American Speed: From Dirt Tracks to Nascar

by LIFE

Wonderful, fierce photography from the beginning of the automobile age proved that as soon as gas made cars go, the boys out back made them go fast. The carny circuit that was car racing in America leads off this fun and fast LIFE book, which chronicles the pageantry and excitement of the Indianapolis 500 as well as the occasional visits to our shores of Formula One racing, with its European flair. The huge post-World War II story is, of course, the rise of NASCAR, and this story is told in vivid detail, from its birth as weekend loops raced by hard-charging bootleggers in the South to its current status as the reigning national pastime. Junior, the King, and the late, great Ironhead are profiled, as are the new stars: Jeff Gordon, and, of course, Ironhead's boy, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In these pictures, you'll feel the thunder.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Life was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000. During its golden age from 1936 to 1972, Life was a wide-ranging weekly general interest magazine known for the quality of its photography.

Reviews

[Federer Kammalavong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing it gives you a great timeline of the process of NASCAR becoming a popular racing sport. It also lists the racers as they come along in the timeline. It also gives you a good sense of how racing became such a popular sport and the dangers of racing. It's a great book overall and it's really good for anyone whos into racing.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was excellent.
Probably read sometime in 2003.
Entered here in 2021.