New York Times Speed Show: How NASCAR Won the Heart of America

I admit that I'm a very unique type of NASCAR fan. I love the drivers, love reading about them, checking out the standings, and perusing all the gossip about their personal lives. I don't actually like watching the races. See, how odd is that? Sure, occasionally I'll stumble into a room where the race is on television (thanks to my mom and stepfather, who are NASCAR fanatics), but other than that I won't waste hours sitting down to watch cars drive in endless circles. But, okay, yes, the crashes are kind of cool! I was always a Dale Earnhardt fan. The number three car got my vote every time. When he died in a crash at the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, I was devasted--as were thousands upon thousands of NASCAR enthusiasts around the globe. The thing about NASCAR is that its devout fans come from every walk of life, from every part of the world, and they are a dedicated, loud-mouth bunch of people. They're also a family. When one of their "own" dies, as on that day when the racing world lost Dale Earnhardt, everyone mourned. Even fans who didn't like Earnhardt (and by that I mean they dared to cheer for another driver, like Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart), sadly and publicly grieved the loss of a legend. Although I now root for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the number eight car, I still remember his father with pride. I still look for memorabilia with that number three. I still read books like SPEED SHOW, which discuss NASCAR, its history, and the mark it's made on the racing world. Filled with numerous facts, figures, and full-color photos, SPEED SHOW is sure to delight any and all NASCAR fans, regardless of age. The legacy of "The Intimidator" lives on today, as well it should. For an easy-to-read, fact-filled history of NASCAR, its drivers, and its fans, SPEED SHOW is the book you need. Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"