- Chicken Soup for the Soul Adds NASCAR to Its Team: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, the publisher of one of the best-selling book series ever, and NASCAR, sanctioning body for one of the most prominent spectator sports in the United States, have finalized the terms of a collaboration to create a new edition to the best-selling series: Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR. The book will be co-authored by Cathy Elliott, a weekly syndicated columnist covering NASCAR. The new relationship was finalized just before the Daytona 500 and is the second partnership for these storied brands, which enjoy two of the most loyal fan bases in the world.
"NASCAR is thrilled to be working with a leading brand like Chicken Soup for the Soul that is both timely and growing," said Blake Davidson, managing director of licensed products for NASCAR. "We are fortunate to have the best fans in the sporting world and this book will be a fitting tribute to the many ways our sport inspires our fans and drivers." Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR will compile 101 short stories about the enthusiasm, vision and passion that this sport inspires from drivers and their families, celebrities, fans and NASCAR legends. For more information, visit www.chickensoup.com.(Chicken Soup for the Soul site)(4-5-2009)
- NASCAR Pit Crew Coach Wayne DeLoriea Releases Motivational Book, Coach Without A Whistle: Wayne DeLoriea, former Roush-Fenway Racing pit crew coach and winner of two Pit Crew Championships, has released his first book, a motivational outline entitled Coach Without A Whistle…A Coffee Cup Approach To Management. Wayne DeLoriea is one of the most successful coaches in NASCAR, bringing firsthand knowledge of what it is to put championship teams together. DeLoriea has had a diverse career, including his celebrated work with severely and profoundly handicapped children and their families, work for the Administrative Office of the Courts of North Carolina, gym co-owner, personal trainer, motivational speaker, and Christian counselor. After being promoted to Master Fitness Trainer, he was approached by a NASCAR pit crew and was asked for training advice, and ultimately, pit crew coaching. After 67 trips to Victory Lane and 2 Pit Crew Championships, Coach DeLoriea has demonstrated a propensity to win. Released in January by Xulon Press, Coach Without A Whistle presents a spiritual, psychological, and physical approach to effective management by first teaching how to manage oneself. By offering a low-key, high response method, DeLoriea's book instructs how to get the most out of yourself and others, a process equally relevant to success as a corporate manager, or a coach, parent, friend, or spouse. Coach Without A Whistle can be purchased at Amazon.com, as well as from retailers Barnes & Noble and BOOKS-A-MILLION. Wayne DeLoriea will be making personal appearances at bookstores in support of the book's release, details for which can be found on his website, www.deloriea.com.(4-5-2009)
- Daytona 500 heroes meet SI Swimsuit Issue models This weekend's Fabulous February cover story brings together two American institutions — NASCAR and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition — for the first time. For our exclusive cover story, photo shoot and inside-the-magazine poster, we invited three of NASCAR's biggest name drivers — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. — and two top swimsuit models — Brooklyn Decker and Julie Henderson — to pose for famed SI photographer Walter Iooss Jr. at the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Concord, N.C. (Find out what newspaper near you carries USA WEEKEND with this list.) Check out a slideshow of photos from the shoot taken by our senior photo editor, David Baratz, and click read more below for some on-set scoop from senior writer Dennis McCafferty. You'll also find a time-lapse video that shows you how many people it really takes to make a photo shoot successful. More info at usaweekend.com.(2-13-2009)
- New book about Overated/Underated in NASCAR: ESPN.com writer Terry Blount gives kudos to Texas Motor Speedway and Eddie Gossage in his new book, “The Blount Report: NASCAR’s Most Overrated and Underrated Drivers, Cars, Teams, and Tracks” with the venue being named the most underrated and Gossage being named among the top five leaders in NASCAR today. In the book, Blount sorts out the issues that have long been debated by NASCAR fans and the community itself and boldly selects the overrated and underrated among drivers, cars, teams and tracks. Blount lists Texas Motor Speedway as NASCAR’s most underrated speedway, discussing the struggles Gossage and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith experienced in the early years of the facility.(2-10-2009)
- 23rd Anniversary of The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide: The Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide 2009 marks the magazine's 23rd year of being the Official record of NASCAR. With unmatched quality, insightfully written features and unique format, there is no question why for over 22 years the Press Guide has been THE magazine of choice for true NASCAR fans and industry professionals alike! The 2009 Press Guide waves the green flag on the beginning of this year's racing action, providing the most accurate and valued resource of information on NASCAR. The Press Guide is available on newsstands or can be ordered directly from UMI at 800-747-9287 or www.umibooks.com.(2-10-2009)
- Speedway Illustrated Sold: Anthem Media Group (AMG), announced that the firm has acquired one of the nation's most prominent and largest circulation motorsports magazines, Dick Berggren's Speedway Illustrated, and related assets including SEMA Show Daily relationship, NASCAR Insider, Speedway Expo and SpeedwayIllustrated.com.
"As publishers of media products, including guest guides, souvenir programs and web content for nearly every major motorsports facility in America, we have an intimate knowledge of the industry and what advertisers, sponsors and marketing partners look for," said Tom Pokorny, President of Anthem's Motorsports division. "Speedway Illustrated has a long-standing reputation of being a quality product and we're excited to have it in our family of publications."
"Speedway Illustrated has an incredibly solid history of financial performance and the team is one of the best in the business," said Brian Weaver, CEO of Anthem Media Group. "The magazine has the strongest ABC audit in the category and is a great complement to Anthem's other motorsports assets. Of course having Dick Berggren on board is a tremendous asset to any organization. Dick will continue on as Executive Editor of the magazine and will have an enhanced role with our other assets as well."
"We're thrilled to become a part of the Anthem Family," said Berggren. "Speedway Illustrated has been a success because our staff has a passion for motorsports and a tremendous dedication to our audience. Anthem's track record with motorsports-oriented publishing shows we're cut from the same cloth."(PRNewswire)(2-4-2009)
- Official NASCAR Magazine hits stands Feb 9th: A.E. Engine, a publishing and marketing services company, has released the Daytona 500 edition of NASCAR Pole Position, an officially licensed NASCAR magazine. The 88-page, newsstand-quality magazine, now in its fifth year, is available free in the greater Daytona Beach area from distributors such as Wal-Mart and CVS. The Daytona magazine marks the first of 36 editions that will be published in 2009. The magazine, whose Daytona cover features Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, will be published in all 36 race markets in 2009. Each issue features content from respected NASCAR writers and photographers. The magazine includes profiles of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ top drivers, trivia, games for kids and plenty of photography. In the next two weeks, A.E. Engine will release the California and Las Vegas editions of Pole Position in those respective race markets. For collectors and out-of-market fans, editions are available for purchase at the magazine’s web site, www.freeracemag.com. More information, including digital editions, can be found at www.freeracemag.com.(2-3-2009)
- Pit Stop in a Southern Kitchen: Two Moms of Racing Legends Serve Up Stories and Recipes: A new hard-cover cookbook, Pit Stop in a Southern Kitchen: Two Moms of Racing Legends Serve Up Stories and Recipes, is scheduled to be released the first week in February, just prior to the Daytona 500. Authors are Martha Earnhardt and Carol Gordon Bickford. Martha is the widow of Ralph Earnhardt, mother of the late Dale Earnhardt and grandmother of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Carol is the mother of four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and is married to John Bickford, who serves as Jeff’s business manager. Martha and Carol plan signings at booksellers in select cities, and both also are slated to make appearances on several national cooking and talk shows. Jeff and Dale Jr. have written forewords in the 224-page book, which also features two 8-page inserts of color photographs of the authors and their families.
Martha is from North Carolina, and racing has been a mainstay in her life since she married Ralph, who was named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers of all time. Her son Dale achieved seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, tied only with Richard Petty for most championships. Martha’s Grandson, Dale Jr., still races competitively against teammate Jeff Gordon.
Carol is from Northern California and racing has also prevailed in her life. When Jeff was four-years-old and racing BMX bikes, Carol determined that BMX was too dangerous, so she and John bought both Jeff and his sister Kimberly go- karts. Carol raced her children in their backyard and it was not long after that Jeff began racing competitively. She and John moved their family to Indiana, the only state where Jeff could race professionally without a driver’s license at age 13. They moved to North Carolina in the early nineties when Jeff rose to the NASCAR ranks.
Each recipe in the cookbook is designated by an “M” (for Martha) or a “C” (for Carol). In an excerpt, the two ladies say, “The recipes in this cookbook are from our childhood kitchens, our friends, our kids and our kids’ friends.” Martha’s recipes tend to be more Southern oriented while Carol’s lean more toward California cuisine. Both, however, have traditional recipes. For instance, Carol’s best dish as far as Jeff is concerned is her lasagna. “Nobody makes lasagna like my mom,” Jeff said. “She claims it’s her secret ingredient. I wouldn’t know about that. What I can tell you is, it’s great.” (The secret ingredient, by the way, is revealed in the cookbook.) Dale Jr. refers to Martha as Mamaw and says, “I don’t get to see Mamaw as often as I’d like because things are busy and I’m gone so much. But I know she’s always pulling for me on Sundays. So it’s cool that now I get to pull for her and see people come to appreciate her more when they read the stories in this book. I think she’s awesome, and I know you’ll think so too.” The cookbook is published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in Grand Rapids, Mich. More info and to order the book, go to revellbooks.com.(1-27-2009)
- Richard Petty releasing audio book: NASCAR's King has spoken. Richard Petty is releasing an audiobook to coincide with the 25th anniversary of his record 200th career victory. Stock car racing "is a very popular sport, but every year that goes by, we leave a little bit of our past behind," Petty said. He added that the audiobook "will help bring our colorful past into public consciousness. This is not just about Richard Petty or Petty Enterprises. This is about the history of a great sport." The four-hour, four-disc series is titled "Richard Petty's Audio Scrapbook." On it, Petty is joined by longtime racing announcer Barney Hall, former crew chief Dale Inman and drivers Junior Johnson, David Pearson and Bobby Allison. His audiobook is scheduled for release in February during the week of the Daytona 500, a race he won seven times. Petty claimed victory #200 at one of the other major annual events at Daytona International Speedway, the Firecracker 400 in July 1984.(Associated Press / Charlotte Observer)(12-26-2008) Comment here
- NASCAR Kart Racing: Five things you need to know: Mario Kart meets Jimmie Johnson. That's the simplest way to breakdown EA Sports' sudden shift in direction for its NASCAR series. Produced exclusively for the Wii (and now under the Freestyle brand), NASCAR Kart Racing looks to combine the arcade-nature of power-ups and tracks that do more than turn left with actual NASCAR strategy like teamwork and drafting. "The Wii is the number one console in North America, and when you look at the Wii audience, they're not the traditional hard-core gamers," explains Ryan Stradling, the game's Senior Development Director and the founder of EA North Carolina. "The Wii really appeals to the whole family and we want to take the NASCAR series in that direction, so that the whole family could play together and have that living room experience". So what should you expect? How about Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart dropping oil slicks behind them as they race for first, the Dover monster starring as an actual monster on the track, and teammates who are able to work together to slingshot one another to first place. See more at ESPN Video Games.(12-4-2008)
- He was called “The Intimidator,” “The Man in Black,” and “Mr. Restrictor Plate.” He was a champion, a mentor, a hero, and a true American icon who was perhaps the greatest driver of all time -- Dale Earnhardt -- and the mention of his name provokes powerful emotions in race fans around the world. On October 28, A&E Home Video and NASCAR Media Group will unveil DALE EARNHARDT 10 GREATEST WINS ($39.95srp), a commemorative souvenir that provides both a tribute to the icon’s competitive fire and a showcase that displays the essence of a hard-driving, world-class champion. Featuring the most memorable wins of the driver that defined NASCAR and etched his place in history, this unprecedented 5-disc collector’s set is a must-have for any racing fan.
Across 10 classic races, celebrate the man in the bucket seat, from his first very first checkered flag behind the wheel of his legendary black #3 Chevrolet, through his final victory -- with some historic, mind-bending, memory-making, heart-pounding races in between! Buckle up and let ‘em rip! The 10 featured races in this collection, include:
1) 1984 Talladega 500, Talladega Superspeedway, First win driving #3
2) 1987 The Winston, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Fearless? Innovative? The Pass in the Grass
3) 1989 Southern 500, Darlington Raceway, Victory over Darrell Waltrip; Ralph Earnhardt was inducted into the Darlington Hall of Fame the Thursday before the race
4) 1993 Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1st race to finish under the lights; 2 penalties, lap down, victory over Jeff Gordon
5) 1995 Busch Clash, Daytona International Speedway, Sixth and final Clash victory for Dale Earnhardt
6) 1995 Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Earnhardt enters the victory lane of this world-renowned track
7) 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300, Sears Point Raceway, First and only road course win
8) 1998 Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, Finally! After 20 years on the legendary track, Dale takes the flag and his first Daytona
9) 2000 Cracker Barrel 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Guts and Glory – a photo-finish victory over Bobby Labonte
10) 2000 Winston 500, Talladega Superspeedway, Driving hard, he moved from 18th to 1st over the final three laps to capture his final victory
When #3 took to the track, fans stood, cheered and watched his every move. This definitive piece of memorabilia, from arguably one of racing’s greatest and most beloved champions, will help keep Earnhardt’s memory alive for future generations of racing fans.
Bonus feature: Exclusive footage of Dale and his father Ralph’s induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. To roder the DVD and more info at shop.aetv.com.(10-29-2008)
- “Hard Driving,” the first-ever biography of racer Wendell Scott, has been published by Steerforth Press and is receiving highly favorable reviews. The book’s web site is www.harddriving.us. This is the dramatic story of one man’s dogged determination to live the life he loved, and to compete, despite daunting obstacles, at the highest level of his sport.
Wendell Scott figured he was signing up for trouble when he became NASCAR’s first black driver in the segregated 1950s. Some speedways refused to let him race. “Go home, nigger,” some spectators yelled. After a bigoted promoter refused to pay him, Scott appealed directly to the sport’s founder, NASCAR czar Bill France Sr.
France made a promise Scott would never forget — that NASCAR would never treat him with prejudice. For the next two decades, Scott chased a dream whose fulfillment depended on France backing up that promise.
Persevering through crashes, health problems, and money troubles, Scott remained convinced he had the talent to become one of NASCAR’s best. “Hard Driving” documents a previously untold chapter in the history of integration, politics, and sports in America. The book reveals how France reneged on his pledge and allowed repeated discrimination against Scott by NASCAR officials and other powerful figures. The book details France’s alliances with leading segregationist politicians, such as George Wallace; the reluctance of auto executives, such as Lee Iacocca, to sponsor a black driver; and the inspiring support Scott received from white drivers, such as NASCAR champions Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty, who admired his skill and tenacity.
All the reviews of "Hard Driving" have been favorable. Detroit Free Press: “Both a history and a sports classic.” Toronto Star: “A wonderful story about a really interesting guy.” The Los Angeles Times said the book’s “carefully documented” new evidence of NASCAR’s discriminatory treatment of Wendell Scott “presents the organization with a delicate public relations problem” about “its history of racism.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “A serious indictment of Bill France, the founder of NASCAR.” Bristol Herald Courier: “One of the greatest untold stories in American sports…certain to create waves and generate discussion.” Booklist: “One of the most compelling sports biographies of this or any year.”
The author, Brian Donovan, a former Newsday investigative reporter, won more than forty journalism awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. An amateur racer on the EMRA Vanderbilt Cup circuit, he has won dozens of races from Canada to West Virginia, as well as two championships. He gained exclusive access to Wendell Scott over the last fourteen months of his life and interviewed more than two hundred individuals to capture this epic, previously untold American story. He lives on Long Island.(10-10-2008)
- Dale Jr. fans can be part of a book: We all know that Dale Jr. has influenced millions of people both on and off the track. Now is the chance for Jr. fans to express what Jr. means to them. As a way of honoring Dale Jr., Dr. Ray Schneider and colleague Dr. Keith Christy are collecting letters from his fans for a book titled, "Dear Jr." This book, which will be published in early 2010, will consist of letters from fans addressed to Dale Jr.
All Dale Jr. fans are welcome to write a letter or note that expresses something about Dale Jr. that comes to their mind for possible inclusion in the book. What fans write about in their letter is up to them: a note of thanks; a story of inspiration; a funny anecdote; a mention of what the fan most admire; some words or adjectives to describe him; or some interesting aspect about him or his career. Whether the fan send their communication on letterhead or a piece of blank piece of paper is up to them. Although fans should mail their letter to us, PLEASE WRITE THE LETTER AS IF THE FAN WERE WRITING TO JR (so start the letter Dear Jr.). If fans would like to send a photo of the fan and Dale Jr. for possible inclusion in the book, feel free to do so. Please include a separate note that states the fan to allow Dr. Ray Schneider and colleague Dr. Keith Christy to publish the photo.
Please note that Dr. Ray Schneider and colleague Dr. Keith Christy are in no way associated with Dale Jr. and he will not receive the letters. However, they do plan on presenting a copy of the published book to Dale Jr. at the 2010 Daytona 500. They are just Sport Management Professors who are fans of Jr. Once the book is published, Dr. Ray Schneider and colleague Dr. Keith Christy plan to donate all proceeds to the Dale Jr. Foundation. It is their hope that through this book the world will see the combined letters and gain a better understanding of why Dale Jr. is constantly the most popular driver in NASCAR and has the most loyal fans in all of sport.
All Dale Jr. fans are welcome to send letters/photos for possible inclusion in the book to:
Dr. Ray Schneider
Sport Management Program
227 Eppler Center
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403.(10-10-2008)
- 1981 Daytona 500 DVD Released: The complete, unedited broadcast of the 1981 Daytona 500 was recently released by Owensboro, Ky.-based TeamMarketing Sports DVDs, joining a number of other complete classic race broadcasts in the company's catalog. Bobby Allison's controversial Pontiac LeMans was dominant throughout most of the 1981 Daytona 500, starting from the pole and leading a total of 117 laps. On the last set of pit stops, however, a gutsy call for fuel only by crew chief Dale Inman gave Richard Petty a lead he would keep for the rest of the afternoon. It would be Petty's record-setting seventh and final Daytona 500 win. Ironically, Inman left Petty Enterprises just two days after the race to join an up-and-coming star on the NASCAR horizon - Dale Earnhardt. Also available is Daytona 500 - 50 Years, a five-disc set containing a total of six hours of highlights from every Daytona 500 to date. The incredible project contains plenty of material that even the most avid of fans have never seen. TeamMarketing is a division of WaxWorks, one of the largest home entertainment distributors in the country. For more information on TeamMarketing's NASCAR and NCAA releases, call (866) 996-8326 or visit the company's Website, www.teammarketingdvd.com.(TeamMarketing PR)(7-10-2008)
- New Pocono Raceway Book: Pocono Raceway announced the release of "Pocono Raceway", a publication by author, Gene A. Card. The "Pocono Raceway" book is a collection of photographs from various sources, including Pocono Raceway's archives, producing a pictorial history chronicling the raceway. The "Pocono Raceway" publication promises to bring back fond memories to the long time Pocono fans that have attended events at the track since its early years while also giving new fans an insight to the past history of the legendary raceway. The book will peak the interest of not only stock car racing fans, but also modified, motorcycle, and Indy Car fans as well.
The "Pocono Raceway" book is available at www.poconoraceway.com and www.shop-poconoraceway.com, as well as other fine book sellers. "Pocono Raceway" author, Gene A. Card, will be signing copies of the book the morning of the Pocono 500 on June 8, 2008 at the Pocono Raceway Souvenir Trailer located in the Fan Fair Area behind the grandstands near Gate 10. All fans in attendance are welcome to stop by to have their copy signed.(Pocono Raceway PR), I got a copy of this book and it is great, I was at Pocono in the early 1970's and 1991 and enjoyed it.(5-21-2008)
- Celebrate Lancaster Speedway’s 50th anniversary in 2008 with John Bisci’s LANCASTER HEROES pictorial. Relive the golden era of asphalt Modified racing at historic Lancaster Speedway near Buffalo, N.Y., from 1966-1976. In its heyday, Lancaster Speedway played host to some of the biggest names and events in Modified racing. LANCASTER HEROES is a full-sized soft-cover book (8.5x11 inches), with 128 pages and 452 black-and-white photos. (Photos by Gordon Reinig, statistics by Mark Southcott.) The first printing sold out almost immediately and only limited quantities from the second press run remain. When they are sold out, they are gone forever.
Drivers, personalities and attractions included in the book: Richie Evans, Jackie Soper (Lancaster’s first feature winner), Dutch Hoag, Roger Treichler, Geoff Bodine, Bill Rafter, Merv Treichler, Don Diffendorf, Maynard Troyer, Jean-Guy Chartrand, Bob Santos, Ray Hendrick, Lee Osborne, Jerry Cook, Chuck Boos, Lou Lazzaro, Jim Shampine, Bill Bitterman, Ted Renshaw, Jim Rudolph, beloved promoter Ed Serwacki, Buffalo’s Civic Stadium, Cam Gagliardi, the Astro-Spiral Car, Ron Lux, Sonny Barron, Bill Brainard, Ron Martin, Bryan Osgood, Gary Iulg, Jim Howard, Jim McGraw, Ross Holmes, Bobby Hudson, Frankie "$8" Smith, Mike Loescher, Leo Lewandowski, Sege Fidanza, Satch Worley, Late Models, Mini-Stocks, TQ Midgets and drag racing on the 1/8-mile strip. Includes seven pages of detailed stats (wins, championships) and an original Bruce Roll cartoon! For more, see lancasterheroes.com.(5-10-2008)
- Bridge-Logos Publishers & The Jamie McMurray Foundation Team Up to Fight Autism Bridge-Logos Publishers has partnered with Brad Henry, author of Destination—The Winner’s Circle, and NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray to raise money and awareness of autism. Brad Henry and Jamie McMurray have at least two things in common—autism and NASCAR. Brad‘s eight-year-old son, Chase, and Jamie‘s niece are both autistic. This is why a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book are being donated to the Jamie McMurray Foundation. Destination—The Winner’s Circle is a series of devotions for anyone who is searching for the meaning of life, pain, trials, and success. Based on Henry‘s racing experience in college as a runner and his current work with NASCAR, Henry will guide you through =every leg of life‘s race,‘ opening the way to ultimate victory, through Christ Jesus, in every aspect of your life. More info at bridgelogos.com.(5-4-2008)
- New Book, Portraits of NASCAR: They may leave us in the dust week-after-week by zooming around the track at unbelievable speeds, but when it comes down to it NASCAR drivers are just like the rest of us. In Portraits of NASCAR by Anita Rich and Robin Dallenbach (Foreword by Casey Mears) fans will have the opportunity to see through the dust and catch a rare glimpse inside the personal lives of their favorite drivers and owners. These stunning black and white photographs capture the homes, lives, families and hobbies of our NASCAR heroes away from the track. You'll see photos of:
" Tony Stewart displaying his need for speed in his free time while on his motorcycle
" Richard Childress exhibiting his other pleasure in life - Childress Vineyards
" Michael Waltrip providing coaching tips to his daughter about her golf game
" Dale Earnhardt Jr. shooting a ball into the corner pocket during a game of pool
" Rusty Wallace gearing up to fly his plane - another passion in his life
Licensed by NASCAR and part of the NASCAR Library Collection, Portraits of NASCAR slows down the pace and provides a first-hand look at how drivers go about their everyday lives and interact with their families on a regular basis as devoted fathers, husbands, and friends. Fans will finally see the drivers in a different setting away from the world that is NASCAR. More info at Portraits of NASCAR.(4-2-2008)
- New Book on a Motorsports Pioneer: Few fans of auto racing might know the name Ed Otto. However, it is safe to say the sport would be a very different place if it were not for the cigar-chewing, super-promoter from New Jersey. Now, through detailed research, interviews and personal memories, Ed Otto's son Edgar and co-writer Joann Biondi
introduce this little known motorsports leader in Ed Otto, NASCAR's Silent Partner. In exploring Otto's professional life, Ed Otto, NASCAR's Silent Partner surveys the explosive years of auto racing from the 1930s through the 1970s, a time that set the stage for the phenomenal growth which NASCAR enjoys today.
Otto was a true pioneer of auto racing, bringing some of the greatest innovations the sport has ever known. The dapper promoter, whose hallmark greeting was "Hello, Sucker", was the first to utilize television to broadcast races, the first to incorporate airplanes to transport race cars from one event to another and he encouraged the use of shoulder harnesses in race cars. However, it is possible that his greatest mark was left on NASCAR. As one of the few "outsiders" to be invited into NASCAR's inner-circle, Otto joined the stock car racing organization's original owners group as a silent partner with a 20 percent stake in 1949. In 1954 that share grew to 40 percent making him an equal partner with Bill France, Sr. Otto held that role until leaving NASCAR in 1963.
Among his many accomplishments with NASCAR, Otto was the first to take the organization "national", out of its traditional Southern roots. He was the first to promote a NASCAR race out of the country (July 1, 1952 at Stamford Park, Niagara Falls, Canada) and the first to promote a NASCAR race with foreign cars (Langhorne (PA) Speedway, July 21, 1953). Otto promoted NASCAR's first road racing event which was held on a temporary course laid out at the Linden (N.J.) Airport (June 13, 1954) and its longest race, a 12 hour endurance event also on the Linden course (August 22, 1954). He promoted "The King" Richard Petty's first Cup race in 1958 and NASCAR's first visit to Watkins Glen. The underappreciated legend also sat side-by-side with "Big Bill" France 50 years ago this month when a neck-to-neck finish demanded the two partners determine the first winner of the Daytona 500 in 1959.
Ed Otto, NASCAR's Silent Partner is available for purchase at www.Coastal181.com.(4-2-2008)
- Dale Jr. featured on ESPN The Magazine cover Five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is among a select group of professional sports stars featured on unique covers for ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary issue, released this week. The double-sided special edition features 10 covers, five on each side and in random order. The front half highlights athletes who have dominated their respective sport in the last 10 years -- baseball's Ichiro Suzuki, NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson, pro basketball player Tim Duncan, tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, and professional snowboarder Shaun White. The flip side is devoted to athletes believed to shine over the next 10 years -- Earnhardt Jr., pro basketball player LeBron James, hockey star Sidney Crosby, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and NFL quarterback Vince Young. Earnhardt Jr.'s cover was shot by photographer Matt Jones, who shows the driver not in typical NASCAR attire but in a single-breasted Armani suit and tie. This marks the third time Earnhardt Jr. has appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. He and Matt Kenseth shared the cover for the 1999 NASCAR Preview, and he alone was the subject of a cover story in the Feb. 18, 2002 edition. "It was a real honor to be included in this 10th anniversary project for ESPN The Magazine," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It's humbling to be among athletes of this caliber. I hope ESPN is correct in that we can generate a few headlines in the next 10 years. I feel like we can." In addition to the 10 covers, each athlete was photographed in settings of special meaning or personal significance for the inside pages. In homage to the history of NASCAR and his racing roots, Earnhardt Jr. took ESPN The Magazine to his vintage gas station in Mooresville, N.C., where photographer Sarah Friedman shot Earnhardt Jr. and his 1972 Camaro. "I have a great appreciation for the history of NASCAR where I grew up in Kannapolis," Earnhardt Jr. said. "This old-school gas station reminds me of that town, where the old cotton mill was the big industry. It's all torn down now, and I'm real nostalgic for it." ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary edition is on newsstands now. Fans can also log on to www.espnthemag.com for behind-the-scenes footage of each athlete at their respective photo shoots, as well as prominent feature articles that have appeared in the magazine during its first 10 years of publication.(HMS PR)(3-20-2008)
- Daytona 500: 50 Years of The Great American Race DVD Set available: the much-anticipated release of the Daytona 500: 50 Years of The Great American Race DVD SET is now available for pre-order online. The sets should begin shipping exclusively from A&E on February 26th. To celebrate the DVD release, A&E is offer 25% off the set to anyone who pre-order by February 26th. More info at store.aetv.com. Specifics on the sets: To celebrate this legendary race - and its historic Golden Anniversary - NASCAR has created a simply fantastic DVD set to help you relive the drama and excitement of Newman's victorious effort. With the exclusive My Race technology, you choose how you watch Daytona. Whether riding shotgun with Newman, in the cars of any one of five of his competitors, or from above with the official broadcast feed, you will never experience a race like this! And you can switch views and audio whenever you like!
* Choose from 5 different drivers' in-car views and 6 audio channels.
* Join the action leading to Ryan Newman's stunning victory in the '08 Daytona 500!
* Watch the 52-minute broadcast highlight feed or ride shotgun with the best drivers in the sport!
* You control the experience with your remote and the My Race Onscreen Dashboard
* Plus, as an added bonus, this set includes a second DVD loaded with two exclusive NASCAR programs celebrating the legacy and importance of the Daytona 500.
* A Sports Century features a roundtable discussion with NASCAR greats like Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon recalling the moments and personalities that defined Daytona.
* And The Top 50 Daytona 500 Moments is the definitive history of NASCAR's greatest event.
(A&E Television Networks PR)(2-22-2008)
- NASCAR / Driver Calenders? see calendars.com.(1-13-2008)
- New NASCAR Comic Book by Mike Smith: America's fastest-growing spectator sport departs from the asphalt and heads to the funny pages with Mike Smith's comic creation StockcarToons. Boasting a fan base as diverse as Bill Clinton and the Vatican--who have each asked for originals of his work--Smith tackles NASCAR governance issues, race-car rivalries, corporate sponsorships, and other essential particulars on the minds of NASCAR fans with the keen eye of a well-seasoned editorial cartoonist. Equally adept at addressing the mechanics of the sport as he is addressing those under the hood, Smith has proven himself not only to NASCAR fans, but to a host of professional drivers, pit crew members, and sportscasters who laud his work. This StockcarToons gift collection features color in addition to Smith's standard black-and-white published panels. More info at the Las Vegas Sun.(12-27-2007)
- Dale Jr. Sports Century on DVD: ESPN’s Critically Acclaimed SportsCentury Series Profiles One of NASCAR’s Most Popular Drivers – SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on DVD. Two Hours of Candid Bonus Features and Interviews Provide Insight into Dale Jr.’s Relationship With His Legendary Father Dale Earnhardt Sr. and More. ESPN Home Entertainment, in conjunction with Genius Products, LLC, to release the much-anticipated SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr.; on DVD Tuesday, December 11, for $16.95 SRP. SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr. provides fans with a unique and rarely seen look into the life of the man who continues the Earnhardt legacy. The DVD includes in-depth interviews providing insight into his relationship with his father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.; also featured - the press conference announcing Dale Jr.’s departure from DEI, updates since his departure and its impact on NASCAR.(more info at espnshop.com)(12-9-2007)
- NASCAR My Race: The Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship puts the excitement and fast-paced action of NASCAR at center stage for a 10-week, don't miss countdown to crown the series' champion. But what if a fan misses a race? Or, what if they want to watch the action again? Until now, there was nothing they could do. But today, race fans can simply go online at www.MyRaceDVD.com and order their favorite races from the Chase for the Championship for the special price of $24.95. Each race weekend, My Race offers fans a Collector's Edition DVD of the race featuring more than six hours of race footage and exclusive content. Each race DVD will include:
* A 52-minute highlight of the race broadcast
* Six selectable driver and broadcast audio channels
* Six selectable camera views
* Opportunity for viewers to ride shotgun with five different drivers
* My Race OnScreen Dashboard to manage the action
* At-track interviews with top drivers and NASCAR celebrities by My Race reporter John Roberts, beginning with the Bristol race in August and continuing through the season finale in Miami * Feature reports on race day by John Roberts
* Special bonus DVD that includes:
· Passes and clashes from each race in quad- and split-screen format
· A 52-minute highlight of the previous year's race at that track
· Behind-the-scenes interviews from each track
* Wallpaper downloads(PR)(9-13-2007)
- Cup races on DVD: Want to watch every Cup race commercial-free? Want to have 'Onscreen Dashboard" control to watch action from almost every angle imaginable?
Want to ride shotgun with five drivers, listening to all their communication with crew members? Team 19 Marketing, led by NFL Hall of Famer/CEO Lance Alworth and president Tony Cunha, is offering a collector's edition DVD of each race featuring more than six hours of race footage and special driver interviews. They can be purchased for $34.95 each by going to www.MyRaceDVD.com. The DVDs should be available within two to three weeks after the event.(8-25-2007)
- Kenny Wallace Book Released: Motorsports publisher Coastal 181 announced the release of Inside Herman's World, the autobiography of popular NASCAR driver and SPEED TV personality Kenny Wallace. The book was written with Joyce Standridge and includes forewords by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, and Ken Schrader. One of auto racing's most likable personalities, Kenny Wallace is also a dedicated racer. A NASCAR crew chief before he was 21 years old, nine-time winner in the Busch Series, and go-to Super Sub for Nextel Cup car owners, "Herman" provides a compellingly honest view of life inside the top tiers of NASCAR racing today. Included are more than 300 classic photos of Wallace, from his childhood days in St. Louis to dramatic racing shots to intimate portraits of his close-knit family. Lew Boyd, President of Coastal 181, said about the book, "After our success with Ken Schrader's GOTTA RACE!, we understood Joyce's rare ability to capture the voice and persona of her subject, but we didn't know Kenny Wallace very well. This latest book confirms her gift. It has been a pleasure for all of us involved in the project." Standridge agreed. "When Ken Schrader told me Herman's story would not be the one people would expect, I was intrigued. What could there possibly be beyond the happy-go-lucky guy who so effortlessly charms everyone? Well, let me tell you that I expected the laughs. I didn't expect the tears. And by the time we finished he had made me realize that he is one of the most fascinating people to ever strap on a helmet. I mean, ever."
And the process has been something of a revelation for Wallace himself. "I started out on this project, viewing it as a way to leave something for my children. But as we went along I realized that it was actually a funny kind of therapy. I told Joyce things that I hadn't told another living soul except my wife Kim. Then seeing important events in my life and racing in print, I understood why it's so easy for me to bond with the fans-most people's lives are about dealing with disappointment, broken promises, and failed dreams, as well as great joy and satisfaction. I've lived the Great American Dream on the tracks, but I've lived the Great American Nightmare in the garages, too. I've just never known what to expect next-but it all happened whether I was ready or not."
SIGNING: Kenny Wallace and Joyce Standridge will be signing their book during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend, on Thursday, May 24th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop and again on Saturday, May 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Speed Street Festival in the Bank of America display located at the corner of Trade Street and Tryon Street in downtown Charlotte.
Inside Herman's World -The Kenny Wallace Story is soft-cover with 264 pages and over 300 photographs. It is available at $23.95 plus $6.00 S&H from Coastal 181, 29 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950. Phone orders are taken toll free at 877-907-8181 or online at www.coastal181.com. You can also purchase the book and find out more information about Herman at www.kennywallace.com.(5-23-2007)
- NASCAR Library Collection: is a division of NASCAR's overall licensing operation in its Charlotte office, NASCAR Publishing oversees more than 40 licensed publishing partners. In 2004, NASCAR launched the NASCAR Library Collection which provides a level of authenticity and quality to NASCAR licensed books. Representing a range of books as diverse and varied as the NASCAR fan base, the NASCAR Library Collection captures the NASCAR lifestyle from all angles. The NASCAR Library Collection includes books in a number of categories, including: drivers and personalities, cookbooks, history, children, fiction and romance, and statistics, facts and reference. NASCAR Library Collection titles can be found on NASCAR.com Superstore and in an array of retail outlets including mass market, bookstores, specialty and more.
- for past news, see the Racing Books News Page
Stock Car Legends Reunion Video
- Stock Car Legends Reunion: Twenty-four racing legends. The guy that built the cars, with the guys that drove the cars, the inspector that tore down the cars, with the writers that wrote about it and the announcers that announced it! You're about to go behind the scenes where you'll hear the stories directly from the legends that lived them. Over 20 [24] Racing Legends Including: Bobby and Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Harry Gant, Leonard Wood, Junie Donlavey, Richard Childress, Dave Marcis, David Pearson, Tom Higgins [the best story teller of all time] and many more. More info at sportsreunion.net or call (800) 820-5405.(last checked on 6-26-2009)
UMI PUBLICATIONS
- UMI Publications is the publisher of The Official NASCAR Yearbooks. The finest photography and race by race coverage are what you have to come to demand from the best and ONLY OFFICIAL publication covering the entire NASCAR Cup seasons. Remember every edition of the NASCAR Cup Yearbook has sold out and is not reprinted. Other books by UMI Publications:
The Official NASCAR Nextel/Winston Cup Yearbooks
The NASCAR Preview and Press Guide
NASCAR WIVES: The Women Behind the Sunday Drivers
Dale Earnhardt - Determined
Bristol Motor Speedway: 40 Years of Thunder
Bill Elliott – The Fans’ Favorite
NASCAR 2000, The Evolution of Speed
Dale Jarrett, Winning: A Family Tradition
For more info and to order, see their site: UMI Publications
JAYSKI in a BOOK
DAVID BULL PUBLISHING
- "Stock Car Lives" Book Released - Chapter about Jayski! - When 43 cars thunder toward the start/finish line at the outset of a NASCAR Winston Cup race, they become the focus of some 190,000 people in the grandstands, 10 million TV viewers, and about two million radio listeners. While the 43 men driving those machines are in the spotlight, as many as 14,000 people worked behind the scenes to make that race a reality. Their stories are what make Stock-Car Racing Lives.
The book features 34 chapters that include 39 people from every level of the sport, from such superstars as Bobby Labonte and Richard Petty to virtual unknowns, such as David Carmichael, who lives in his van and travels the circuit to polish the wheels of race-car haulers. The men and women in Stock Car-Racing Lives are involved in every level of the sport and include drivers, business people, journalists, NASCAR officials, track personnel, and more. This fascinating cross-section of people gives fans a very personal window into Winston Cup racing through the eyes of the people who make it work. In first-person profiles each talks openly and honestly in his or her words about their experiences at and away from the track.
Recurring themes emerge in these stories regardless of the person's particular job. Unimaginable sacrifices are made in working long hours, constantly traveling, and dealing with pressure, but are offset by gratitude for family support, a strong sense of camaraderie, and the exhilaration of playing a role in America's fastest-growing sport.
In Stock Car-Racing Lives, Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte talks publicly for the first time about his critical battle with Graves' disease and how it threatened his career just as he was to begin driving for Joe Gibbs Racing; veteran photographer T. Taylor Warren describes how he traveled to the track with drivers in their race cars in the "strictly stock" days and needed to find an alternate ride home if the driver crashed during the race; Jane Hogan explains how, after her marriage ended, her catering business began and she found an extended family in NASCAR; souvenir sales pioneer Hank Jones relates how etching sunglasses with drivers' names was the start of what has become a billion-dollar industry, and Jay Adamczyk reveals how his Web site, Jayski.com, became the information clearinghouse for Winston cup racing.
These interviews were conducted by award-winning motorsports author Richard Sowers, who teamed with David Bull Publishing to publish The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing in July. Each profile is complemented by vivid, insightful photography by Nigel Kinrade, who is one of the leading photographers on the Winston Cup circuit. The people you will meet in Stock-Car Racing Lives are listed below:
Drivers: Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Brett Bodine, Buckshot Jones, and legends Richard Petty and Ned Jarrett.
Team personnel: Crew chief Larry McReynolds, truck driver Bob Tracey, gas man "Big John" Youk, the Wood family, and Felix Sabates.
Business people: QVC's Dan Hughes and Tim Bertoni, Action Performance's Fred Wagenhals, Mark Martin's business manager Benny Ertel, souvenir pioneer Hank Jones, Lowe's sports marketing manager Dean Kessel, and track impresario Humpy Wheeler.
Track personnel: Lowe's credentials manager Myra Faulkenbury, Atlanta ticket manager Frances Goss, announcer Bill Connell, and landscape architect Dennis Mills.
NASCAR officials: Jimmy Cox and Morris Metcalfe.
Media: Jayski.com's Jay Adamczyk, veteran reporter Bob Myers, rookie reporter Juliet Macur, Chevrolet publicist Ray Cooper, MRN/TNN host Eli Gold, and veteran photographer T. Taylor Warren.
Others: Artist Sam Bass, wheel cleaner David Carmichael, Motor Racing Outreach founder Max Helton, caterer Jane Hogan, and Renee Cope, former Miss Winston and wife of Derrike Cope.
Stock-Car Racing Lives sells for $24.95, is available at all major book stores, and can be purchased directly by calling 1-800-831-1758. For more information please visit David Bull Publishing's Web site, www.bullpublishing.com.
More info on these and many other Racing boooks, see thier site: David Bull Publishing for info and to order.
FORTY YEARS OF STOCK CAR RACING
by Greg Fielden
A must for any NASCAR Racing Fan, 4 volumes, plus a fifth, stats, stories etc:
Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, Beginning, 1949-1958, Vol. 1
Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, The Superspeedway Boom, 1959-1964, Vol. 2
Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, Big Bucks and Boycotts, 1965-1971, Vol. 3
Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, The Modern Era, 1972-1989, Vol. 4
Forty Years of Stock Car Racing, Forty Plus Four" 1990-1993
Jayski Note: I have the complete set and they are invaluable
Can be purchased at: SpeedZone - The Forty Years of Stock Car Racing
Some of the Volumes are available at Amazon or Barnes and Noble also
Eights and Aces : A Stock Car Racing Novel
by Matthew McLaughlin
Eights and Aces, the first racing novel by stock car writer Matt McLaughlin. Eights and Aces chronicles the career of a fictional racecar driver who grew up in poverty in the Carolinas with a dream of someday running the Winston Cup circuit. While Bill Hickok is entirely fictional, his story is intended as a tribute to every Winston Cup
driver who worked his way up from the bullring ranks never giving up on the dream. Go to Amazon.com for more info and to order the book.
SMOKEY YUNICK
- Smokey Book: Smokey Yunick, the legendary stock car racer, who passed away on May 9th, 2001, has tell-all book of his life and racing a that was just released. Best Damn Garage in Town — The World According to Smokey is now available for order. That real story is told in four main sections, or "books," contained in three volumes: Section 1: Smokey’s Life, "Walkin’ under a snake’s belly" (Volume I). Section 2: Stock car racing, "All right you sons of bitches, let's have a race" (Volume II). Section 3: Indy, "Li'l skinny rule book." Section 4: Inventions, "Eatin' an elephant." (Sections 3 and 4 make up Volume III). Initially, the book will be published in a Racer's Edition — a boxed set of three volumes of over 400 pages each. Smokey covers it all: growing up on the farm in Pennsylvania, flying B-17s during WWII, the real stories from the early days of racing, his Winston Cup Championships, the glory days of Indy, his inventions and patents, and everything in between. The entire book is just as Smokey wrote it over the past 5 years – he wouldn’t let it be done any other way. For more info or to order the book go to www.smokeyyunick.com(6-26-2001)
SCOTT PRUETT - Kids Book
Sports Car, CART, IROC and former Cup driver Scott Pruett and his wife Judy have written a couple of childrens racing books: Twelve Little Race Cars, Twelve More Little Race Cars and Rookie Racer by World Weaver books (click on titles to check them out) A few folks have it and said their 3-6 year olds loved it.
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
- Capture forever the excitement of Kansas Speedway's first season with a special commemorative book published by Kansas City Star Books. This book, Fields of Thunder: The Story of the Kansas Speedway, will be shared with generations of race fans-a true collectors item. This 300 page, hard-cover, coffee-table style work will measure a large 10 5/8 by 10 5/8 inches. See the Kansas City Star site.(link updated 4-5-2009)
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