Chandler lures a Formula One ex-champion to Eagle Ridge, but Beckett balks because the driver has a shady past. Meanwhile, Jared (Douglas O'Keeffe) and Stevie unmercifully haze the rookie, Kennedy (Randy J. Goodwin).

On a scorching day at the race track, a hand grenade arrives in Chandler's pizza. Temperatures and tensions rise as Chandler seems to be fouling up Sheriff Lowell Carter's attempts to nab the perpetrator until security footage reveals potentially incriminating evidence.

Financial troubles plague Servine Racing and one of the sponsors is worried. Meanwhile, Beckett continues to monitor Chandler's health, warning him to eliminate as much stress as he possibly can. But Chandler has no desire to, for he has big plans for his speedway's expansion.

When his father dies, Beckett prepares the funeral arrangements and finds his younger brother, Jeff (Robert Carradine). Mimi, who has put her relationship with Beckett on hold, is intrigued when she learns Jeff is charming but also trouble-and everyone but Beckett seems to know it.

A former con man turned evangelist sets up his tent on the track's infield, arousing both suspicion and support.

Famed orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Richard Beckett, returns to his home town of Eagle Ridge after boyhood friend and track owner, Chris Chandler, offers him a job as a safety and medical officer at the speedway. When a driver is killed in a crash at the track, Chandler needs Beckett for the job even more. But Beckett is more interested in finding out what caused the wreck than in signing a contract.

When an up-and-coming driver dies in a fiery crash, Beckett and attorney Mimi find themselves on opposite sides of a lawsuit that puts the entire sport of racing on trial.

Beckett's college friend, a television producer, visits the speedway to get Beckett's assistance in developing a television series set in the world of stock car racing.

When Beckett attends his first CONTRAC meeting as Chandler's partner, he suggests to the president that he'd like to see a race between legendary drivers. The president likes the idea so much that he hands Beckett the assignment of rounding up old-timers and making it happen.