NASCAR Books

TO THE LIMIT is my favorite of Pamela Britton's NASCAR books so far--and that's saying a lot! The racing action is so real that you'll actually feel like you're right there, at the track, and the developing romance felt fresh and exciting. The love-triangle aspect was a fun surprise with some twists and turns, and has totally whetted my appetite for the next book in the series--I can barely wait for TOTAL CONTROL!

Bottom line--a fun and sexy read!

This book was OK and a fast read, but not very plausible. Kristin is a geeky girl, described as plain and not really pretty, with a leg that is scarred to the point of disfigurement, and called a "disability", yet she attracts the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor and a hunky top NASCAR driver, and I could not really see why. She was either mad or sad most of the time, and didn't really have an outstanding personality. I realize it is the fantasy of every geeky girl out there to land the handsome hero, but come on.

And then there is the fact that her mother had never heard of NASCAR, please. I can see not recoginizing a driver if he isn't Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr, but not knowing what NASCAR is? Does she not watch TV or read a paper or magazine? Like I said, just not plausible.

Aeronautical engineer Kristen McKenna gets the opportunity of a lifetime when the company CEO asks her to join the design team for his newly acquired NASCAR racing team. Kristen has mixed feelings since giving up on her own racing aspirations when her sister died in a tragic accident ten years earlier, leaving Kristen with permanent scars and in self-imposed exile from her family. Treated with disrespect as an outsider by the guys, Kristen soon proves herself a worthy addition to the team, and captures the attention of CEO Mathew Knight and bad-boy driver Todd Peters, who always plays to win. Who will she ultimately choose?

Sounds like a winning combination for a romantic story, unfortunately, this "romance" is pretty lacking (even the love triangle is bland). Far more interesting is Kristen's struggle to reunite with her remaining family, but that constitutes such a small portion in the overall story. At one time Britton combined her vast NASCAR knowledge with sizzling romance (see the much better "Dangerous Curves"), so we know she's capable. Add to that a ridiculous "epilogue" bringing all the characters from her three previous NASCAR books together (along with their as-yet-born offspring) that adds nothing to the story. It's also pretty obvious that the odd man out will get his own story.

Blame for the lack of engaging storytelling could be placed on the glut of titles on the NASCAR romance market that HQN has mined to death this past year; they just seem to get more formulaic. Well, at least the heroines are not all lawyers, publicists, or writers anymore...

Kristen McKenna has worked for Mathew Knight in a behind the scenes capacity until now. Mathew just bought himself a NASCAR race team and he wants Kristen to be the engineering consultant for Knight Enterprises Motorsports. Kristen is wary but she can't pass up the opportunity to design racecars, even though working in a male dominated industry she'll have to work twice as hard for the respect that should come easily.

Kristen is shocked when she discovers that Matt and the driver, Todd Peters, are interested in her. She only has eyes for one of them though. When push comes to shove can he put her before his work?

I really enjoyed the first two of Pamela Briton's NASCAR books, but To The Limit is my favorite. I love Kristin. She is fearless and smart, and she possesses humor that could rival a comedian. I also love what she does for Matt. She is so good for him. Matt is wonderful. He's handsome and intelligent. I loved that the powerful and invincible Mathew Knight fell hard for Kristen just the way she is. To The Limit is a smooth read both on and off the track. It's a well-written racing story with romance, fun and excitement!

Nannette reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I'm not going to write a plot summary because so many others on Amazon already have. I felt this one in the series was just ok. I didn't feel the connection about any of the characters with one another. I didn't think she wrote chemistry with the three lead characters at all. I didn't understand why the female lead ended up where she did when nothing was truly settled. As always I enjoyed the behind the scenes of Nascar storyline with the new development of the rear deck lid. I liked the interplay between one of the lead male characters and his bodyguard. Overall, it continues with Ms. Britton's Nascar world and gives you updates on past couples. It's an ok book but definitely don't start reading the series with this book.

It's been a while since I read this book, so I can't remember all the details. But what struck me about it was how hard the writer tried to refute the idea that NASCAR is essentially a Southern sport. Sorry. NASCAR is a Southern sport.

Most of the "sociological" angles of this book inevitably involve bashing the South, the Southern flag, and Southern people.

If you are a NASCAR fan but can't bear to admit to your friends lest they think you are a "white trash redneck" then this is the book for you!

The book isn't all bad... there is good exploration of the early years and for the most part everything he writes is factual. There are even some pretty good and funny pieces of trivia. But ultimately he is trying to rewrite history to make the sport look not so "redneck," which is of course code meaning not so "white."

I read this book as research for a book I am working on, and was hoping to get a sociologist's take on NASCAR. There are fan books aplenty, but not enough in the way of academic analysis. Now, that may not be what most people are looking for, but it was, at least in part, how the book was advertised. There is disappointingly little academic content here-- although the tone has a good deal of pedantic pretentiousness. In fact, the tone had exactly two notes: every explanation is launched into with the windy pomp of a true college professor, and every defense of the sport declaimed with the defensive belligerence of a drunken redneck.

My other problem with the book is its clear fan bias. I have never seen (and wouldn't have thought it possible) a book about NASCAR that tries so incredibly hard to never mention Dale Earnhardt. Hey, not a Dale fan? Fine, lots of people weren't. But in his heyday, he and his image were responsible for HALF of the millions of dollars of souvenirs sold each year, with the other 42 drivers combined (including the author's favorite Jeff Gordon) left to fight over the remaining half. The most explosive growth in the sport came during Earnhardt's glory years (the mid-80s to mid-90s), both in television ratings and seating capacity at tracks, and approximately half the fans in the stands, in keeping with the souvenir sales figures, were wearing Earnhardt colors. Loved and loathed, he singlehandedly doubled the size of the sport, and more than doubled the money it took in (Earnhardt largely pioneered the whole diecast car and souvenir business, and was the first driver to license his image). When he died, it was not only the front page of the New York Times, it was a story around the world, and many newscasters at the time noted that most non-fans had only ever heard of two NASCAR drivers: Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

Yet Wright mentions Earnhardt only grudgingly and in passing, ignoring him whenever possible. His discussion of the sport's history (throughout the book) jumps from the 1960s and 70s directly to Gordon's emergence in 1995. He glosses over the exact timing of the sport's growth, and attributes it to a combination of corporate support and television coverage, without mentioning exactly who those television viewers were watching, or what phenomenon in the sport might have warranted the coverage in the first place. Again, he doesn't have to be an Earnhardt fan, but as an academic, he should know how intellectually dishonest it is to allow one's personal biases to so completely color the telling of a story. Like I said, until this book, I wouldn't have thought it possible to write a book about NASCAR while scarcely mentioning one of its most towering icons.

That said, if you want a heavily Gordon-friendly fan book about attending races, one that has at least some evidence of academic learning, this book will do. I did flag several pages for reference, and it is pretty well-written. However, for a truly rollicking, laugh-out-loud funny book about following the NASCAR tour, which makes no claims to academia but nevertheless is insightful, smart, and brilliantly-written, try Jeff MacGregor's outstanding _Sunday Money_. It laps Wright's book and puts it in the wall.

Whether you're a stock car fan or not, this is fascinating and hilarious. What a sport, what a history, what a culture. NASCAR is something different. Couldn't possibly have learned or enjoyed more.

I've read a lot of books on NASCAR, and this is the one I'd recommend to anyone to whom I wanted to communicate my love of the sport. Wright's perspective on NASCAR is unlike any other -
he is erudite and witty and down-to-earth and communicates a true connoisseur's perspective. Highly recommended.

I had no knowledge or affinity towards NASCAR racing before reading this book. The author makes the subject interesting to those of us who don't know the drivers, the car racing teams, the tracks or anything else about NASCAR. It is a funny and at times hilarious read of one man's love with racing and the Winston Cup. While not at all "high browed", one begins to understand the sociological context of this fast growing sport. I recommend this book the fan, nonfan and the curious.

Got this book for my young son. He loves race cars and this book gives him a lot to learn and look at. Unfortunately, the way NASCAR changes logos and sponsors, the driver info becomes out of date quick. The history lesson of the sport is great, though.

The book is an entertaining enough introduction to stock car racing, and our son enjoys reading and tracing pictures of cars out of the book. But to my mind, it falls far below the standard of the Dorling-Kindersley series and is little more than a promotional piece for the current NASCAR sponsor. The sea change from real stock cars to the current lookalike shells is glossed over, but most of all the championship is referred to throughout, even in the historical sections, as the "NEXTEL Cup." This is sheer historical revisionism and unworthy of the DK series. Or are they simply terrified that children will take up smoking if they read about the "Winston Cup"?

Our 6-year-old recently took an interest in NASCAR and wanted to learn as much about it as possible. We found this book at our library and he never went anywhere without it, so we ended up purchasing a copy. Not knowing much about the sport ourselves, my husband and I also found it a good way to learn the basics of NASCAR racing--it is very comprehensive--from the way the cars are designed to the safety gear on the cars and that the drivers wear, from the types of tracks to the most skilled racers of the past and present and more... Overall very informative--lots of information.

"NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Founded in 1948 to give an official structure to the many races happening throughout the south, NASCAR has been growing steadily ever since. Today, there are NASCAR fans in every state and across the globe."

I've always been fascinated by the speed of the Pit Crew members and I find that to be one of the most exciting parts of the car races. This book covers so much more:

The Birth of NASCAR
NASCAR through the years - see how the sport changed every decade
The anatomy of a stock car
Step-by-Step guide - Building a Stock Car
Biographies of NASCAR stars - Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon
The Importance of colors, numbers and flags.
NASCAR Fans and Souvenirs
Daytona 500
What does the Pit Crew do and what does a driver wear for safety?
Lists of Fascinating Facts
Questions and Answer Section
Record Breakers
Who's Who in the World of Racing
Glossary for terms like downforce and slingshot.

If you have ever wondered how one of these cars can crash and roll and the driver survives, it is interesting to see how the car is built with firewalls and a roll cage.

For children interested in building engines, there is detailed information on how engines work, complete with detailed diagrams and pictures of real engines.

Other books in the Eyewitness Books Collection:

CAR
TRAIN
SPORTS
TECHNOLOGY
OLYMPICS
MEDIA & Communication
FOOTBALL
FORCE & MOTION
INVENTION

~The Rebecca Review

We purchased this book for our 4 1/2 year old who loves Nascar. This book was great. It kept his attention and he looks at it every day. We love DK Eyewitness Books.

The book was for a friend. It came in "new" condition and is being enjoyed.

Great stocking stuffer for my NASCAR fan, full of Q & A's, quizes in all kinds of NASCAR info. It was a real hit.

This book was good and fun to do but it seemed that the questions they asked were more of from like 10 years ago. It's seems that if you were an older fan and been watching the sport really long you would be able to do it easy. I'm a Huge fan but I've only been a fan for about6 or 7 years and they had alot of questions about Richard Petty and others like Cale and the allisons...But it's a good book!

C OO

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!

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.

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.

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.

If there is any sport that is team oriented but where the team gets almost no recognition it's NASCAR racing. The driver gets all the glory, the kisses of the pretty girls, the photographs holding the trophy.

This book is a story of almost thirty years of being in the crew, a lot of years as the jack man. I've always thoought that the jack man had just about the hardest job of them all -- those jacks are heavy, they've got to be positioned right, and they've got to be moved fast. I guess that's a good place to start, because from there he went on to become one of the more successful crew chiefs in the business.

The book is one that will delight NASCAR fans. It's the inside story of what goes on behind the scenes, it's what you have to do to win races, it's the people who were there during the time when NASCAR was moving from the small unknown side aspect of racing to the big time national sport that it is today.

It is the stories of the people that make this such an enjoyable book.

Some people really know how to market themselves. During the last few years, Jeff Hammond has went from being a succesful NASCAR crew chief to TV anlayst, pitchman, professional wrestler, rodeo competitor and now book author. This man has quite an agent!

As for the new book, there's not a lot of new ground. Although Hammond claims that he is willing to speak out and criticize NASCAR when necessary, there is very little commentary in the book about anything.

Along the way he provides a number of interesting stories regarding his relationships and experiences with people such as Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip but it is merely a recounting of his career with little detail and insight. What I found somewhat surprising is that Hammond spent his last year as a crew chief working with Kurt Busch and for Jack Roush. That was Busch's rookie season and he is now Nextel Cup Champ, but you won't get to learn a single thing about what the new champ is like from reading this book and very little about car owner Roush who has now won two championships in a row.

It's written well and an easy read but not a great literary work. The good news is that Hammond is likable, the stories are interesting and it's probably worth the three hours or so that it will take to read this book. That being said, Waltrip's recent book is much more detailed and more worthy of your attention. The even better news is that Hammond will remain on Fox covering NASCAR where he is one of the best in broadcast analysis of the sport.

I was surprised that there were all 4 and 5 star ratings on this book. Not that exciting of a story, though it did move quickly. The main characters weren't that interesting compared to other romance novels I've read. Also, being a NASCAR fan, I felt it was almost silly to explain a lot of the rules/activities since most of the people interested in reading this are NASCAR fans. Just not a fan of this one, but will still read others in the series.

Under Caution by Gina Wilkins
Harlequin NASCAR Collection - February 2007

Leaving Chicago in fear from an escaped criminal she prosecuted, Lisa Woodrow returns to North Carolina for a much needed leave and the security of her parents estate. Her mother's health is ailing, so Lisa decides that her parents don't need to know the reason that sparked her sudden visit. Her father, Woody Woodrow, owns four very successful NASCAR racing teams, and Lisa can't avoid running into her ex-fiancée Wade McClellan who is still a vital part of Woodrow Racing. Six years before, Lisa had loved Wade with all her young heart, but she couldn't get past the way he could just turn himself off and focus solely on his racing career. Lisa had always felt second best. Being the best crew chief in NASCAR has been Wade's ambition and he's finally there. He's worked hard and he's paid dearly. Now she's back and Wade can tell there's more than just a vacation going on and he presses Lisa to confide in him. He promised all those year before that he'd always be there if she needed him. Under the guise of renewing their relationship, Lisa agrees to travel with the team and stay in Wade's motor home at the tracks where security is top notch until it's safe for her to return to Chicago. Lisa realizes that there is so much she didn't understand years ago, and that now she can see that though Wade aka Ice McClellan is horrible at expressing his feelings, it doesn't mean he doesn't have any. When it comes to Lisa, Wade seems to have a lot of unresolved feelings.

I've always enjoyed Ms. Wilkins voice and the flow of her stories. I found this NASCAR addition very well done. The sub-plot of Lisa's stalker adds just the right amount of tension without taking away from the love story developing. Lisa is a strong heroine who isn't afraid to look closely at herself and see the mistakes she had made in her youth. Wade is the dark horse hero whose dysfunctional family background has taught him to hide his emotions. This helps him do his job where a calm head is always needed, but it leaves a lot unsaid and misunderstood when it comes to his relationships. I'm glad Lisa and Wade got their story and found their HEA.

As a NASCAR fan, I was fascinated with having an almost eyewitness account of the many intricacies and complexities of this sport, which were so brilliantly woven into this story. Pit strategies, spotter's comments, the weekend routine, and so much more came alive right off the pages!!! It definitely provides a deeper appreciation and understanding beyond what is seen on TV or while attending a race at the track! I read this book in one sitting on a Sunday morning, and my favorite driver went on to win the race that afternoon, so it brought good luck too! lol

Usually the driver is the center of attention, but not so in this story, which focused on the crew chief and gave great insight into how very extensive his role is each week. Also showcased was the role of the families of the race-team. The romance was secondary to the action and the intrigue of protecting the owner's daughter from a dangerous stalker.

When dangerous Jesse Norris escapes, Chicago based Assistant District Attorney Lisa Woodrow decides to take some R&R amidst the safety of her family in Charlotte because she knows this nasty person will be coming for those who put him away. She is at the top of his list. Her ailing parents are elated to see her, but she hides why she came home from them out of concern for their well-being though Lisa suspects her mother knows.

However, her former fiancé, Team Woodrow NASCAR crew chief Wade McClellan overhears the threat to his beloved's life. He altruistically blackmails her as a caution into staying with him by threatening to tell her parents if she refuses although he also believes her parents would be safer if she remained with him. Wade never stopped loving Lisa even though he assumes it is over between them, but he must insure she is safe and can best do it with the security of the racing circuit.

The theme of an avenging convicted criminal going after the prosecutor has been used frequently, however Gina Wilkins freshens it with the milieu of the NASCAR racing circuit. The story line is fast-paced whether the subplot is a second chance at love or the criminal threat. Readers will enjoy this fine race between love and a murdering escapee intent on killing the ADA and anyone else blocking his victory lap.

Harriet Klausner

What a great read! It was so nice to read a NASCAR themed book where the authors knew what they were talking about. Since the details and circumstances of the sport were authentic it was easy to get lost in this book and just enjoy the story. Even if you're not a NASCAR fan this book is still enjoyable - you won't find the NASCAR theme overwhelming the characters or the story line. Isabel and Cade are great characters - well written and entertaining. Anyone who enjoys a great contemporary love story will like this book. I would love to see the authors continue the series with stories for the other two Garrison siblings (and maybe Mom and Dad, too)!

Both Cade Garrison and Isobel Turner are motivated, driven individuals, trying to reach the top of their respective fields. Her aim is to succeed her uncle in his executive position at the P.R. company where they work and Cade, one of their clients, is shooting for NASCAR gold. They ought to stay apart, have a strictly professional relationship. Pursuing a romance is as dangerous to their goals as driving is to Cade's life. That does not stop them.

*** Though this is a very lightweight romance, quickly read, it does offer insight into a new world for some of us. Why Isabel and Cade are so off-limits to each other is not readily apparent, but this is a good way to spend an afternoon. ***

Amanda Killgore

Isabel is PR executive and Cade is driver and the rules say they can't date. They try to ignore the chemistry and protect their jobs - but that doesn't work. A nice sweet romance with a NASCAR theme.

Racing car driver Cade Garrison has spent his entire life feeling like an under-achieving loser as he believes that he always failed to reach the bar of excellence set by his racing car family. He especially detests the glowing accolades about hi successful older brother even as he knows deep down inside his gut he also loathes the comparisons to his grandfather and father.

When he meets senior public relations specialist Isabel Turner, they are immediately attracted to one another and spend a glorious night together. However, she works for a rival team and feels it is inappropriate to sleep with the enemy. Besides if caught she would be fired, which would bring shame to her PR family. Cade disagrees as he decides to be himself rather than try to live up to the family expectations for he plans to win the race for her heart.

NO HOLDING BACK is an interesting NASCAR romance in which insight into the racing world from an insider perspective serves as the prime story line. Fans will get inside the heads of a female PR guru, a third generation participant, and several drivers. The romance in some ways takes a back seat to the thrills of the race, as Liz Allison & Wendy Etherington drive readers around the track.

Harriet Klausner

I travel quite a bit and use the Road Atlas to find all my destinations - it is very clear and easy to read. I plan to give one to my mother-in-law for the holidays - She'll love the fact that it has all the national park web-sites listed.

The track maps are fun to check out - gives you a better idea of where the track is located in each race city. And the NASCAR trivia kept us busy for a long car ride. We'll also take advantage of the state parks website listings.

I am 55 years old and I travel to at least 5 NASCAR races per year. I purchased this atlas because I can find the tracks much easier and and I use the seating diagrams of the tracks to order tickets. I will be ordering the 2002 atlas when it comes out so I can get the 2002 racing information.

The idea of having a NASCAR atlas to help people find race tracks along with seating diagrams of race tracks is a good idea. There've been sports atlases in the past designed to help people find stadiums.

However, this atlas suffers from a few problems. First, the instructions for finding the tracks aren't very good. Usually there'll be a regional cut-out with an arrow pointing out an unmarked spot in a general ara. If the maps can't be specific then text instructions would be helpful. They could cut and paste from the text instructions in the 2001 Nascar press guide.

Secondly, this is by far the poorest atlas of its format on the market. Any other large format road atlas -- National Geographic, American Map Corporation, and Rand McNally are all signficantly superior. While you can say a state map is a state map, it's hard to know what counts as a major attraction. In this atlas, you can't find the Hoover Dam, because it's nonexistent.

It's almost impossible to find anything from the metropolitan maps. No attention's been paid to what areas most people would want to see within a downtown area. The map of Honolulu is ridiculous -- it's features lots of unidentified lines going all over the place -- if a line's not identified it shouldn't be included. There are some very basic tenets of maps that the creators of this atlas haven't taken into consideration.

If NASCAR wants to continue with this, they would be better off trying to partner with an atlas company that has a better product. This atlas by The Lawrence Group is in need of such a major overhaul/makeover that I'd be astounded if many people gave the 2002 version a second chance.

This is a pretty good book, but not if you're expecting stories from the current era of NASCAR stars, for example, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Most of the stories relate to the older stars, and that's fine, but considering the cover art and the lead in for the title, I expected a little more of the "new" and a lilttle less of the "old" stories.

Like NASCAR? You'll love this book. I bought 2 of them for gifts. The recipients started thumbing through the books immediately. Great stories from NASCAR people.

A fun read for all NASCAR fans! We definitely recommend it for non-serious reading!!

For Nascar fans like me Poole takes us behind the scenes and gives us some idea of what the drivers are like. Beware that the stories arent all comical or anything like that. But if you're into racing, it provides a depth that humanizes the drivers, warts included.

You know what?

There has to be more stories than just here. Mr Poole oughtta hurry up and write a sequel.

I was slightly disappointed by the author's coverage of one of the most interesting trends of the Sixties: 'Universal' stock cars based on specialized racing parts. The Galaxie-derived "Fairlane" stock cars were the beginning of the transition from standard frames. I wanted to read more about this (and perhaps about the generic Ford-based "GM" stock cars of the Seventies).

I severely mark down the rating of this book because of numerous factual errors in peripheral information. There are many errors in information that isn't directly related to the technical facts (for example, the introduction and early years of the Mercury Comet). The closer the material comes to the core subject, the more closely it matches what I remember from other sources. As a guess, I think that the author carefully researched the Nascar-specific technology and wrote the rest (such as industry trends) without such careful research. However, the general inaccuracies of the readily available peripheral information make it impossible to consider this book a generally reliable resource.

There's a surprising amount of information about stock drag racing cars. Not a problem, but not exactly what I expected.

excellent pictures of 60's and 70's cars and engines. really brings you back to a time when cars were cars.

This book is a MUST! Why? Because besides giving you TONS of GREAT COLOR & B&W shots of the rise and development of NASCAR from the end of the 1950s, to the early 1970s, with full-detail shots of motors, frames, all the "star" drivers, and legendary "tuners" over the years, along with absorbing data to read, the book also includes shots, by year, of some of the well-known Super Stock drag cars, and... good shots of just assembly line passenger cars, by year, so model builders who like to do "factory stock" replica models, will have good reference material. So much of accurate scale model building is reliant on GOOD REFERENCE books/photos, & this book should well be in any SERIOUS Vintage Nascar builder's collection. Extremely HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Well worth the money, and an absorbing read.