Chapter 76
Chapter 76:
Ashton’s flawless start left the crowd in awe. Everyone was aware that Ashton was up against a race car that had been professionally enhanced—a project Liam had invested heavily in. Liam’s car was reputed for its superior starting acceleration, clearly outclassing Ashton’s sports coupe.
Yet, against all odds, Ashton surged ahead by several car lengths right off the bat, securing at least a one-second lead. It was clear that Ashton’s exceptional driving skills were the key to his early lead.
The spectators, who had originally gathered to jeer at Ashton, swiftly shifted their attitude.
“This guy really knows his way around a car. No surprise he’s bold enough to race in a regular vehicle p>
“Absolutely a professional. I’ve raced against Mountain Dog myself; he always starts perfectly. Outpacing him from the get-go is unusual. Looks like Mountain Dog is in for a challenge today p>
Liam, overhearing the conversations, was visibly annoyed. However, he wasn’t overly concerned. A few car lengths at the outset didn’t seem significant to him.
Liam exclaimed, “What’s all the commotion about? So he had a quick start—so what? I see his strategy now. He picked an ordinary car to make my racer underestimate him and gain an early lead. But that’s just clever tactics. His car isn’t modified. It might handle well in the city, but it doesn’t stand a chance against a professional racing car. Just wait and see. The road ahead is long, and once they hit the mountain stretch, Mountain Dog will surely pass him p>
Convinced by Liam’s reasoning, the wealthy onlookers nodded in agreement. Thus, they ceased their praises for Ashton and readied themselves to resume their ridicule.
The mountain road wasn’t particularly long, and the race was quickly a third of the way through. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Ashton held onto his lead.
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Initially indifferent, Liam’s anxiety soon flared up. He blurted out, “Damn, what’s Mountain Dog up to? Why hasn’t he overtaken him yet p>
Liam’s crew rushed to calm him. “Liam, don’t worry. Maybe Mountain Dog is just toying with him, letting him think he’s ahead. Mountain Dog will make his move when it counts p>
While it was easy for onlookers to make comments, the truth was that Mountain Dog was barely keeping pace with Ashton. He would have overtaken Ashton already if he had found any chance. But Ashton was relentless, not giving him any openings. A wave of despair washed over Mountain Dog. He realized that seizing an opportunity to pass Ashton was his only shot at taking control and securing the victory. Yet, no such opportunity came!
At the beginning, Mountain Dog was taken aback by Ashton’s swift start but didn’t see it as a threat. He had even deliberately held back for a second, aiming to quickly surpass Ashton and put him to shame. Now, caught in a bind, he regretted losing that initial edge.
Ashton drove impeccably, maintaining the lead without leaving any openings for Mountain Dog to exploit. In the racing world, it was a well-known fact that the key to winning often lay in mastering the corners, and Ashton exemplified this with his flawless cornering technique.
During the straight stretches, Mountain Dog tried to leverage his car’s superior speed to lessen the gap between them. However, the road was predominantly curves, a challenge where Ashton excelled. Each curve they approached, Ashton’s car drifted perfectly, increasing the distance between them once again.
Mountain Dog began to suspect that Ashton might actually be capable of increasing the lead even more but was merely playing with him, offering a false glimmer of hope.
Soon, Mountain Dog was drenched in sweat. Despite his determined efforts, he couldn’t bridge the gap between them.
As they neared the race’s final segment, it seemed Ashton grew bored of their cat-and-mouse chase. His car surged forward, steadily widening the gap from Mountain Dog.
Ultimately, Ashton crossed the finish line effortlessly, leaving the spectators in a state of awed silence. They were not only stunned by his victory but also by the apparent ease with which he secured it. Throughout the race, Ashton never once allowed Mountain Dog a chance to overtake, a feat he accomplished with a car that was surprisingly unmodified!