Mark "High Gear" Sherrod has been a race car driver for the past five years and is now at the height of his career.

Ed promised his wife before she died that he would send Jimmy off to a fine military school after winning the "big race".

The day before the race finds Jimmy and Ed at home in their apartment, with Mr. and Mrs. Cohen visiting, and reporter Anne Merrit sneaking into Mark's hotel room for an exclusive interview.

Jimmy accepts, Mark promises to send him to that military school, and Mrs. Cohen silently bursts into tears.

Mark sends Jimmy to the URBAN Military Academy and hits the track again with his new co-driver Howard.

Strapped for cash, Mark leaves his fancy hotel, moves in with Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, and takes a job as a taxi driver to pay for Jimmy's school.

Jimmy comes to the conclusion that Mark cannot afford to keep him at URBAN, so he sneaks out of a window and returns to the Cohen's apartment for a "surprise visit".

Jimmy gets caught up in the middle and is hit in the head with a flying wrench, which "crushes" his skull.