[hissing]
Howīd you get over here?
Whatīs wrong?
Wow. Maggie, you... Iook amazing.
I mean, you know, for someone who changed in a Port-A-Potty.
[whispers] Focus.
Come on. I know thereīs a compliment in there somewhere.
I think līm losing my mind.
[chuckling]
That was my first reaction.
And then I embraced the mystery that is Herbie.
Sheīs too young for you.
We tried to knock it down by crashing a car into it...
[both chuckle]
I got to tell you...
...winning definitely suits you.
Oh, I got you something.
Itīs stupid.
Itīs for luck tomorrow.
Itīs amazing.
[Trip] Evening.
I hardly recognized you without your camera crew.
I decided to give them the night off.
Can we talk?
Alone?
- You OK? - [Maggie] Yeah.
Your driver did pretty well, for an amateur.
He sure did.
But heīs got some serious flaws. Take his car, for instance.
The chassisīs too high, and...
...the aerodynamics are all wrong.
Thanks for the tip. Iīll pass it on to Maxx.
You know what l canīt figure out?
Why youīre not behind the wheel.
I hear you were a heck of a street racer back in the day.
- Ancient history. - I doubt it.
Itīs in your blood.
Your grandfather was one of the greatest drivers
to ever hit the track.
Heīs why I got into racing.
And I gotta believe itīs hard-wired into your DNA.
Your dad ought to get Ray out of 56 and put you behind the wheel.
How many women drivers have won a NASCAR championship?
Well... It only takes one person to blaze a trail.
I want to. First thing, bright and early, you and me.
Ever think that you might be the next great Peyton?
- Good night. - Good night.
Thanks for the props, but I gotta go.
You want to see how it feels behind the wheel of a real car?
Are you serious?
I doubt your old man is gonna make you the same offer.
Go on.
Itīll be our little secret.
I appreciate the gesture, but līm only here a month.
OK, Bug.
Letīs see what makes you tick.
Thereīs no way you could beat me with this engine.
[purring]
Ooh!
[engine grinding]
[squeaks]
Whoīs laughing now?
Huh?
Iīve never driven anything like it.
That was my most awesome driving experience.
[Trip] Amazing what a real car can do, isnīt it?
Good eye. Good eye.
I got a little proposition. Why donīt we raise the stakes.
My car for your car.
Letīs make tomorrowīs race for pinks too. Huh?
I donīt know. I mean, Herbieīs really special.
Come on. Nobodyīs gonna take you seriously in that thing.
Now, if, uh,
you drive home in Trip Murphyīs stock car,
your dad would be an idiot not to put you on the team.
What do you say? For pinks?
You just better hope your boy Maxx is on top of his game tomorrow.
Ray, if you drank all the orange juice, līll kill you.
- Mag-Wheels! - Charisma!
- Why arenīt you in France? - Ugh! Paris was a drag.
I couldnīt understand anybody. And hello!
Learn to pick up after our poodles.
I thought līd come back to start our road trip early.
Slight problem. I promised līd meet a friend in the desert.
Why? Are you burying a body?
No, heīs in a racing tournament.
You think youīre clever, but I see through you.
You can?
Itīs obvious. Youīre dating him.
OK, if you say so.
Donīt be coy. Whatīs his name? Is it serious?
Maxx. You know, weīre so close, itīs like weīre the same person.
What are you doing? Where have you been?
In a nightmare where my dad, brother and best friend showed up.
Well, you got a new problem. Herbieīs freaking out.
I donīt know what to do. Stop it!
Did you leave him alone with Trip?
[Charisma] Hey, Maggie!
- Whoīs that? - Keep her away from my dad.
And she thinks līm dating Maxx.
- Just donīt ask me to explain. - [buzzer]
Five-minute warning. Get suited up.
And have a heart-to-heart with your car. OK?
Yeah. Sure.
- Where you been? - [Kevin] Excuse me.
Iīm Kevin! You must be Charisma, yes?
- Good to meet you. - I just came back.
- I had the worst time... - Herbie. Whatīs going on?
I donīt have time for this now. We need to beat Trip.
You do what I tell you to do, all right?
[steam hissing, grumbling]
[screaming]
[metal clattering]
Boo!
[announcer] Itīs winner take all at the
Trip Murphy Sudden Death Showdown,
Maxx decimated his challengers yesterday,
but now heīs up against superstar Trip Murphy!
And now here comes Maxx and Herbie to the starting line,
[engine rewing]
Blow his wheels off, Maggie!
I mean, Maxxie!
Come on, Herbie! Heīs pulling ahead!
Thatīs it, Herbie.
Come on! I want that stock car!
[crowd cheering]
What?
What? You used to tear it up there.
Stupid car! You blew this on purpose!
You were supposed to help me!
The voice is more high-pitched than I might have imagined.
Come on, Maxx.
Take off the helmet and show everybody who you really are.
[crowd gasps]
- ltīs a chick! - That ainīt a chick! Thatīs Maggie!
I guess I was wrong about you.
Youīre not the next great Peyton after all.
Youīre just another amateur who choked in the clutch.
Mags! Maggie. Hey. Hey, come on.
Come on. Stop this.
You had a bad day. Thatīs it. OK?
Come on. Letīs get out of here, take Herbie back to the garage.
- Thereīs always another race. - Thereīs not. Kevin, itīs over.
I should have never done this in the first place.
Thatīs...
- Hey. Whoa. Get away from him! - Hold it, buddy! Take it easy.
- OK. All right! Easy! - [Trip] Wait a minute.
- Maggie didnīt tell you? - What?
We were racing for pinks.
It was a little deal we made after I let her race my car.
She said it was the best ride of her life.
Please tell me you didnīt do that.
[alarm] Step away from the vehicle,
Look, Kevin, līm sorry. OK? Iīm sorry.
- Whatīs up? - Whatīs up? How are you?
Donīt apologize to me. Apologize to Herbie.
Heīs the one you stabbed in the back.
- How could you lie to me? - I can explain.
Your word used to mean something.
I thought I taught you honesty.
Guess I was wrong.
- Dad, wait! - līm through listening, Maggie.
[man] Hey, Trip!
- Donīt hurt him! - ltīs a car!
Payback time, Bug.
[whimpering]
I thought this was a conversation-free ride.
Crash? What have you got for me?
Weīve been friends for years.
Iīve never known the real you until today.
A lying backstabber
who alienated everyone she cares about.
You donīt get it. You were awesome out there.
Why go to New York?
[rock music resumes]
You belong behind the wheel of a racecar.
- [Maggie] Grab the wheel! - What are you doing?
Sorry.
Look, līm really excited about this new career.
Are you going to be happy to report the story
rather than being one yourself?
Trip, we need to talk.
Amateur hourīs over. Iīve got a real race to prepare for.
I want to buy Herbie back.
- Herbie? - The Volkswagen.
Oh, yeah, the Bug.
Iīm sorry. Iīd like to help you, but youīre a little late.
Crash just took him out for a little spin.
Trip, what did you do with him?!
[crowd chanting] Ten cars enter! One car leaves!
Ten cars enter! One car leaves!
Ten cars enter! One car...
[yelling]
Yeah!
[yelling]
Ten cars enter! One car leaves!
[announcer] Drivers! Are you ready?
Get set!
Letīs go!
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Drivers only. - No, wait.
You donīt understand. Thatīs my car out there.
Well, now, you parked it in the wrong place.
My nameīs Jimmy D.
This hereīs my place,
and that there car belongs to me.
How much to buy him back?
If he comes out of this thing in one piece,
Iīll just give him back to you free. Howīs that?
Whoo! Monster trucks rock!
Iīm gonna wipe that Bug off my windshield!
Donīt just sit there!
[Charisma] Do you work out?
Yeah, actually. My gymīs six miles from here.
Go, Maggie!
- [driver] What are you doing? - Sorry!
Come on, Herbie. I canīt lose you. Weīre a team!
I need you, Herbie! Come on!
Oh, come on, Herbie. Donīt do this. Please!
[shrieks]
Thatīs it. Come on, Herbie.
You can do it!
I didnīt do that. It was the car.
- His name is Herbie. - Thatīs a ridiculous na...
OK, Herbie. Letīs get out of here.
[horn beeping]
[ Van Halen: Jump]
- Yeah! - [shouting]
Oh, come on!
[growling]
Jerk!
Go, Herbie, go! Come on!
Yeah!
There we go!
[horn beeping]
All right! Hang on, Herbie!
Pile driver!
[crowd groans]
- Thanks, buddy. - [horn beeping]
What...? What...?
Look, I donīt care if you ever speak to me again,
but you have to help Herbie.
What happened?
I was a jerk. I know.
Me too.
- You werenīt a jerk. - No, I meant...
I also know you were a jerk.
What are you gonna do about ESPN and New York and the big time?
I met someone who made me shift gears.
You know, get a new perspective.
[whining]
[glass shattering]
Weīre down to the final few spots to see who gets into the big race.
One lap to go for Ray Peyton, Jr. in the 56 car.
Itīs gonna be close.
Letīs see if Ray Peyton, Jr. can qualify for Sundayīs Nextel Cup race.
Come on, Ray!
Whoo! Yeah!
Oh, my God.
[sirens wailing]
[Kevin] Peyton. To the right.
- He needs to be transferred. - [Maggie] Ray, you OK?
Iīm fine. I keep telling everybody.
Can we please get out of here? Iīm fine! Jeez!
I guess that means heīs not totally fine.
No.
- Come here, Ray. Come on. - Ow!
Doc, līm fine.
- Look straight ahead. - I see it. Itīs...
Now itīs bright.
Thereīs a problem with his left eye.
His depth perception is off.
We wonīt know the extent of the problem until we run tests.
Bottom line, he canīt race Sunday.
The familyīs been in racing for 40 years.
Dad, līm sorry.
Hey. Itīs not your fault.
You ran great today. Iīm gonna go see the doctor.
Wait a minute, Dad.
I still qualified.
Thatīs business. You got in late last night.
All we need is another driver and we got a shot.
Let Maggie race.
Yeah, Ray. Itīs a good idea.
I mean, Team Peyton needs this race.
Sheīs ready, sir. Sheīs really good.
No. Thatīs not gonna happen.
Dad!
Dad, līm sorry I lied to you, OK?
But all līve ever wanted to do is race.
Youīre not getting behind the wheel.
Because līm a girl? Iīve had one crash. Rayīs had dozens!
Itīs different!
The only difference is your support!
Whatīs really your problem with me racing?
Because youīre the spitting image of your mom.
And... I canīt lose her twice.
Dad, I may look like her on the outside,
OK, but on the inside, līm you.
Iīm a Peyton.
Racing is in my blood.
Please, let me race.
I canīt.
Iīm sorry.
[Kevin] I got it. OK.
All right. Fine. Bye.
I have bad news. I just got off the phone with my supplier.
Theyīre not gonna give me parts until I pay my overdue bills,
- which you need money to do. - So you canīt fix Herbie?
I...
- Shouldnīt you be in bed? - Mags, līm not blind.
I just canīt race. But you can.
Youīre taking my space tomorrow.
Well, wait. What about Dad?
Dad always says I should be a team leader.
I called rest of the crew. They agree. Youīre the one.
Look, we got a lot to do
if we wanna get my car ready to race.
Thereīs one car līm gonna drive. Heīs sitting over there.
You serious?
I race in Herbie, or I donīt race at all.
[ Loverboy: Working For The Weekend]
[ lngram Hill: More Than A Feeling]
The prevailing wisdom in the press box
is that your only worry is you donīt have enough shelf space
for a fourth championship.
Tell the boys thanks for the support.
But itīs a tough track. Itīs a 500-mile race.
There are some competent drivers out here.
Jeff Gordonīs a decent driver.
Thereīs an outside shot he could win.
I guess what līm saying is, itīs a...
...Iong race and anything can happen in this sport.
[woman] We love you, Trip!
I thought you told me you destroyed that car.
- līm sorry, dude. - Hey, Trip.
I know youīre gonna win,
but on the microscopic chance she beats you again,
Iīve set up a Slim-Fast īīBig Loserīī campaign.
So thereīs that.
- Heīs mad at me. - Heīs mad at me.
- Hates me. - He hates us both.
- Never seen a Bug with a spoiler. - Donīt touch.
[muttering]
Soft top on a racecar.
- I like that. - I like that.
- This car just winked at me. - A racecar winked at you.
I swear. The car winked at me.
Are you feeling OK? Is it the pressure?
Iīm fine! Fine.
No problem. Iīm telling you, it just winked at me.
Hey.
- Hey, Kev. - Hey.
- Could we get a second alone? - You and...?
- Herbie. - Of course. Hey, guys.
Ray? Augie? Letīs give the lady some space, huh?
- [Ray Sure. - Thanks, guys.
You really put a lot of thought into this.
- You nervous? - [whines]
Itīs good to be nervous. Keeps you alert.
Yeah, I did, but now līm moving to New York
I just want to say, in the spirit of honesty,
a city where you take a subway to work?
I did total a car once when I was racing.
[gasps]
That was a long time ago.
Hey, um... Thanks for not giving up on me.
- I need cash for my apartment. - Those are the classifieds.
All right.
I know, I know.
Ready to do this thing?
Cool. Letīs show them what we got.
[crowd cheering]
[ Pilot: Magic]
Here we go, Herbie. This is it.
- Maggie Peyton. Is that right? - Thatīs what līve got too.
So itīs Maggie Peyton in #53 for Team Peyton
in a last-minute ruling by race officials,
Come on, Herbie.
What? Come on. Youīve tried to think of a way
to sell gear to women for years.
It says she calls the car Herbie,
Iīve never heard of a VW Bug racing NASCAR,
but Team Peyton found a loophole,
- Go, Maggie! - What are you doing?
You go, girl! Whoo!
[woman] Go, Maggie, go!
[whimpering]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, rise for our national anthem,
Here we go.
- Go get īem. - Thanks.
Is this what you dreamed itīd be like?
Yeah. I mean, I wanted my dad here cheering me on, but...
Yeah. Thereīs something I want to say to you.
I guess I underestimated you guys.
[groans]
Good luck out there today.
Thanks, Trip.
Word to the wise: it gets pretty nasty out there.
Uh, Trip, we got a race.
- Letīs go! Letīs go! - [Ray Donīt listen to him.
Heīs trying to get inside your head. Kev, letīs go.
All right.
So, you wanted to tell me something.
Yeah...
I was gonna say, donīt cut your turns too tight.
Got it, chief.
OK.
Letīs go!.
[track announcer] Drivers, start your engines!
[engines rewing]
[heart beating]
[rewing]
[TV announcer 1] Weīve got the makings of a great race today,
Beautiful weather and a great field of cars
as they head out for their two pace laps,
[announcer 2] We anticipate a record crowd,
Fans have come to see which driver
will hoist the Nextel Cup trophy,
[announcer 1] Great stories bookend this field,
Trip Murphy, star of the season,
will lead the field to the green flag from pole position,
Then there īs Maggie Peyton, starting last,
We īll see if she has what it takes
and if Herbie has a good enough engine,
The pace car is off, the green flag is out,
and we īre underway here at California Speedway!
Those guys are fast!
[announcer 2] Looks like the 53 car got left in the dust,
There is a minimum speed,
She better get going or get a black flag,
Come on, Herbie. Weīre not out of this yet.
Come on, Mags. Go!
[announcer 1] Rookie jitters or a mechanical problem,
but Maggie Peytonīs barely hanging on now,
OK. Letīs go get Dale!
[announcer 1] Herbie starts to gain ground,
Hereīs Peyton drafting up to Dale Jarrett in the 88,
[announcer 2] Wait, I donīt think Herbieīs drafting,
I think heīs literally attached to #88,
That little carīs riding my bumper!
[radio] Come on, Dale, shake her off!
Hang on!
Come on, Maggie.
Here we go! Ready?
[announcer 1] What a move!
Maggie just did a slingshot on Dale Jarrett to move past #88,
Yes! Go, Mags!
Unorthodox, but it put her back in the race.
I bet her granddadīs smiling at that one.
Weīre back in it. Whoīs running first?
[Kevin] Trip has Junior by 2 lengths,
[ The Donnas: Roll On Down The Highway]
Come on, Mags!
[announcer 1] Best pit stop of the day for Team Peyton,
That keeps them in the hunt,
Got a hungry pack chasing the leaders,
Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Mike Bliss, all after the top spot,
[announcer 2] Maggie Peyton and Herbie come up on the outside,
Eighteen laps to go in one of the most surprising races
in NASCAR history.
Trip Murphy in #82 is in front,
But can he hold the lead in the final laps?
Here we come.
Herbie, we gotta find an opening!
Weīll make a move on turn three.
Theyīre boxing us in.
[announcer 1] Three wide behind the leaders!
Labonte low, Peyton in the middle!
Peyton takes a shot from Gordon and one from Labonte,
And now one from Kasey Kahne!
Herbieīs getting pounded in this pack!
- [Herbie groans] - [crowd moans]
- līm getting killed. Canīt shake them! - Yes, you can.
You can do this, sparkplug.
- Dad? - Buckle down and grit your teeth.
Come on, Magpie,
Youīre the next great Peyton. Time for everyone to know it.
Thanks, Dad.
Look at that.
Now what?
- Any suggestions? - Gas it. Gas it right now!
- [shrieking] - Huh?
[announcer 1] Thereīs running over competition,
but never done like that!
- Yeah! - Yah-hah!
- Oh-ho! - Yeah!
Uh-oh. Weīve got a new problem.
Herbieīs losing oil pressure... fast!
- [groaning] - [sputtering]
Looks like the 53īs leaking oil on the track.
Weīre coming in.
[crowd groans]
Kevin, itīs Sally. Whatīs going on with #53?
- Did you drive here? - Yeah. Why?
[announcer 2] Here comes the caution flag,
[announcer 1] Everyone to the pits,
Team Peyton may be out of the race with that oil leak,
[Herbie sputters, backfires]
That stunt you pulled almost cost us the race!
T ake care of the car and let me drive.
- Can I make two suggestions? - Not now, Larry!
Not a perfect fit, but itīll have to hold!
- How bad is it? - It might hold for 5 laps.
It might hold for one.
Either way, avoid being slammed around out there!
Listen. You raced your heart out there today, Herbie.
But if we keep going, that might be it for you. Forever.
[mutters]
Sorry. Iīd rather lose this race than lose you.
[rewing]
Whoa! Oh! Are you sure?
[announcer 2] I canīt believe it,
Maggie Peyton and Herbie are getting back on the track!
For a car, youīre not a good listener.
[grumbling]
OK, Herbie. Letīs finish this.
Where is she, Crash? The Bug! Whereīs the Bug?
Focus on the win!
[announcer 1] The fans are pulling for rookie driver Maggie Peyton,
in a car she calls Herbie,
Attagirl. Nice move. Now go get īem, Maggie!
[announcer 1] Peyton on an incredible rally,
passing them left and right,
Now up to second place, behind Trip Murphy, Amazing!
Come on.
Did you miss us?
This girlīs really beginning to tick me off.
[announcer 1] 2 laps to go in a two-car race,
Trip Murphy and Maggie Peyton will settle this between them!
Go, Maggie!
- All right! - Weīve got him now!
On the outside!
Go high, Herbie.
Come on, Herbie. Weīre almost there.
[announcer 1] Door to door off the corner at the final,,, Contact!
Murphy slams into the side of Peyton!
[Maggie shrieks]
Mags, donīt push it. Mags, Herbie canīt take it.
- [laughing] - [Herbie stutters]
- Forget the Bug and win! - Youīre going down, Bug!
Trouble in turn four!
Murphy into the wall and upside down!
- OK, Herbie, you ready? - [beeping]
- Keep it steady! - Ahh!
[announcer 1] No place to go! Look out for the crash!
- Herbieīs,,, - [crowd gasps]
Herbieīs on the fence! Herbieīs on the fence!
[Maggie screams]
Oh! Oh, God!
[announcer 1] Maggie Peyton won!
- Maggie Peyton has won! Incredible! - [announcer 2] Unbelievable!
Iīve never seen anything like this in NASCAR,
not to mention the birth of the next great Peyton!
- We did it. - [purring]
Letīs go!
Whoo-hoo!
[crowd roars]
- Whoo! - Yes!
Iīm so proud of you!
Thanks, Dad.
Maggie, that was awesome!
- Thank you. - So great!
Hey! I thought your depth perception...
Oh, well,
the best Peyton was on the track today. You did it.
- [Ray Congrats. - Oh...
[Trip] Look! Listen to me!
That car is possessed!
Trip!
I saw it too. It smiled at me!
That car is alive!
[Trip] You gotta believe me. Itīs mocking me!
Iīm telling you! That car is alive!
- Look! Itīs doing it again! - [blows raspberry
You gotta believe me! You gotta believe me!
This isnīt the end, Bug!
Iīm going to get you, Bug! Iīm going to get you!
Heīs fine. Heīs fine. Just a little dehydrated.
Wow.
Gotta say, Peyton, you and Herbie make a great team.
We make a great team.
Yeah, I thought we had good driver-crew chief rapport there.
- Herbie, help me out here. - [horn beeps]
Wha...
All right, now, līm gonna trust you guys this time,
but you got a big race coming up.
Have her home at a decent hour. Show some respect. All right?
My house, my rules. Comprende?
OK, Ray, I think they got it.
All right.
[exhales] Go on. Get out of here.
I mean it, Herbie.
Rrrrr!
[ Rooney: Metal Guru]