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$8.63
1. NASCAR For Dummies
$35.96
2. NASCAR Nation: A History of Stock
$14.00
3. Growing Up NASCAR: Racing's Most
$0.99
4. ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: The 100
 
$2.87
5. Official NASCAR Trivia: The Ultimate
 
6. The Complete Book of Nascar Stock
$3.50
7. NASCAR Racing to the Finish (All-Star
$1.15
8. NASCAR: 101 Reasons to Love Stock
$7.60
9. Trading Paint: 101 Great NASCAR
 
$4.21
10. Real Men Work in the Pits: A Life
 
11. The high wind;: The story of NASCAR
$9.29
12. The Biggest NASCAR Races (Highlights
$15.45
13. The Greatest NASCAR Tracks (Highlights
$17.94
14. Wild Wheels! (Nascar Lift-the-Flap
$9.55
15. He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him
$28.19
16. Nascar (Racing Mania)
$4.06
17. Nascar's Wildest Wrecks (Nascar
 
$4.99
18. Nascar Racing Strategies &
$5.97
19. Insider's Guide to Stock Car Racing
$39.09
20. Racin': The Nascar/Winston Cup

1. NASCAR For Dummies
by Mark Martin
Paperback: 344 Pages (2009-02-09)
list price: US$21.99 -- used & new: US$8.63
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0470430680
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan
Editorial Review

Product Description
In addition to a new 8 page, full-color insert, this third edition of NASCAR For Dummies offers readers information on recent changes in technology such as the "Car of Tomorrow" and updates to the information that has made previous editions of NASCAR For Dummies a must-have guide for fans of this exciting sport.Amazon.com Review
Like its teammates in the Dummies series, NASCAR for Dummies is cleverly organized and clearly focused. Winston Cup Series driver Mark Martin is in the driver's seat, providing a speedy tour through America's fastest-growing sport. In typical Dummies style, NASCAR for Dummies is filled with fun stuff such as lists of the 10 greatest drivers of all time, the 10 can't-miss races, and 10 future stars. It also contains plenty of information--from what NASCAR stands for and what makes a stock car a stock car to the rules of Pit Road and quick overviews of the 21 racetracks that host Winston Cup Series races. There's even good, practical advice about attending races (secure lodging well in advance, decide between infield and grandstand tickets, etc.) and pointers on how to best appreciate the televised races. After reading this book, you'll have no trouble qualifying as a NASCAR fan. --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!

I'd never truly followed NASCAR before, though I'd attended races.Decided this year to learn more of the sport and bought this book.Excellent.I learned so much about the cars, drivers, pit crews,tracks, equipment, rules, etc.Also came to appreciate Mark Martin and have enjoyed watching him race.He's a class act that the sport will miss when he retires.But this book helped turn me from a peripheral spectator to a fan of the sport.There is so much more going on than "43 cars driving in circles" as some have defined it.I still am learning but this book was a great introduction and can also provide insights for long time fans about what goes on behind the scenes.

5-0 out of 5 stars Happy Camper
I was totally satisfied with the book I received. It was like new and shipped within the stated time.

5-0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
A very helpful guide that has the bsics and insight at the same time! Especially for a European "dummy" who has nothing like NASCAR at home (unfortunately) this is essential!

5-0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book
NASCAR For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

Contains everything NASCAR fans needs to know and then some!

Recommend to all NASCAR addicts!

5-0 out of 5 stars Want to know more about NASCAR? Here's the book.
Mark Martin is one of my favorite NASCAR drivers. And he is the author of this book, "NASCAR for Dummies." First, let's put it on the record: NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Racing, founded way back in 1947 by Bill France. Some of the series associated with NASCAR: Sprint Cup (once known as Winston Cup), the premier series; Craftsman Truck Series; Nationwide Series (once known as the Busch series); etc. (See Chapter 3 for much more detail).

This volume, structured as all "For Dummies" works, features a discussion of the many features of NASCAR that the neophyte would want to know. "For Dummies," if the reader is not familiar with it, ". . .are written for those frustrated and hard-working souls who know they aren't dumb, but find that the myriad. . .of issues. . .make them feel helpless." Some examples of what is covered:
Chapter 2 examines the business of NADCAR, focusing in the critical financial support of sponsors.It costs a lot of money to build cars, hire and train crews, pay for drivers, and so on.Sponsors pay, for example, to have their decals prominently displayed on the car.Souvenirs, too, are big business (shirts, caps, and so on).
Chapter 6 looks at the nature of the race team.The owner "is the boss." Owners include Joe Gibbs (Hall of Fame football coach of the Washington Redskins), Richard Childers, Jack (The Cat in the Hat) Roush, and so on. The Crew Chief is a critical actor, making race day decisions as to when a car should pit, hoe many new tires should be added, how the set up the car even before the race. Then, the rest of the team--pit crew (tire changers, tire carriers, gas man, jack man, catch can man--See Chapter 10 for a lot more detail); engine specialist; tire specialist; engineers; fabricators; engine builders; etc. In short, there are a lot of employees here, getting back to Chapter 2, showing why lots of money is needed. Chapter 7 looks at another key person on the team--the driver.

There are a lot of chapters in this book; the above stands as a mere sampling. In passing, a few other key chapters if one wants to understand more about NASCAR: Chapter 9--race day strategy (pit stop gambles, tough calls such as 2 or 4 new tires [fewer tires lead to a quicker pit stop]); Chapter 16--greatest CASCAR drivers (e.g., Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty); Chapter 13--the tracks (from short tracks like Martinsville to the superspeedways at Talladega and Daytona Beach).

So, want to know more about NASCAR?Here's a good starting point.
... Read more


2. NASCAR Nation: A History of Stock Car Racing in the United States
by Scott Beekman
Hardcover: 175 Pages (2010-04-09)
list price: US$44.95 -- used & new: US$35.96
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0275994244
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Editorial Review

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NASCAR Nation: A History of Stock Car Racing in the United States details the ongoing saga of this quintessentially American pastime. Looking at the drivers, events, and teams, it positions NASCAR racing within larger social, economic, and cultural trends in an attempt to address the sport's phenomenal growth and popularity.

This chronological examination of the evolution of stock car racing is the first history to go beyond the widely held myth that it was "invented" by Prohibition-era moonshiners. The book traces stock car racing history from its beginnings, to the formation of The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) in 1948, through today. Of course, readers will meet the sport's many colorful personalities, including the Earnhardts, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon (who has raked in more than $70 million in career winnings), "Fireball" Roberts, Darrell Waltrip, Daytona pioneer Bill France, and women drivers like Janet Guthrie, Louise Smith, and Jennifer Jo Cobb. While the focus is on NASCAR, the book also examines other prominent stock car racing organizations to round out its comprehensive portrait.

... Read more

3. Growing Up NASCAR: Racing's Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All
by Humpy Wheeler, Peter Golenbock
Hardcover: 304 Pages (2010-03-15)
list price: US$25.00 -- used & new: US$14.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0760337756
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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In 1949, when Humpy Wheeler was 11, he attended the very first NASCAR race. For the next ten years, he spent as much time in the pits as he could, and came to know many of the sport’s pioneers.  Eventually, Wheeler began promoting races at Carolina tracks such as Concord Speedway, Robinwood Speedway, and Starlight Speedway. Racing was so rough back then he kept a gun by his side when he paid the purse, and often used his fists to keep order. By the time Wheeler retired in 2008, he had helped NASCAR become the six-billion-dollar-a-year industry it is today. Filled with photographs from Wheeler's personal archives, Growing up NASCAR presents the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR from the consumate insider.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

5-0 out of 5 stars Nascar no less!
My husband is a huge nascar fan, especially when Earnhardt was alive. He still enjoys the races, and wanted this book. I was happy to get it for him.

5-0 out of 5 stars Perfect for any race car history library
Growing Up NASCAR: Racing's Most Outrageous Promoter Tells All provides an intriguing survey by a man who as a pre-teen attended the first NASCAR race in Charlotte in 1949 and loved it so much that it became his life's work. He moved from race promoter to track manager and beyond, encountering the greatest NASCAR racers of all time - and this autobiography provides a powerful insider's report of the sport, perfect for any race car history library.

5-0 out of 5 stars The Humpy the public doesn't see...
There's a lot about Humpy Wheeler that most rarely see, if ever. One early story in the book tells more about the man and his character than years of sitting in the press box and media center taught. Find the story about his teen 'business' rebuilding and selling bicycles. The "best Christmas" story is the Humpy so many never get to see. A fascinating history of NASCAR and racing in general, Wheeler knows just about everyone in the sport and has been around it since the 1940s as an insider. One caution though, Golenbock needs to hire someone with more knowledge of the sport to transcribe interviews. That's not Wheeler's fault and is just a minor gripe. A fun, entertaining, educational read for racing fans and historians alike. Track managers and promoters should read this book carefully and take its lessons to heart as well.

5-0 out of 5 stars Fantastic reading
The 'P.T. Barnum Of Nascar' scores again with this book. At turns hilarious and insightful,Humpy weaves a fascinating history of both Carolina stock car racing and Nascars' more colorful characters.Numerous times I've had the pleasure of witnessing his 'let's-blow-up-something' pre-race spectaculars (and miss them now....)
I'd love to read what he CAN'T put into a book;he's probably got some first-hand tales that would provide him a luxurious lifestyle off the blackmail proceeds! This man could sell popsicles in the Arctic.The front cover perfectly captures his 'promoter extraordinaire' persona.
If you're looking for an entertaining historical overview of stock car racing
and some of the personalities,the book is well-worth the money.

5-0 out of 5 stars Humpy has written a wonderful book
I have just finished reading "GROWING UP IN NASCAR" written by Humpy Wheeler,
it is very well written and and the most entertaining book I have read in a
long time. This book is filled with personal stories about all of the legendary
people who made NASCAR the popular sport it is today! Humpy is a natural born
story teller, a modern day "MARK TWAIN"
Tom Webster ... Read more


4. ESPN Ultimate NASCAR: The 100 Defining Moments in Stock Car Racing History
by Ryan Mcgee, Rusty Wallace
Hardcover: 240 Pages (2007-03-20)
list price: US$29.95 -- used & new: US$0.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1933060255
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
Think of it as a 180 mph race through racing history. To welcome NASCAR fans back to its airwaves in July 2007, ESPN will air a special, seven-hour programming extravaganza. The celebration kicks off in February with a five-month countdown of stock car racings 100 most significant moments. For diehard fans of the nations fastest growing sport, ESPN Ultimate NASCAR provides an irresistible sneak peak at the fireworks to comea turbo-charged, four-color, pedal-to-the-metal ride through sixty years of racetrack lore, featuring all of NASCARs royal familes: the Pettys, the Yarboroughs, the Allisons, the Earnhardts, and, of course, the Frances. From the sports birth in Daytona to the shocking crash that killed Dale Earnhardt, from the dirt track wizardry of Junior Johnson to the multi-billion dollar Nextel Cup showdowns of today, ESPN Ultimate NASCAR is a packed track of thrills, chills, spillsand occasional fistfightsall fueled by high octane photos and graphics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Magnificent book
This book is full of magnificent photos, on the history of the nascar.
For a Frenchman as I, who do not speak English, this is very well.
In France it is very dificile of informed on the race of nascar, and if the publishers(editors) Amércain, could publish us French publishingof their books we would be delighted.
Patrick ... Read more


5. Official NASCAR Trivia: The Ultimate Challenge for NASCAR Fans
by NASCAR
 Paperback: 192 Pages (1998-05-01)
list price: US$12.99 -- used & new: US$2.87
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0061073040
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
NASCAR, the No. 1 spectator sport in America, brings you this exciting jam-packed trivia book that takes you around the country to each of the 20 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race tracks. From Daytona International Speedway, to the California Speedway, Pocono Raceway to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, you can test your skill and knowledge of NASCAR facts and lore.

Modeled after the NASCAR Winston Cup Season, NASCAR Trivia lets you rack up points as you answer hundreds of questions on everything including:

  • drivers
  • cars
  • track lengths
  • individual race events and highlights
  • dates
  • and so much more!
Tally your score at each track and see if you too have the stuff of a NASCAR champion. Drivers, start your engines.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Seller
The Book arrived on time and in great condition. I will buy again from this seller and would recommend them to everyone.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great for all NASCAR fans
If you love NASCAR trivia and facts, then you will love this book. You may want to also check out: NASCAR: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports by the Numbers) Both books provide countless hours worth of fun. Any NASCAR fan would love both books.

5-0 out of 5 stars Christmas present
Great stocking stuffer for my NASCAR fan, full of Q & A's, quizes in all kinds of NASCAR info. It was a real hit.

1-0 out of 5 stars Nascar Trivia
The book was for a friend.It came in "new" condition and is being enjoyed.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excerpts from an awesome book . . .
Fact: NASCAR was originally formed as "The North American Society for Christian Auto Racers" by Sir Baden Powell.

Fact: Early NASCAR regulations prohibitted drivers from "picnicking and/or vibrating" when operating at speeds in excess of 170 MPH.

Fact: Since African American drivers were first permitted to participate in NASCAR events in 1993, Michael Jordan has secretly been racing under the name "Hermie Sadler."

Fact: All NASCAR drivers, pit crew technicians, and car owners are required to wear jock straps through the duration of NASCAR race events.

Fact: Bobby Labonte only sleeps every other week.

Fact: Greg Biffle was once married to Maria Shriver.

Fact: Jeff Gordon wears an electric blue latex "rodeo suit" during the 72 hours preceding each race. Also he refrains from eating non-dairy products during this time.

Fact: Shane Hmiel has been operating his car with his feet since the 2002 season when he lost his arms.

Fact: This book is awesome! ... Read more


6. The Complete Book of Nascar Stock Car Racing,
by Lyle Kenyon. Engel
 Hardcover: Pages (1974-10)
list price: US$52.00
Isbn: 0590173960
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Customer Reviews (2)

4-0 out of 5 stars A great piece for the true NASCAR junkie
If you love the good ol' days of NASCAR, this is a great book to have. Covers the early history, tracks, car builders, and cars of the glory days of this sport. A time when drivers had personality and you could recognize the cars as something you'd see on the street, written at that time. If you are any type of racing buff, Lyle Kenyon Engel's books are a neat addition to you library.

5-0 out of 5 stars The Complete Book of NASCAR STOCK CAR RACING,Copy Date 1963
This was the last copy of this book ever written that told of the death of FireBall Roberts. The events that surounded the accident.This book is for sale if interested please email me ASAP...@ CMetcalf@BellSouth.Net ... Read more


7. NASCAR Racing to the Finish (All-Star Readers)
by K.C. Kelley
Paperback: 32 Pages (2005-01-06)
list price: US$3.99 -- used & new: US$3.50
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0794406033
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
Time for Teamwork focuses on the team effort goes into winning a race, from the crew chief and mechanics to the pit crews and technicians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and gives a lot of info
We purchased this book for our 6-year-old who has recently taken an interest in NASCAR.He is able to read most of it himself, but it is not so watered-down as to be dull--it has quite a bit of good information.The little trophy stickers inside are cute--they get one each time they read the book, but the motivation to read it really comes from the fact that it is interesting! ... Read more


8. NASCAR: 101 Reasons to Love Stock Car Racing
by David Green
Hardcover: 128 Pages (2008-10-01)
list price: US$18.95 -- used & new: US$1.15
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1584797339
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Editorial Review

Product Description

Prohibition started it. The good ol’ boys who ran moonshine on the twisting, turning roads of Appalachia had to outpace the Feds—so they modified their cars for speed and maneuverability. Pretty soon, they were racing those “stock cars” on tracks throughout the rural South. Then, in 1948, the sport got official, when mechanic Bill France, Sr., and a couple dozen owners and drivers, meeting in a smoky barroom in Daytona Beach, Florida, founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

 

Fast-forward 60 years. Today, NASCAR is the second most popular sport in America, ranking just below NFL football in television ratings. An estimated 75 million people—one-third of the U.S. population—call themselves NASCAR fans. Average attendance at a NASCAR weekend tops 150,000. More than $2 billion of NASCAR merchandise is sold every year.

 

NASCAR: 101 Reasons to Love Stock Car Racing chronicles the whole phenomenal story, from NASCAR’s earliest days, through the reigns of the “King,” Richard Petty, in the ’60s and ’70s and the “Intimidator,” Dale Earnhardt, in the ’80s and ’90s, right up to today’s star drivers. NASCAR’s hottest teams, fastest cars, greatest events, and most unforgettable moments—they’re all here, in this fact-filled, colorful, and thrillingly illustrated book about our new national pastime.

... Read more

9. Trading Paint: 101 Great NASCAR Debates
by Jerry Bonkowski
Paperback: 352 Pages (2010-08-09)
list price: US$16.95 -- used & new: US$7.60
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0470278757
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Editorial Review

Product Description
Top NASCAR writer and Sirius NASCAR radio personality Jerry Bonkowski answers the questions that get fans most fired up

Who was the greatest NASCAR driver ever? Are crashes good for NASCAR? How will Danica Patrick fare as a NASCAR driver? What are the best and worst NASCAR cities and racetracks?

In Trading Paint, veteran NASCAR writer Jerry Bonkowski gets inside the sport's most contentious issues and gives you fuel for the debates that drive NASCAR lovers around the bend.

So the next time you're arguing with your friends over whether NASCAR races should be shorter or whether double-file restarts are good for the sport, read Trading Paint and you'll be ready to argue—and win.

  • Covers 101 NASCAR questions that get fans revved up the most—about rules, drivers, car design, money, and more
  • Written by NASCAR expert Jerry Bonkowski, on-air personality on Sirius NASCAR Radio and former NASCAR and motorsports columnist/writer for USA Today, ESPN.COM and Yahoo! Sports
  • Takes a comprehensive look at the sport—including the past, present, and the future of NASCAR—from both on and off the track

Whether you're new to NASCAR or a longtime fan, this insider's guide will get you up to speed on controversies and concerns of your favorite sport.

Amazon.com Review
Top NASCAR writer and Sirius NASCAR radio personality Jerry Bonkowski answers the questions that get fans most fired up.  Who was the greatest NASCAR driver ever? Are crashes good for NASCAR? How will Danica Patrick fare as a NASCAR driver? What are the best and worst NASCAR cities and racetracks?

In Trading Paint, veteran NASCAR writer Jerry Bonkowski gets inside the sport's most contentious issues and gives you fuel for the debates that drive NASCAR lovers around the bend.

So the next time you're arguing with your friends over whether NASCAR races should be shorter or whether double-file restarts are good for the sport, read Trading Paint and you'll be ready to argue—and win.

  • Covers 101 NASCAR questions that get fans revved up the most—about rules, drivers, car design, money, and more
  • Written by NASCAR expert Jerry Bonkowski, on-air personality on Sirius NASCAR Radio and former NASCAR and motorsports columnist/writer for USA Today, ESPN.COM and Yahoo! Sports
  • Takes a comprehensive look at the sport—including the past, present, and the future of NASCAR—from both on and off the track

Whether you're new to NASCAR or a longtime fan, this insider's guide will get you up to speed on controversies and concerns of your favorite sport.

NASCAR Commentary from Jerry Bonkowski
What Would NASCAR Be Like Today If Dale Earnhardt Hadn’t Died?

February 18, 2001, was a day that NASCAR will never forget. For it was on that Sunday afternoon that Winston Cup's most renowned driver, the sport's biggest superstar, was killed in a last-lap crash in the season-opening Daytona 500.

By NASCAR standards, it wasn't that serious a wreck. Others had caused far more mayhem, injury, and yes, even death. But the way his infamous black Chevrolet hit the turn 4 wall almost head-on and at a speed of approximately 190 mph, the failure of his seat belt, the open-faced helmet he wore, and the angle at which his head flew forward upon impact all contributed to the death of a man most thought invincible.

Dale Earnhardt wasn't just another driver. He was The Intimidator, the most feared and revered man in racing. He was also the only man other than The King himself, Richard Petty, to earn seven Cup championships. Through 2009, no other driver has won more than four Cup crowns in his career, and only two have done that: Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

Earnhardt’s death made front pages around the globe, just as Elvis Presley's and Michael Jackson's had. He was no less beloved and influential.

I remember writing my first column for ESPN.com on the day Earnhardt died; what a great way to start my new beat, huh? Throughout that column, I found myself using the same phrase over and over: "It wasn't supposed to happen this way."

Yet it did. And in the process, it was left to us to make sense of it all, something that many of us, nearly ten years later, still have a problem understanding.

But what if Earnhardt hadn't been killed that bright and sunny Sunday afternoon? What if NASCAR president Mike Helton, with tears welling in his eyes, had never had to announce to the world less than two hours after the fateful wreck, "We've lost Dale Earnhardt."

What would have happened to him and the company he formed with his wife (Dale Earnhardt Inc.)? What path would his son Dale Jr. have taken? And, most important, where would NASCAR be today if Earnhardt hadn't perished?

To start, Earnhardt was a pioneer. Virtually everyone in the sport followed his lead because it usually meant something would go well for them also, from the line he took on the racetrack to the trails he blazed in marketing. His multi-million-dollar souvenir and branded merchandise network made him far richer than racing ever did, and his fellow competitors were quick to emulate him.

The then NASCAR chairman, Bill France Jr., was one of the first to realize Earnhardt's leadership within the sport. If France wanted to gauge potential reactions to rules changes, schedule expansion, and other things, he almost always went to Earnhardt first to get his take.

But Earnhardt was first and foremost a driver, and a darn good one at that, one whose skills still matched the sport's best even though he was at an age when most drivers had already retired or were close to it.

Given that Earnhardt had finished second in the standings in 2000 at the age of 49, retirement didn't seem to be in his vocabulary, and he would likely have raced for several more seasons.

Some say that Earnhardt's uber-competitive streak, his win-at-all-cost nature, and the way he kept himself in outstanding shape would have kept him racing until today, when he would have been 59. Frankly, if anyone could have done that and remained one of the sport's top-performing drivers, it would have been Earnhardt.

When he won his seventh Cup championship in 1994, Earnhardt was 43 years old. By that point he didn't need to race any longer, didn't need more money, and definitely didn't have to put his life on the line every time he got behind the wheel of his car.

But in addition to being driven by his competitive nature, Earnhardt was driven by a number of goals after winning his seventh, and what would ultimately prove to be his last, Cup crown.

First, he said on several occasions over the years that he wanted to race 25 full seasons (his first full campaign was 1979)—which would have taken him through the 2003 season—as well as to try and reach 100 wins. Unfortunately, when he died, he was still 24 triumphs short of that goal.

Could Earnhardt have won 24 races between 2001 and 2003? It's doubtful, given that he had won just five races in the previous two years before his death, and six overall from 1997 to 2000. But I still think Earnhardt could easily have reached 80 wins in that period, with an outside shot at passing Bobby Allison and longtime nemesis Darrell Waltrip, both tied for third on NASCAR's all-time wins list with 84 apiece (Cale Yarborough is fifth with 83 wins).

Second, he wanted to establish Dale Jr.’s racing career, then retire from competitive driving to oversee Junior's future. He also had big plans to expand DEI into a consistent Cup-contending company upon his retirement, wanting to emulate the success his own team owner and best friend, Richard Childress, had achieved when he stepped out of his own race car to make room for Earnhardt to follow him. Sadly, since Earnhardt passed—and particularly when his young son and namesake, Dale Jr., left the organization after the 2007 season to race for Hendrick Motorsports—DEI has progressively gone downhill and become nothing but a shell of its former self. Numerous outstanding employees have left, sponsorship has dried up, and Dale's widow, Teresa, was forced to merge DEI first with Ginn Racing, in a short-lived partnership in 2007, and then with Chip Ganassi in 2009 to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Had the elder Dale still been with us, I'm 100 percent convinced that none of the things that befell DEI after his death would have occurred. He still would be in charge, DEI would have grown to become a super team, Dale Jr. would have won at least a couple of Cup championships by now and never left for the Hendrick camp, and Chip Ganassi would have remained a competitor rather than an ultimate business partner with Dale's widow.

Third, knowing how he'd deprived his first three offspring—daughter Kelley and sons Kerry and Dale Jr. —while they were growing up of the most valuable gift he could give them, his time, while trying to become the best racer ever out there, Earnhardt wanted to try and make up for his shortcomings as a father during his racing career with young daughter Taylor, who was just 12 years old when her father was killed. He used to talk fondly of looking forward to spending time with Taylor and Teresa once he hung up his firesuit for good, whenever that might have been.

Furthermore, few people realized that Earnhardt was a grandfather when he died. In addition to spending time with Taylor, it's a strong likelihood that Dale would have gone on to spoil his grandbabies rotten in an attempt to make up for all the times he wasn't there for his first three children. He also would have been around to help shepherd the racing career of grandchildren like Jeffrey Earnhardt (Kerry's son), who was supposed to be racing in the Nationwide Series in 2010 on a full-time basis, only to watch his ride and sponsorship dry up, leaving him on the sideline. If he were still with us, and in much the same way he was when Junior began racing, the elder Earnhardt would have found a way to keep his grandson behind the wheel, most likely for DEI, of course.

Last, but arguably most important, Earnhardt kept driving because he wanted that eighth career Winston Cup championship. By beating Petty, he would have a record that would likely never be broken, given how competitive the sport has become.

And while some had approached Earnhardt about retiring after both 1999 and 2000, including his beloved wife, Teresa, what Dale did in the 2000 season by finishing runner-up to champion Bobby Labonte—albeit by a distant 265 points—and finishing second in the final race of the season to Jerry Nadeau gave Earnhardt an invigorated feeling that Cup title No. 8 was still within his grasp.

He couldn't wait for the 2001 season to begin.

And then there's NASCAR. Had Earnhardt not been taken from his fans and the sport, I'm convinced that the failings NASCAR has had in recent years would have been significantly lessened. TV ratings would not have dropped as much, at-track attendance wouldn't be down as much, and Earnhardt would have continued to be the number one figurehead and de facto spokesman for the drivers, as well.

Given the multitude of changes that have taken place in NASCAR in recent years, particularly since Brian France assumed chairmanship from his father in late 2003, it's my belief that many of the younger France's ideas to "improve" NASCAR would have met with strong resistance from Earnhardt. Further, if Earnhardt had resisted or hadn’t liked an idea, it’s a fairly safe bet that many of his competitors would have followed suit, in contrast to the virtual blank-check approval they give to Brian France's overall leadership, as well as changes in NASCAR rules and practices that we now see in the sport.

But with Earnhardt gone, no other driver has stepped up to the plate to hold a comparable leadership role, essentially allowing NASCAR carte blanche to make changes with little or no input from the drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners. As Tony Stewart once told me, "It's NASCAR's way or the highway."

The Chase for the Sprint Cup? My guess is Earnhardt would have been against it, and likely could have swayed enough of his fellow drivers to challenge NASCAR about its viability as a so-called playoff.

The Car of Tomorrow (COT)? I could almost hear Earnhardt say the first time he saw it, "Hell, that there ain't no damn race car." He'd also likely point out that all Cup cars, regardless of brand, look alike. "Hell, the Chevys look like Dodges and the Fords look like Toyotas. What the hell is going on here?"

The loss of Winston as series title rights sponsor? My guess is that even with all the federal laws and regulations that hamstrung it, RJ Reynolds and the Winston brand would have remained in the sport if Earnhardt were still around as either a driver or team owner. But when the sport's biggest superstar was killed, it was also the beginning of the end for RJR's involvement in the sport. Had Earnhardt lived, I'd say there'd still be a good chance RJR would have remained involved and the championship would still be called the Winston Cup.

And, as NASCAR has muddled through the economic downturn the last few years, watching as TV ratings and at-track attendance have declined with very little initiative from the sanctioning body to try and change things, I'm convinced Earnhardt would have taken a strong leadership role. I can just imagine him telling France, "Okay, Brian, you've got to stop being like Nero, and stop fiddlin' around while Rome burns. You've gotta do something. Cut ticket prices [shock!], you've gotta give some tickets away, if need be [double shock!], and you've got to do more to make folks want to come to the track or watch races on TV. This ain't rocket science. It's racin'. So, start thinkin' like a racer, Brian."

Face it, Earnhardt was a magnet to draw fans through the turnstiles and in front of their TV sets. Whether you loved or hated him, cheered or booed him, you couldn't help but want to see him. Sadly, no driver has stepped forward to replace Earnhardt as the sport's figurehead, its leader, or its overriding image. Jeff Gordon wasn't able to (or didn't want that pressure to try and fill Earnhardt's shoes as the sport's leader), Kyle Busch has tried (but without at least one Cup championship, he's still a wannabe in many people's eyes), and Dale Jr. has proven without a doubt that while he is his father's son, he is far short of possessing his father's talent—regardless of the fact that he's been voted the sport's most popular driver the past seven seasons.

When the senior Earnhardt died, many of his fans switched their allegiances to his son, Dale Jr. But others who didn't want to follow Junior moved on to support other drivers, or eventually got tired of the sport without Earnhardt and simply left it. NASCAR was blessed and honored to have someone of Earnhardt's persona and character in it; it's that much weaker and less of a sports powerhouse without him.

If only he had survived, I guarantee NASCAR would look a lot different than it does today. Dale would have made sure of it.

... Read more

10. Real Men Work in the Pits: A Life in NASCAR Racing
by Jeff Hammond, Geoff Norman
 Paperback: 272 Pages (2006-01-24)
list price: US$14.95 -- used & new: US$4.21
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B001G8WLAW
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description

Jeff Hammond, one of NASCAR’s all-time great crew chiefs, recalls the thrilling moments of his life in racing: starting out as a tire changer for Walter Ballard in 1974 and quickly becoming one of the best jackmen in the business; serving on all three of driver Cale Yarborough’s championship seasons; and then taking over as crew chief during the glory days of legendary driver Darrell Waltrip. The stories Hammond tells about his life in NASCAR and the greats he has known are funny and—sometimes—tragic. He has strong opinions about the current state of the sport and pulls no punches as he offers his insights about the last 30 years when the sport grew so phenomenally from a regional obsession into a national pastime.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

1-0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title
The title of this book suggests that it will be stories of the unique people who work on NASCAR pit crews and some of the wild things that have happened to them over their careers. Instead it is the usual racing book, focused on drivers and chasing points over many seasons. It contains no insights about what it's like to work in the pits or what's special about the people who do.

Dedicated NASCAR fans might find some new dirt about the conflicts among the people the author worked with over his career but casual fans who believed the title will be disappointed.

5-0 out of 5 stars unputdownable
quite simply unputdownable - started reading in the afternoon and spent all night reading.
loved it

3-0 out of 5 stars It Could Have Been Better
Real Men Work In The Pits by Jeff Hammond could have been a lot better.

The 2005 effort by Fox Sports personality and longtime NASCAR crew chief Jeff Hammond has no ghostwriter listed which means Hammond made all the name misspellings himself. From Felix "Sabatas" Sabates to Jim "Tommy VanDiver" Vandiver, Hammond cannot seem to get it right.

Getting past that, my other big complaint would be that 2/3 of this book deals with 1976-1986. True, those were his big years with Junior Johnson but the way he skimmed over 1993-2000 was humorous. Obviously, he had little success but the book is more an autobiography of Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip than it is Hammond's life in NASCAR racing.

One interesting thing that could have been added onto more was in 1996 when he hooked back up with DW for the final part of the season, only to be fired after the team's Christmas party.

I enjoyed the honesty, though, including the strained relationship with Dale Earnhardt that Hammond touched on after The Intimidator wrecked Waltrip at Richmond in 1986.

Hammond offered an inside look at the Junior Johnson operation and it now has me wanting to read about ol' JJ.

In reality, the book was something of an anti-love letter to Darrell Waltrip. The banter they share on Fox leads you to believe they had nothing but fun together but according to Hammond in the book, DW was a money-hungry egomaniac. Here I thought he was just an egomaniac!

Still, for a crew chief autobiography this was pretty interesting. It needed a better editor.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great book, even if you're not a die-hard NASCAR fan
Jeff Hammond has written a fantastic book. He's captured the racing action, development of the sport and most importantly some of the people that have made the sport what it is.

`Real men work in the pits' is written in an easy reading, conversational manner that never seems forced, making it a hard book to put down once you've started reading.

NASCAR very rarely screens on TV in Australia, and when it does it's often a five minute highlights package so you never get to see a whole race. But even for someone with low exposure to the sport it's still a great book to read.

If you're a fan of any sort of motor sport, then you'll enjoy this book for the spirit of competition. Even if you're not into racing, this book would still make an enjoyable read for the colourful way in which the likes of Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, and Junior Johnson are described and one man's career in racing is told. Well worth adding to your bookshelf.

5-0 out of 5 stars A Very Interesting Insight Into The Life Of Jeff Hammond In Racing
I started reading this book when I went to bed and couldn't put it down until it was finished.Jeff writes about his father racing dirt tracks and how he worked with his uncle on his dad's race car at the age of 12.From those days, he and his brother went on to build cars on their own and get drivers to drive for them.This led to Jeff putting aside his dream for playing college football and become involved with Junior Johnson's team working his way up the ranks to Crew Chief.
I found it interesting to read about the relationship Junior had with his workers and the respect that was held for him.
There are many neat personal stories about Cal Yarbrough, Junior Johnson and many pages about the relationship Darrell Waltrip had with Jeff before and after becoming his crew chief.
The underlying thread in this book from my perspective was the loyalty Jeff had for his family, Junior, teammates and friends. I really enjoyed the book and hope someday to meet Jeff in person. ... Read more


11. The high wind;: The story of NASCAR racing,
by W. E Butterworth
 Hardcover: Pages (1971)

Isbn: 0448214199
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Editorial Review

Product Description
The history of stock car racing in the United States emphasizing the role of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. ... Read more


12. The Biggest NASCAR Races (Highlights of Nascar Racing)
by Holly Cefrey
Hardcover: 48 Pages (2008-01-30)
list price: US$26.50 -- used & new: US$9.29
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1404213996
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13. The Greatest NASCAR Tracks (Highlights of Nascar Racing)
by Matthew Robinson
Library Binding: 2008 Pages (2008-01-30)
list price: US$26.50 -- used & new: US$15.45
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1404214003
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14. Wild Wheels! (Nascar Lift-the-Flap Book)
by NASCAR
Board book: 10 Pages (2004-08-31)
list price: US$9.99 -- used & new: US$17.94
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0794404219
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
Young readers can lift a flap and take a peek under the hood of a powerful NASCAR race car or get an inside look at what goes on in a NASCAR garage. Lift another flap and you can help the pit crew change a tire on a colorful race car. Pull up another flap and you can "drive" a NASCAR race car across the finish line and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

5-0 out of 5 stars SportsBook
This book is great. The pictures are in vivid color. The children run to get this book first. They even sit down together and share it. It is a great pick.

4-0 out of 5 stars Great for car-lovin' kids
This book is very colorful, and informative as well.The bright pictures and flaps entertain pre-readers, and there's enough text to amuse older kids (but not too much older).The only knock is that because the images are computer-generated, the human figures are a wee bit creepy looking.Imagine the character models you might see in a computer game from 1999.On the other hand, the cars and backgrounds are beautiful.
... Read more


15. He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back: The True Story of the Year the King, Jaws, Earnhardt, and the Rest of NASCAR's Feudin', Fightin' Good Ol' Boys Put Stock Car Racing on the Map
by Mark Bechtel
Hardcover: 320 Pages (2010-02-08)
list price: US$25.99 -- used & new: US$9.55
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0316034029
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
On a cold February day in 1979, when most of the Northeast was snowed in by a blizzard, NASCAR entered the American consciousness with a dramatic telecast of the Daytona 500. It was the first 500-mile race to be broadcast live on national television and featured the heroes and legends of the sport racing on a hallowed track. With one of the wildest finishes in sports history--a finish that was just the start of the drama--everything changed for what is now America's second most popular sport.

HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the story of an emerging sport trying to find its feet. It's the story of how Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, A.J. Foyt, and Kyle Petty came together in an unforgettable season that featured the first nationally televised NASCAR races. There were rivalries--even the sibling kind--and plenty offistfights, feuds, and frenzied finishes. Rollicking and full of larger-than-life characters, HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the remarkable tale of the birth of modern stock-car racing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

5-0 out of 5 stars HE CRASHED ME
15 OCT 2010
TO GET ON-BOARD WITH NASCAR, GO BACK TO THE BEGINING- THE 1940'S. THEN FOLLOW IT ON UP THRU TO THE PRESENT. THE COMICS OF THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS & EVENTS ARE A HARD-CORE COFFEE WATCH. IN THAT SO MANY OF THE GOING'S ON ARE TOO FUNNY. THEY'LL CAUSE YOU TO SPEW COFFEE ALL OVER YOUR SCREEN / KEYBOARD /BOOK. ALSO, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, GO TO THE CAR MUESEUM AT TALLADEGA. THOSE ARE THE "REAL" STOCK CARS. YOU'LL SEE "FIREBALL ROBERTS, THE KING, BILL ELLIOT, MARTY ROBBINS" CARS THERE. FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE CARS INTERIORS LOOK JUST LIKE THE CAR YOUR DAD DROVE EVERYDAY. 'CEPT THEY'VE ONLY GOT ONE SEAT. DASHBOARD LOOKS THE SAME. THEY ARE IN THE LEAGUE OF WHAT THEY USED TO SAY;, "RUN WHATCHA BRUNG", CLASS / ERA. TODAY, THEY ARE JUST SIMPLY "SQUEAKY CLEAN, CORPORATE RIDES".
NO MORE "RUN ALL DAY & RUN ALL NIGHT, GET TO THE TRACK IN A COUPLE OF HOURS", SCENARIOS. NOW, IT'S JUST ANOTHER BUSINESS DEAL. FUN IS GONE.

5-0 out of 5 stars He crashed me so hard I couldn't stop laughing
I had only known about NASCAR as one of the darling marketing case studies. (NASCAR was social marketing before facebook, twitter and the like).The book is very clever and informative.The thoroughness of the research is evident but the ease in which you just slide into the story as you are reading it was really fun.I felt like I was sitting in the living room listening to their conversation. Mark,looking forward to your next book.

5-0 out of 5 stars Good NASCAR Book!!
I enjoyed this book! This book gives a lot of detail about the 1979 Daytona 500 and the rest of the 1979 season. The book also tells some interesting stories about what was happening in the US during the late 1970's. For someone who was very young during that time it was interesting reading. I think all racing fans and most sports fans would enjoy this book.

4-0 out of 5 stars Just Some Good Ole Boys, Never Meanin' No Harm...
In the wide, wild world of sports, NASCAR has never really appealed to me. I grew up a baseball fan, gradually embraced football, and recently discovered an appreciation for the sweet science of basketball (nevermind my own ability at trashcan basketball, where the ball is a waded-up paper towel and the "rim" is a trashcan at ground level). Alas, the Church of the Left Turn hasn't held much appeal for me, despite my being born and raised in the region where it was born and continues to flourish.

That won't change after reading "He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back," but I can say that I appreciate that there's more to it than meets the eye. In a rich, detailed and evocative history of one pivotal year in stock-car racing (1979, which is also the year I was born), the book manages to convey not just the excitement of NASCAR on the brink of national popularity, but also examines the cultural tides that turned to provide it with the platform to take over the car-racing landscape.

There are the usual suspects here (The Pettys, Dale Earnhardt in his youth) but also drivers that only a diehard would have known of. The author interweaves their stories effortlessly, creating a narrative that pits Daryl Waltrip and "King Richard" in a no-holds-barred race for the points that comes down literally to the last race of the season. In between are racetrack melees, off-the-course politics, and old-guard-versus-new-blood rivalries that helped launch the sport as more than just a regional curiosity. The book doesn't just cover how NASCAR came into its own, but how the country was in just the right mood for something new to offset the "malaise" of the Carter years.

You may not come away as a convinced racing fan, but you'll recognize that, sport or not, NASCAR is a proud tradition which can claim its roots in the moonshine-running rebels of the Forties and which truly came into its own in 1979. "He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back" helps show that moment in all its tobacco-spittin', fistfightin' glory, but it's the side of the sport and its stars that you didn't know about (such as Petty's intellect hidden by an "aw shucks" persona, or Earnhardt's uniquely Oedipal struggles to overcome the legend of his father and forge his own destiny) that gives the book its weight. There are even some damn good laughs thrown in for measure, such as the description of the "fight" between the Allison boys and Cale Yarborough at Daytona while a snowbound nation watched. You won't find a more enjoyable sports book other than this one, and you won't regret starting it because you won't be able to stop until you finish it. It pays to be curious about things that you don't understand or get, especially if your method of self-instruction is as entertaining as "He Crashed Me."

5-0 out of 5 stars AWESOME BOOK
What a great book that was very insightful on the early days of stock car racing. Had alot of entertaining stories in it and how these guys really revolutionalized the sport. Enjoyed it alot. ... Read more


16. Nascar (Racing Mania)
by K. C. Kelley
Library Binding: 48 Pages (2009-09)
list price: US$31.36 -- used & new: US$28.19
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0761443878
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17. Nascar's Wildest Wrecks (Nascar Racing)
by Matt Doeden
Paperback: 32 Pages (2005-01)
list price: US$7.95 -- used & new: US$4.06
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0736852344
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Editorial Review

Product Description
Get your readers closer to the track with NASCAR Racing. From lug nuts to wind tunnels, this set explores the parts, personalities, and perils of stock car racing. ... Read more


18. Nascar Racing Strategies & Secrets: Strategies & Secrets
by Lee Buchanan
 Paperback: 234 Pages (1996-01)
list price: US$19.99 -- used & new: US$4.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0782118275
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Product Description
Start your engines and get ready to blow away the competition with the most popular racing game ever! NASCAR Racing Strategies and Secrets takes you inside the game and shows you how to become a NASCAR racing champion. In-depth track profiles, racing strategies, custom car configurations on CD, and interviews with NASCAR drivers are just a few of the things you'll be treated to in this official and exclusive guide to the game! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars Great! Gives you an advantage over those who don't have it!
I am a Nascar for Mac racer but this book is still a great book to have by your side at any race sim track. It's like having your very own crew chief.This book allows you to fine tune your chassis for greater speed as well as fine tune your line around the track.The PC cd-rom has car set's that can be converted to Macintosh.It helped me win my first league race! ... Read more


19. Insider's Guide to Stock Car Racing : NASCAR Racing : America's Fastest-Growing Sport
by Richard M. Huff
Paperback: 208 Pages (1997-07)
list price: US$14.95 -- used & new: US$5.97
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1566250765
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Amazon.com Review
With its hot wheels and big money, stock car racing is thebiggest and fastest-growing spectator sport in the world. TheInsider's Guide to Stock Car Racing has all the information youneed about the drivers, races, racetracks, and cars on theNASCAR circuit. For the uninitiated, this useful primer includes aglossary of terms, statistics, and chapters on everything from TVcoverage to racing team addresses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

4-0 out of 5 stars Good offering
I'm fairly new to stock car racing so this book came in handy. Everything the new or old fan needs to understand stock car racing in a better manner. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the sport.

5-0 out of 5 stars This is a great book!
I have been doing research on racing, I picked up this book to learn more about NASCAR and I got just what I asked for!Informatative, interesting, fun, it keeps me wanting to read more.This is a perfect reference guidefor the new NASCAR fan or the "seasoned" NASCAR fan!A greatlook into the fastest growing sport. ... Read more


20. Racin': The Nascar/Winston Cup Stock Car Racing Series
by George H. Gilliam
Hardcover: 196 Pages (1989-04)
list price: US$45.00 -- used & new: US$39.09
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0943231183
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Product Description
RV ownership is a way of life-and a commitment to discovering North America's best camping and vacation spots. This look at the phenomenon includes a history of RVs, travel options and campground facilities, RV resorts and events, and profiles of top RV companies and entrepreneurs, along with side trips into such subjects as camping with kids, celebrity RVers, the senior set, and the sporting scene. ... Read more


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