Bobby on Track

Infobox Television episode
Title = Bobby on Track
Series = King of the Hill


Caption =
Season = 9
Episode = 14
Airdate = May 8, 2005
Production = 9ABE13
Writer =
Director =
Guests =
Episode list = List of King of the Hill episodes
Prev = Gone with the Windstorm
Next = It Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Neighbor Sings

Bobby on Track is the 185th episode of the FOX animated television series "King of the Hill", broadcast as the 14th episode of the 9th season.

Plot

Bobby signs up for a 5K fundraising run at school, which makes Hank happy. However Bobby's poor physique catches up with him almost immediately, and he stops running right near the start of the race. A disappointed Hank buys Bobby a pedometer, and expects him to walk the full 5K. Bobby is distracted at the mall and only manages half a mile, prompting Hank to take him to the school track, where the coach surprisingly invites Bobby to join the track team, which includes his rival Chane Wasanasong.

Hank is proud of Bobby for finally being on a real team, and encourages him to stick with it even though his teammates don't like him. When Chane is lazy about warming up for the shotput, the coach replaces him with Bobby, who fails miserably, and later replaces a sprinter for eating chocolate. It turns out that the coach is using Bobby as a motivator for the rest of the athletes, by threatening to give their spots to Bobby when they slack off or get an attitude, nicknaming him "The Stick".

Hank, Peggy and the guys go to see Bobby perform, and are shocked by his failure at the hurdles. Hank confronts the coach, who explains that since Bobby has been "The Stick", the team is unbeaten and headed for the state championship. Hank doesn't like the idea that Bobby should be proud of failure, and encourages him to quit, but Bobby is excited to be a vital part of the team, and is proud to accept a letterman jacket.

At the state finals, Bobby naps while the team scores big. Hank is fed up and wants to leave with Bobby, but a runner for the final leg of the relay race strains himself, forcing the coach to put Bobby in as a real substitute. Despite his desire to really try this time, Bobby finds himself falling behind, but a freak collision of all the other runners allows him to push ahead across the finish line to win the championship. Bobby is carried off on his teammates' shoulders, as he warns them he's going to be sick.