A lot of books claim they’ll tell you what it’s really like to be a huge success in auto racing, a valued decision maker, somebody who really makes things happen instead of talking about it. This book is different. Don Miller went from racing on the streets, literally, to being a guy who stood shoulder to shoulder with Roger Penske for over 30 years, building the Penske racing empire. Until now, Miller has never told the story of his astounding life in motorsports. Coastal 181 is proud to publish Miller’s memoir, his detailed, unflinchingly honest accounting of the skill and dedication needed to stay out front in one of the world’s most competitive sports. Miller is a guy who has done pretty much everything one person can accomplish in the business of racing and the world of really fast cars. A Chicago hot rodder, he developed into a professional drag racer, racing official, hard parts distributor, mechanic and fabricator, and the top salesman of performance engines in America. And that was all before he met Roger Penske. As Penske’s top racing executive, Miller became one of the most instrumental figures in modern automobile racing. He discovered a young Rusty Wallace and coached him to superstardom, then co-founded Penske Racing South with Wallace and the Captain. As Penske’s expert on race tires, he recaptured the Midwest’s short tracks for Goodyear. As Penske’s sponsorship liaison, Miller created not just today’s motorsports marketing program, but also the traveling souvenir trailer and show car. As Penske’s personal talent evaluator, he made a career not only for Wallace, but also for Ryan Newman. For more info about the book, see coastal181.com or my Book News page.(4-16-2010)
