nothing.
Half the kids out
here at the track,
they've been racing since
their feet could touch
the pedals on a go-kart.
- No, I'm missing
something, Tim.
Or maybe I'm just not as
good as you thought I was.
- You're better than
I thought you were.
- Then what's wrong?
- Kid, there is an
intangible component
that goes with every dream.
Sometimes it's desire,
sometimes it's heart,
sometimes it's making a peace.
But only you're gonna
know where that is.
Your dad found it
before I could.
- He was better than you?
- Oh god, yeah.
He coulda driving late
models on the pro circuit
or anything with a steering
wheel for that matter.
- Well why didn't he?
- Finances.
He had a family to think about.
Your mom and you
were on the way.
It's called responsibility.
- But you think he coulda won?
- I know he coulda won.
(thoughtful music)
- I wanna race late models.
- Listen Ellie, I
know you want to.
But it's probably not
gonna happen this summer.
There's a couple of
variables that are missing.
Wins and funding.
- What if I talk to Buck,
see about maybe his sponsors
coming and taking a look at us?
- Well why don't you call
the devil while you're at it?
We could have hell
for a sponsor.
- Tim.
- No, hey think about this.
We'd have flames going
down the side of the car,
horns coming outta the radiator.
- Tim?
- We'd have a tail
with a trident...
- Tim!
- Don't interrupt me. I think
we're onto something here.
- Your nose is bleeding.
- Ah yeah, that's
probably the dry weather.
Listen, you better
get some sleep.
We got a race tomorrow.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
I don't think I'm gonna bleed
out before daylight, okay?
Get some sleep.
- Okay.
Goodnight.
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] As we enter lap
20 this is turning out to be
quite a night of racing.
- You're looking really
smooth out there, El.
You eat your Wheaties
this morning?
- My dad spoke to me
in a dream last night.
Gave me the secret.
- Yeah, what did he say?
- [Ellie] Wouldn't
you like to know?
- [Announcer] The track
is finally slicking up
as everyone's flying
through the turn.
Number 18, Ellie Lansing
looking to make a move.
(engine revs)
(metal crunching)
(crowd exclaiming)
Looks like a caution
flag out there.
Henson and Flanders
had a small collision
just before turn one, coming
outta the straight away.
We're gonna make
sure they're okay.
Once the cars are
cleared to the infield,
the race can get back underway.
(engines revving)
That's the green flag,
ladies and gentlemen.
And we're back in action.
- Go Ellie!
(Loretta cheers)
- [Announcer] There's another
pass by young Lansing.
Lansing's now in
podium position!
- Beautiful El, beautiful.
You got two to
wide, three to check
and you're P3.
Could be your first podium.
Hold onto it.
- There are two other spots
in that podium you know.
- That a girl, Ellie.
(upbeat music)
(clinking)
Okay El, stick
your nose up high.
Low, low, low, low,
low, low, clear.
Clear, clear.
- Josie in the lead,
but Lansing closing in.
- All right, come on Ellie!
- Come on Ellie!
- Inside, El.
(crowd cheers)
Come on!
- [Announcer] Looks like it's
gonna be sprint to the finish.
And there's the checker!
Josie in first,
(cheering)
Lansing in second.
- Yeah, second!
- [Announcer] Followed
by Henson in third.
- Ellie, good run!
- She did it.
- You got a lotta heart.
You ran a great race.
- Thanks, you too.
- [Announcer] Let's
hear it folks,
for our second place
finisher, Ellie Lansing.
(cheering and applauding)
- And our first place finisher,
let's hear it for Brian Josie.
(cheering and applauding)
(thoughtful music)
- I have cake.
- What?
Why?
- Uh, my mom was so
impressed last night
she wanted to make you
a little something.
- Let me see.
Aw, that's so cute.
- I know, right?
Smells good.
You got it pretty good, Ellie.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Racing cars all summer,
living with Tim.
Tim!
It's pretty cool.
- I guess.
I just, I wish I
was winning more.
- This is a winner's
cake, Ellie.
- But I didn't win, Merle.
Why is everyone so psyched?
- You were on a podium.
- Yeah, but second place
isn't winning though.
- Ellie you don't have to be
on top of the
podium to win, okay?
Appreciate what you've got.
- Who's on the podium?
- Mom?
- Congrats, Ellie?
- No, no, no, Mom.
- Jess!
- Ellie's racing?
- Yes, she's racing.
What are you doing here?
- I don't need a reason to
come and check on my kid.
- Listen Jess, I thought you
were aware of her racing.
There's no way that I...
- In what world Tim, do I
approve of Ellie Lansing
racing a car?
I thought she was
just working here.
- And she is working
here, very hard.
We just thought the racing
might be something that she...
- No, the racing
can't be anything.
- Okay, could you just let
me please talk to Ellie?
- We will both talk to Ellie.
- Mom, I'm sorry, okay?
(Tim gasps)
I didn't.
I.
Tim? Tim?
Mom?
- Call 911.
- Is he breathing?
- Tim.
- Tim.
- [Woman On PA]
Dr. Retkey to OR 1.
Dr. Retkey to OR 1.
(Tim sighs)
- [Jessie] That's
a hell of a way
to get out of an argument, Tim.
- Well you know I hate
getting screamed at.
Hey kid.
- How are you feeling?
- Like I got punched in
the gut about 85 times.
- Doctors say that your
liver function is down
to about 30%.
Alcohol related cirrhosis.
- That's not good.
- So bed rest,
lots of meds and we'll see.
(thoughtful music)
(siren wails)
- Jess, you mind if,
you mind if I talk
to El for a minute?
- [Jessie] Okay.
- She's pretty pissed, huh?
- I don't think there's a word
for just how pissed she is.
(laughing)
(wincing)
- Don't make me laugh.
- I'm sorry I lied to you.
- You know that's not the point.
Right?
You don't lie to family.
- I know.
- Look, I screwed up, kid.
I walked away from my family
and then my whole
life fell apart.
But you made me realize
you get one of those.
That's the most important
thing you'll ever have.
I love you, kid.
- I love you too.
- You do me a favor, all right?
While you're out there,
if you see a nurse,
you tell her to use a
smaller needle next time.
(Ellie laughs)
- Okay.
You look so happy there.
- I was.
- I wish I could've
seen Dad race.
- Yeah me too.
- I'm sorry that I didn't
tell you I was racing.
- I'm sorry I didn't
tell you about your dad.
- Tim said he was pretty good.
- Mm hmm.
He was the best.
- Do you ever miss it?
- I miss him.
But no, I have a better
life in Monterey.
For you and me.
- Tim thinks I'm pretty good.
(Jessie sighs)
- Tim doesn't really
know anything else.
He doesn't know what
other possibilities
are out there for you.
- Mom, I think I'm
pretty good too.
- Ellie, dirt track
racing is not a living.
It's a side gig.
And I bet working in
this shop for the summer
was a whole lot of fun.
But are you really gonna
spend the next 50 years
working long hours in a shop
so you can go race
on the weekend?
- I don't know.
You know I don't know
about the next 50 years.
But I know about right now.
I know that this matters to me.
This all matters to me.
(thoughtful music)
This is what I
need from you, Mom,
this is what I actually want.
(sighs)
- [Woman On PA] Paging Dr.
Moore, you're needed in post op,
paging Dr. Moore, you're
needed in post op.
(sighs)
- What?
- Seven days a week,
this, same stuff.
What would it take to
get me some grape Jello?
(laughing)
- I mean you must
be feeling better
if this is the biggest
problem you have.
Grape.
You ornery old fart.
- Yeah.
You're probably right.
How's Ellie doing?
- She and Merle have
that shop handled.
You're gonna be out of a job.
- Hope they don't fire me.
I need the insurance.
You know that
little girl of yours
is the best thing to
happen to me in 16 years.
- She's loved every minute
of this summer with you.
- She gave me some
great memories.
To replace some pretty bad ones.
- Is she really that good?
- Hand me my phone.
Watch that.
That is her first podium.
Better than Elliott
and I ever were.
Her instincts, her car control.
- Shit.
- Jess you can't teach that.
- Mm.
- Can you pass me
a quarter inch?
- Uh yeah.
I told Scooter we'd have
this done by tomorrow.
- Yeah no, I get it,
Scooter wants his car.
I'm doing the best I can.
- Hey guys.
How's it going?
- Merle is PMSing again.
- You're the PMSer.
- Oh well, I don't think
that Scooter's truck's
gonna get done on time.
- I told you.
- Why?
- 'Cause we have
another car to work on.
- Mom, we're kinda swamped here.
- Oh.
Well I just thought that
when I told my race team
that we had work to do
that they would hop to.
- Your race team?
- Yeah, Tim didn't think it
was the right time to call it.
So he put me in charge.
- Mom, seriously?
You're gonna run the team?
- Yeah, this was my
world as much as Tim's.
And I can't think
of a better driver
I'd like to run
the race team for.
- [Merle] Yes!
Thank you!
- All right, all right.
- Yeah all right. Yeah.
- We got work to do.
- We've been working on
Tim's car on the side.
It's ready to go.
- Oh.
Yeah but you, you can't run
Tim's car in late model.
- But we don't have
a late model car.
- Mm, uh oh.
You better not say that
to your new big sponsor.
- Mom, what's going on?
Mom, what's going on?
Mom, Dakota's our new sponsor?
Vance are you serious?
Hey munchkin, I missed you.
- I missed you too.
- Oh my...
- I made you this.
- What is this?
This is amazing.
Thank you!
You guys, you guys
bought a late model?
- All we need now's a driver.
- You got it, thank you!
- Our pleasure, El.
- Oh my god.
- Now who's this guy?
- This is the brains
of the team, Merle.
- Nice to meet ya, Earl.
- It's Merle.
- It's what?
- It's Merle.
- Okay.
Like Merle Haggard.
- Where are we racing where
we're going to need all of this?
- Well it's not Petaluma.
- No, we are entered
in the $100,000 to win
Protect the Harvest Nationals
at Lucas Oil Speedway.
- That's the Superbowl
of dirt track.
- Yes, I mean it's the
biggest race of the season.
And it's in Wheatland, Missouri.
- We're going to the Superbowl.
- We're going to the Superbowl.
- In Wheatland.
(girls laughing)
- All right.
One last thing.
Are you okay if
I'm your spotter?
- Female spotter, I don't know.
- Yeah.
- What do you think, Merle?
- You don't listen to anyone
anyway, so what do you care?
- Oh I like you.
I like you.
- Then we're good to go.
We're good to go!
- Whoo!
- Hey El.
- Hey.
- Hi Rocko.
Thank you for this.
- You're welcome.
This isn't modified, Ellie.
A late model your
wheelbase is wider
so it'll handle better but
you got 300 more horsepower
under the hood.
You're gonna be
carrying a lot of speed.
- I think I got it, Mom.
- Ellie, speed can be dangerous.
- I understand.
- Oh, well, you're lucky 'cause
this series allows spotters.
So get used to listening
to me in your ear.
(upbeat music)
♪ If I, I get to
know your name ♪
♪ Well, if I could trace
your private number, baby ♪
♪ All I know is that to me ♪
♪ You look like
you're having fun ♪
♪ Open up your lovin' arms ♪
♪ Watch out here I come ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round like
a record, baby ♪
♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪
♪ I want your love, love ♪
(crowd cheering)
♪ You spin me right
'round, baby, right ♪
- Can you had me
the long flathead?
- [Jessie] How's she doing?
- Fit as a fiddle.
We're ready to
take on Wheatland.
- Ah.
- Hi Mom.
- Hi honey.
Ellie, I got
something to show you.
- Okay.
Can you make sure that jay
bar's raised half an inch?
- I know.
- Okay.
What is this?
- Take a look yourself.
(thoughtful music)
- This is Dad's stuff?
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Oh my god.
This is incredible.
You just held onto all of this?
- Yeah.
I don't know when the
last time I looked at is,
but I didn't get rid of it.
- Maybe you should've
gotten rid of this one.
(both laughing)
Wow.
I wish I knew him.
- You do.
He's in you.
Every time I look at you
it's his face looking back.
Okay, I'm not proud of this.
- What is this?
- Tim tried to stay
in touch with you.
But I wouldn't let him.
- Mom.
- Yeah.
It was a mistake.
Think I thought I
was protecting you,
but I was just
protecting myself.
- Just look at all of these.
- One for every birthday.
- Except when I turned seven.
- What?
I saw that one sitting
on top of the mail.
I took it up to my room and
never told you about it.
- Can you ever forgive me?
- Yeah.
Yeah, of course.
(gentle music)
- Gees, it's just mail.
(both chuckling)
(upbeat music)
- Merle?
- Yeah, yeah I got ya.
- Copy me?
- [Merle] Loud and clear.
- There ya go.
- Lady driver wants to run
with the big boys now, huh?
- You're not scared,
are you Buck?
- A little scared you're
gonna crash into me.
I've seen what you
can do out there.
- Well, can't crash into
you if I'm ahead of you.
- You dream that dream.
Maybe after the race you can
come by the winner's circle
and we can go out and
celebrate my victory.
- Sorry, I have other plans.
- Oh yeah?
Better than hanging out with me?
- Oh yeah.
(Buck laughs)
- Right.
You call me when
you're done with Earl.
- It's Merle.
Nice work Merle.
- I didn't really do anything.
- I know.
- So who was that?
- That was Buck McCreadie.
- Get out.
- You know him?
- Oh I know that last name.
And I know you're gonna need
to beat the snot
outta him tonight.
- Can do, boss.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
we've reached the
main event tonight,
here at the spectacular
Lucas Oil Speedway.
(cheering)
We've got 100 laps for $100,000
in the Protect the
Harvest Nationals.
Locked into that front row
are your top qualifiers,
Bob Paxton and Jimmy Crunden.
They'll lead this 32 car
field to the green flag.
- [Ellie] Can you hear me?
- Loud and clear.
Good luck out there, kid.
- [Announcer] In the
second row, in the 1 car,
is the talk of the
track this week:
up and comer Buck McCreadie
out of Petaluma, California.
He's one of the youngest
racers out here tonight.
But his lap times this
season have been fantastic.
(fireworks popping)
Car advance coming
out of turn four,
a salute to America, the
greatest country on Earth.
And to you, the greatest
fans in automobile racing.
- All right Buck, stay
focused out there.
- [Buck] Always focused.
- This is gonna bring
us to the green flag
for our main event.
- You got this, kid.
(engines revving)
(upbeat music)
- [Announcer] Box Paxton,
Jimmy Crunden at the line.
Here we go.
- [Jessie] You can do it, Ellie.
Just drive the car.
- Only five laps in
and Buck McCreadie
already finds himself
in second place,
chasing down the leader.
(tense music)
Buck McCreadie's
not the only driver
from Petaluma, California.
In the middle of the
pack in the 32 car
is Ellie Lansing, a young
lady who's only 16 years old.
(tense music)
Buck McCreadie
takes over the lead.
- Oh this is your
race to lose tonight.
- [Buck] You know it.
- All right El,
track's getting slick.
- I'm gonna try and
squeeze on the inside.
- Nothing Ellie Lansing
does here tonight
seems to be doing any good.
(metal clanking)
(metal clanking)
Oh, Mason Syler and
Jimmy Briggs collide,
hanging into turn three.
Looks like everyone's okay
but a caution flag has come out.
It's certainly an endurance
test out here tonight, folks.
Staying clean and green for
100 laps is no easy feat.
- I think I'm in over my head.
- All right listen, if you
take away the fancy stadium
and fireworks, you
know what's left?
- No, what?
- A dirt track.
Same size as the one back home.
Show me what ya got.
- You're right.
Thanks, Mom.
- With that green flag,
we're back to racing,
ladies and gentlemen.
37 in the books, 63 to go
and Buck McCreadie will
not let go of that lead.
- Hold your line, Buck.
- [Buck] Now don't
worry, I got this.
- [Announcer] McCreadie
with an impressive lap time.
He's actually starting to
lap some of the competition.
The 32 car, Lansing,
with a clean pass on car 5.
- Yes!
Damn!
Found another gear, kid.
- Just another dirt track, Mom.
- [Announcer] McCreadie
still out in front.
But the real story
out here tonight
is the rookie Lansing in car 32,
who started in 14th but is
now all the way up to 6th.
Make that 5th!
(laughing)
- All right, 20 laps to go.
- [Ellie] 20 laps, copy.
- [Buck's Spotter] Stay sharp,
Buck, this race is yours.
- [Buck] I ain't worried.
(engines revving)
- [Announcer] Lansing in 32
makes another pass on car 20,
moving up to 4th place.
- [Jessie] Double
zero on your tail.
- What's he doing?
(metal clanking)
- Ooh, the double zero,
he threw a fender.
- [Ellie] Hey!
- [Announcer] The 32 car
almost into the wall.
But Lansing pulls out of it.
- I'm good.
- [Announcer] This young
lady sure can drive.
- Payback time.
- [Announcer] Lansing
looking for revenge,
dive under double zero
to move back into 4th.
- She's pretty good, huh?
- She's the best.
- [Announcer] Lap 87,
McCreadie still unchallenged.
We're closing on the final 10.
Can McCreadie shut the door
on the rest of the pack?
- [Jessie] Are you comfortable
with 4th place young lady?
- Not tonight.
My sponsor's in the stands.
- Whoo!
- [Announcer] Lansing with a
powerful move on the outside.
She might claim a podium
spot here tonight.
- (laughs) Yes!
(crunching)
- Oh, that did not look pretty.
He just came in too
hot and spun him.
- Six laps to checker, Ellie.
- [Ellie] Roger that.
- Buck McCreadie's gotta
be feeling the heat
from the hard charging
Ellie Lansing,
who's now right on
his back bumper.
- [Jessie] You like
following that McCreadie boy?
- No.
And I think he's led
this race long enough.
(laughing)
- There you go kid.
(gentle music)
- After a hard night of racing,
it's all come down to
these final six laps.
- Bring her home.
- Hey El.
- God?
Is that you?
- It's your Uncle Tim here.
Coming to you in a dream.
- Oh I see.
You got a secret for me.
- [Tim] Yeah, drive
faster than Buck.
- (laughs) I miss you.
- I miss you too.
- [Announcer] And the
race is back under way.
- All right El, let's do this.
Now, now, commit El.
- [Announcer] 32 and
39 side by side to,
oh there's some contact.
And Lansing comes out
of it in second place,
right behind Buck McCreadie.
- Watch your six, Buck.
- Come on, Ellie.
- [Announcer] Lansing
just can't find a way
to make a run on McCreadie.
- I'm gonna set him
up to dive in late.
- Right on the bumper.
- Buck!
She's right behind you.
- The white flag's out, folks.
Just one lap to go.
- Here I come.
- [Tim] Inside, inside.
- Come on Buck, do not
let that girl pass you.
What are you doing?
- [Announcer] Oh, McCreadie
gets loose on the outside.
It's a clear shot.
- [Buck] No, no, no, no, no.
- No, no!
- Clear El, clear.
- Come on!
- [Announcer] And the
winner is the newcomer,
taking the checkered flag.
Congratulations on your first
Protect the Harvest
Nationals win.
(fireworks popping)
(happy music)
(cheering)
- [Vance] Ellie!
Yeah!
- [Loretta]
I'm gonna make you
the biggest cake
you've ever seen.
- [Merle] Good job, Ellie.
- One, two, three.
Cheese.
(phone camera clicking)
(thoughtful music)
♪ Black or white ♪
♪ Tamed or wild ♪
♪ Rich or strife ♪
♪ Gray or child ♪
♪ Pennies or gold ♪
♪ Silver lining ♪
♪ We're just all
shattered diamonds ♪
♪ So shine if you need,
we're born to be free ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the
world will believe in you ♪
♪ So shine all you want ♪
♪ In the light in the dark ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day
the world will need ♪
♪ In due time, strength
will guide you ♪
- God, I can't believe
it's finally done.
You never told me who
the special client is.
Have they even seen it yet?
- They have, actually.
You know this is the first
car your dad and I ever owned.
We did everything in this baby.
It's yours kid.
Let's take it for a spin.
- [Ellie] This is incredible!
(engine rumbles)
(tires peeling)
♪ So shine if you need
we're born to be free ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the
world will believe in you ♪
♪ So shine all you want ♪
♪ In the light in the dark ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day the world
will need your spark ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ 'Cause some day
the world will need ♪
(thoughtful music)
(tense music)
(rock music)