Born on a beach, raised on the dusty dirt ovals of the Southeast, NASCAR has grown up to become a national sporting phenomenon. The road traveled has sometimes been bumpy and circuitous, but at all times interesting. The Evolution of NASCAR: A Historical Collection chronicles the long hard drive from Daytona’s beach to the sprawling superspeedways of today. Veteran NASCAR writer Deb Williams reintroduces the stars through the years – Red Byron, Lee and Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and many others – while recounting the great moments of stock car racing, beginning with the first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948. Along the way, the author also recalls the colorful characters who lifted the sport to prominence – including Jocko Flocko, the racing Rhesus monkey. More info on my NASCAR Book News page.(11-9-2010)
