The history of auto racing is chock-full of famous moments, with big-name drivers like Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon. The histories of the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 races are rich with legendary drivers, family dynasties, rivalries, and tragedies. Fans of this sport are truly loyal and fanatical, and readers will eat up all the descriptions of nail-biting moments of tension. Packed with facts and action, this is a book young NASCAR fans will reach for again and again -- and because it comes from Matt Christopher, young readers know they're getting the best sports writing on the shelf.
With its insider's look into the world of auto racing, My Greatest Day in NASCAR is a must-have for all racing fans. Here are the words of Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, and many others--all talking about their greatest racing moments. For the first time ever, Bob McCullough has brought together a first-person account of the most exciting races, personal achievements, and events for the last 50 years. Fans get to read both an oral history of racing and a moving tribute to the efforts and achievements of the sports stars as well as the behind-the-scenes people who help make racing what it is today.
Based on interviews with the NASCAR drivers, car owners, crew chiefs, mechanics, and engine builders, provides a look at the auto race circuit from fuel to lug nuts.
NASCAR is one of the most popular sports in the country. And with the speed, excitement, and drama involved, its no wonder. Dynamic and engaging, Great Moments in NASCAR Racing highlights some of the sports significant moments, explaining where and when they took place, the drivers involved, and the impact these events had on the drivers, as well as on the sport itself.
International auto racing is by far one of today's most exciting spectator sports. The element of chance, of upset victories despite odds-on favorites, and of countless other factors that contribute to the excitement and uncertainty are swelling attendance gates at these races annually. Here, for young car-racing buffs, is the story of this intriguing sport form its earliest beginnings to the present. Included are dramatic stories of some of the most unforgettable races: Grand Prix, Le Mans, Targa Floria, Taunus and others, and of the fearless drivers who participated. Described are the cars used, and new designs that came into being: Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Opel and Ford, to name some. Of special interest to young readers will be the chapter on drivers' schools: what they learn; how they live; signals and rules; tests; stunts and racing terms; how much they earn. They will also learn how cars used in these races have contributed to the safety and efficiency of current models.
As soon as there were automobiles, there was racing. The first recorded race, an over road event from Paris to Rouen, France, was organized by the French newspaper Le Petit Journal in 1894. Seeing an opportunity for a similar event, Hermann H. Kohlsaat--publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald--sponsored what was hailed as the "Race of the Century," a 54-mile race from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois, and back. Frank Duryea won in a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes, of which 7 hours and 53 minutes were actually spent on the road. Race cars and competition have progressed continuously since that time, and today's 200 mph races bear little resemblance to the event Duryea won. This work traces American auto racing through the 20th century, covering its significant milestones, developments and personalities. Subjects included are: Bill Elliott, dirt track racing, board track racing, Henry Ford, Grand Prix races, Dale Earnhardt, the Vanderbilt Cup, Bill France, Gordon Bennett, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mercer, the Stutz, Duesenberg, Frank Lockhart, drag racing, the Trans Am, Paul Newman, vintage racing, land speed records, Al Unser, Wilbur Shaw, the Corvette, the Cobra, Richard Petty, NASCAR, Can Am, Mickey Thompson, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Formula One. Through interviews with participants and track records, this text shows where, when and how racing changed. It describes the growth of each different form of auto racing as well as the people and technologies that made it ever faster.
Truck racing has some of the biggest, most powerful racing machines on the planet, but what happens when drivers lose control? Learn the details on some of the most intense moments in Truck racing.
Soon after the first automobiles were introduced in the United States, auto racing became a reality. Since that time, motorsports have expanded to include drag racing, open wheel racing, rallying, demolition derbies, stock car racing, and more. Motorsports have grown to such an extent that NASCAR is now the second most watched professional sport in America, behind only football. But motorsports are about much more than going fast and finishing first. These events also reflect our culture, our society, our values, and our history. In Motorsports and American Culture: From Demolition Derbies to NASCAR, Mark D. Howell and John D. Miller bring together essays that examine the relevancy of motorsports to American culture and history, from the late nineteenth century to the present. Addressing a wide spectrum of motorsports—such as stock car racing, demolition derbies, land speed record pursuits, and even staged train wrecks—the essays highlight the social and cultural implications of contemporary and historical moments in these sports. Topics covered include gender roles in motorsports, hot rods and the creation of fan and participant identities, the appeal of demolition derbies, the globalization of motorsports, the role of moonshine in stock car history, the economic relationship between NASCAR and its corporate sponsors, and more. Offering the most thorough study of motorsports to date from a diverse pool of disciplines and subjects, Motorsports and American Culture will appeal to motorsports and automobile enthusiasts, as well as those interested in American history, popular culture, sports history, and gender studies.
