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The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing
When people think of NASCAR, many think of cars racing around a track. But those with a more intimate knowledge of the sport understand that there is much more to it. The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR uncovers everything you need to know to properly watch and enjoy the sport. Author Greg Engle uncovers the history of the sport, as well as an explanation of the rules, flags, and key terms. He reveals the best practices for watching it on TV, how to experience a NASCAR race in person, and much more. Along the way, he weaves in interviews with key figures from the NASCAR community to offer insiders’ perspectives on the ins and outs of NASCAR. Some of the many questions that this book answers •What does NASCAR stand for?•How did it get to where it is today?•What goes on at a pit stop?•What is it like to race 400 or 500 miles in just a few hours?•What is a wedge?•What is the best way to meet a driver?•How do you best enjoy a race in person?•And all the other things a new fan needs to know to understand and enjoy America's fastest sport, NASCAR!
- GenresNonfictionAmerican
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2017
12 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 23, 2020
The history of NASCAR is one that is very colorful and the rise of the sport’s popularity, especially during the 1990’s, also makes for good reading. This history makes up about half of this very informative book on the sport by Greg Engle. The second half of the book talks about the subtitle of the book – namely how fans can enjoy the race experience, whether at the track, watching on television or online.
The book is geared mostly toward new or casual fans of stock car racing, as there are many definitions of the terms commonly used in both broadcasts of the races and by the drivers and crew members. Illustrations help with these definitions, such as describing the aerodynamics of air flowing around the cars when explaining the difference between “clean air” and “dirty air.” Some basic mechanical parts of the car are also explained in terms of how they affect the speed and handling. A reader does not have to have much knowledge or experience with car mechanics to understand these explanations which helps explain these concepts to the new fan.
The section on the history of the sport is informative and while it takes up a good chunk of the book, it is complete up to the time of publication and paints a good picture of the different eras of NASCAR without getting too bogged down in detail or omitting important events and drivers. It was fun to read about the early days of moonshine bootlegging, the crazy ending to the 1979 Daytona 500 and the rivalry of the 1990’s between Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon. A new or casual fan will certainly learn a lot about NASCAR in this portion and even long-time fans might pick up some new information.
However, the best part of this book is saved for the second half and that is Engle’s guide for how to enjoy the sport, no matter how one is watching. The section on the many ways that NASCAR can connect with fans online was new to this reviewer, who has followed the sport for many years, mainly by watching on television and attending a few races. Those experiences are covered quite extensively as well, so no matter how a person wants to enjoy the thrill of a NASCAR race, this book will be a handy guide on what to expect and how to get the most out of the event.
The book is geared mostly toward new or casual fans of stock car racing, as there are many definitions of the terms commonly used in both broadcasts of the races and by the drivers and crew members. Illustrations help with these definitions, such as describing the aerodynamics of air flowing around the cars when explaining the difference between “clean air” and “dirty air.” Some basic mechanical parts of the car are also explained in terms of how they affect the speed and handling. A reader does not have to have much knowledge or experience with car mechanics to understand these explanations which helps explain these concepts to the new fan.
The section on the history of the sport is informative and while it takes up a good chunk of the book, it is complete up to the time of publication and paints a good picture of the different eras of NASCAR without getting too bogged down in detail or omitting important events and drivers. It was fun to read about the early days of moonshine bootlegging, the crazy ending to the 1979 Daytona 500 and the rivalry of the 1990’s between Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon. A new or casual fan will certainly learn a lot about NASCAR in this portion and even long-time fans might pick up some new information.
However, the best part of this book is saved for the second half and that is Engle’s guide for how to enjoy the sport, no matter how one is watching. The section on the many ways that NASCAR can connect with fans online was new to this reviewer, who has followed the sport for many years, mainly by watching on television and attending a few races. Those experiences are covered quite extensively as well, so no matter how a person wants to enjoy the thrill of a NASCAR race, this book will be a handy guide on what to expect and how to get the most out of the event.
October 30, 2020
If you are both interested in NASCAR, and/or auto racing in general, then this is a good book to start with. A significant part of this book is in the first two chapters, the first of which gives a brief history of NASCAR. There are some helpful photos at times to help show and/or explain some of the things explained that I would have liked to have seen before reading any other books on NASCAR, but on the other hand, it was easier to hold onto many things because I was already familiar with many of the names (but that isn’t necessary, of course, since this is very much an introductory book). This would make a good young adult introduction to the subject depending on the age and reading level of the student, but the language reminds me of y/a.
I found some of it rather dry and dull because I don’t care as much about some of the topics, but if I were to ever visit Charlotte, NC, I know where tourists can go to see and learn more about this organization. If you read the online version, at least the Hoopla one, there are live links to a number of websites the author mentions for finding information in the digital age. There are also some very helpful pages at the end that can lead you to finding out more about NASCAR than I personally care to know.
I found some of it rather dry and dull because I don’t care as much about some of the topics, but if I were to ever visit Charlotte, NC, I know where tourists can go to see and learn more about this organization. If you read the online version, at least the Hoopla one, there are live links to a number of websites the author mentions for finding information in the digital age. There are also some very helpful pages at the end that can lead you to finding out more about NASCAR than I personally care to know.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews