Earnhardt Nation: The Full-Throttle Saga of NASCAR's First Family [9780062367723]

Overview

A colorful, fearless portrait of the larger-than-life first family of NASCAR, the Earnhardts, and the rise of the world’s fastest stock car racing organization.

More than sixty years ago, Ralph Earnhardt toiled in a cotton mill in his native North Carolina to support his growing family. Weekends he could be found going pedal to the metal at the dirt tracks, taking on the competition in the early days of box car racing and becoming one of the best short-track drivers in the state. His son, Dale Earnhardt Sr., would become one of the greatest drivers of all time, and his grandson Dale Jr, would become NASCAR’s most popular driver of the 2000s. From a simple backyard garage, the Earnhardts reached the highest echelons of professional stock car racing and became the stuff of myth for fans.

Earnhardt Nation is the story of this car racing dynasty and the business that would make them rich and famous—and nearly tear them apart. Covering all the white-knuckle races, including the final lap at the Daytona 500 that claimed the life of the Intimidator, Earnhardt Nation goes deep into the fast-paced world of NASCAR, its royal family’s obsession with speed, and their struggle with celebrity. Jay Busbee takes us deep inside the lives of these men and women who shaped NASCAR. He delves into their personal and professional lives, from failed marriages to rivalries large and small to complex and competitive father-son relationships that have reverberated through generations, and explores the legacy the Earnhardts struggle to uphold.

This definitive sports biography explores the triumph and tragedy of a family that defined American racing:

• A Three-Generation Dynasty: Follow the Earnhardts’ journey from Ralph’s early days on dirt tracks to Dale Sr.’s rise to greatness, and Dale Jr.’s turn as NASCAR’s most popular driver.
• The Intimidator: Get a fearless, inside look at the life and career of Dale Earnhardt Sr., including the white-knuckle races that built his legend and the final, fateful lap at the Daytona 500.
• Complex Father-Son Relationships: Go beyond the track to uncover the competitive and often-fraught dynamics between fathers and sons that reverberated through three generations of racing legends.
• The Business of NASCAR: Discover the story of the business that made the family rich and famous—and the intense pressures of celebrity that nearly tore them apart.