"Then Junior Said to Jeff. . .": The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told

by David Poole, Jim McLaurin

NASCAR racing reigns as America’s most popular sport not only because of its high-speed thrills and chills but also for the colorful characters and memorable moments this unique fraternity has produced over the past half century. Below are just a handful of excerpts from the sport’s greatest behind-the-scenes stories ever told, as compiled in the first-of-its-kind collection, "Then Junior Said to Jeff…": "I’d rather not elaborate on that," [Dale Earnhardt Sr.] said [when addressing the media after his seventh Winston Cup championship and being asked about the earlier death of driver Neil Bonnett], then paused again. When he looked up, there was genuine pain in his face. His voice was halting when he "I can’t go fishing in my own lake because of Neil," he said. "Because we fished in it all the time. I can’t. . . . I’ve tried. . . . It’s Neil’s pond." Track promoter Enoch Staley recalls a race on Junior Johnson’s home track of North Wilkesboro "I saw something sail out of the stands and over the fence, right in front of [Johnson’s opponent’s] car. It hit the track and broke into a thousand pieces. It was a quart-sized fruit jar filled with white liquor. Once he’d avoided the shattered glass, Johnson watched what came next with amusement. "I saw that the law had come to the scene and was trying to arrest the guy," he said. "There was a pretty lively scuffle going on ’til the deputies got him handcuffed and took him off." But that, according to Staley, wasn’t the funny part. "Junior didn’t tell the rest of the story," he said. "The fan that got taken to jail was a feller named Ernest Money. He was Junior’s uncle."

Genres: Nonfiction, Racing, Short Stories

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good Nascar book just like Crashes and Collisions. I love how it is mostly set up from oldest stories to the newer ones. And I also love that not all of the stories are from on the track. My favorite story is Gordon (Jeff Gordon) pulling a Earnhardt (Dale Earnhardt Sr). And that is my review for Jr said to Jeff.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if these are the greatest NASCAR stories ever told, but there are a many of them. The book is divided into chapters with general topics for each set of stories. The stories range in length and take place both on and off the track. In addition to stories about racing and actual races, there are fishing stories, travelling stories along with various and sundry other tales. If you, unlike me, are a racing aficionado who is interested in the people involved with this, then this book is for you. I would have liked this better if I hadn't read it via hoopla on my computer--kindle or print book would have been preferable for me (or even audiobook, but I don't think there is enough of a market for auto racing books).

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

If these are "the best Nascar stories ever told" I would hate to read the boring one. This has been done much better in other books.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will give the new NASCAR fan a great over view of the sport. The authors Jim McLaurin and David Poole share stories that they have heard from years of reporting on the sport. Stories shared range from the very start of NASCAR to the present day (2004). Most of the stories are only a page or two long.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for any NASCAR fan! With behind the scenes stories from the greats of racing, you'll learn about the beginning of the sport to some of the young guns of today. A great book to add to your racing collection.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories from the drivers themselves!

[Margaret Metz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read for a NASCAR fan.

[Cherie Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories collected throughout the years about the stars of the multi-million dollar NASCAR series. Interesting sometimes funny read! Stock car lovers must read.