What do you think?
Rate this book
Swerve or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing
An insider account and history of the NASCAR world from one of its biggest stars, Kyle Petty.
No one knows NASCAR—with all its drama, controversy, and excitement—like Kyle Petty does.
Swerve or Die is the smart NASCAR book that’s never been written before, a real insider’s account of exactly how stock-car racing got to be so controversial and how its Southern-bred worldview is shaking American life yet again. Kyle Petty, a third generation racer, current NASCAR commentator, and one of the most beloved figures in the sport, takes readers deep into the heart of the NASCAR he knows.
Through deeply personal stories from his racing career, and that of his father and grandfather, he talks about the biggest stars, the most exciting races and, especially the tough, defining issues the sport has had to face. There is no way to grasp today’s wrenching battles for NASCAR’s soul without first knowing about the many dramatic moments throughout NASCAR’s history, and Petty recounts them all in a story packed with huge characters and plenty of laughs (and details that even the most ardent NASCAR fans don’t know). He also lays out his vision for NASCAR’s future, and discusses in clear and simple terms how the sport can bring in new people without driving away old ones.
Swerve or Die is a must-read for anyone who cares about NASCAR, as well as the perfect primer for anyone who’s ever wondered, “What the hell really goes on in there?”
No one knows NASCAR—with all its drama, controversy, and excitement—like Kyle Petty does.
Swerve or Die is the smart NASCAR book that’s never been written before, a real insider’s account of exactly how stock-car racing got to be so controversial and how its Southern-bred worldview is shaking American life yet again. Kyle Petty, a third generation racer, current NASCAR commentator, and one of the most beloved figures in the sport, takes readers deep into the heart of the NASCAR he knows.
Through deeply personal stories from his racing career, and that of his father and grandfather, he talks about the biggest stars, the most exciting races and, especially the tough, defining issues the sport has had to face. There is no way to grasp today’s wrenching battles for NASCAR’s soul without first knowing about the many dramatic moments throughout NASCAR’s history, and Petty recounts them all in a story packed with huge characters and plenty of laughs (and details that even the most ardent NASCAR fans don’t know). He also lays out his vision for NASCAR’s future, and discusses in clear and simple terms how the sport can bring in new people without driving away old ones.
Swerve or Die is a must-read for anyone who cares about NASCAR, as well as the perfect primer for anyone who’s ever wondered, “What the hell really goes on in there?”
288 pages, Hardcover
Published August 9, 2022
60 people are currently reading
4981 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 20, 2022
If there is such a thing as Nascar royalty, the Petty family belongs on the throne! From his grandfather Lee, to his father Richard (he with the cowboy hat and sunglasses), to Kyle (and his pony tail wearing, motorcycle riding, wise-cracking persona).
In this book, third generation Nascar driver Kyle Petty lays bare his soul about his experiences in the sport. From his earliest memories of growing up, to his teenage years, to his beginnings racing, to his adult years (and the horrific loss of his son, Adam, who was the fourth generation driver), all the way to the present day.
I have to admit, I was always puzzled by Kyle. He always seemed to me (a lifelong Nascar fan) to be a rather odd guy. I couldn't place his square peg in the round hole that most Nascar drivers fit into. Boy, was I wrong! The guy has done more for the sport and for charity than probably 90% of drivers!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. And especially appreciated Kyle's thoughts on where the sport is going in the future. And I am now happy that he doesn't fit into the typical mold. He's a very interesting, unique individual! We need more like him in the sport!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
In this book, third generation Nascar driver Kyle Petty lays bare his soul about his experiences in the sport. From his earliest memories of growing up, to his teenage years, to his beginnings racing, to his adult years (and the horrific loss of his son, Adam, who was the fourth generation driver), all the way to the present day.
I have to admit, I was always puzzled by Kyle. He always seemed to me (a lifelong Nascar fan) to be a rather odd guy. I couldn't place his square peg in the round hole that most Nascar drivers fit into. Boy, was I wrong! The guy has done more for the sport and for charity than probably 90% of drivers!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. And especially appreciated Kyle's thoughts on where the sport is going in the future. And I am now happy that he doesn't fit into the typical mold. He's a very interesting, unique individual! We need more like him in the sport!
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
April 23, 2022
Bio of Kyle and a history of NASCAR, nice combination and well done.
May 6, 2022
I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Kyle gives his account of the joy, pain, heartache & loss NASCAR brought to his life. It was interesting to read how the NASCAR family pulls together to support the cross country charity rides he puts together & the Victory Junction camp established in honor of his oldest son. It was a light, quick read with enough personal stories to keep my attention.
June 26, 2022
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Kyle Petty, now 62 years old, is best known for being a member of one of NASCAR's most prominent families. He is the son of Richard Petty, "The King", who won 200 NASCAR races, the winningest driver of all-time. Kyle had nowhere near that level of success, but is/was kind of a Renaissance Man, a versatile guy who is also a singer/songwriter, a TV commentator and the creator of a very successful charity which was inspired by Adam, his son, who was killed tragically before he was 20 years old.
This book covers a lot of ground. A lot of NASCAR history. A lot about the family and Petty Enterprises, which actually got its start with Lee Petty, Kyle's grandfather. Tragedies impacted Kyle's life and those are covered. This is not a NASCAR expose at all, so don't expect criticism of NASCAR or gossip about drivers, past or present. Kyle praises NASCAR for adapting to a constantly changing business environment.
This is a smooth, easy-to-follow read, even for someone who is not a racing fan. The Petty family is a truly class act. Their story is both interesting and inspiring.
Kyle Petty, now 62 years old, is best known for being a member of one of NASCAR's most prominent families. He is the son of Richard Petty, "The King", who won 200 NASCAR races, the winningest driver of all-time. Kyle had nowhere near that level of success, but is/was kind of a Renaissance Man, a versatile guy who is also a singer/songwriter, a TV commentator and the creator of a very successful charity which was inspired by Adam, his son, who was killed tragically before he was 20 years old.
This book covers a lot of ground. A lot of NASCAR history. A lot about the family and Petty Enterprises, which actually got its start with Lee Petty, Kyle's grandfather. Tragedies impacted Kyle's life and those are covered. This is not a NASCAR expose at all, so don't expect criticism of NASCAR or gossip about drivers, past or present. Kyle praises NASCAR for adapting to a constantly changing business environment.
This is a smooth, easy-to-follow read, even for someone who is not a racing fan. The Petty family is a truly class act. Their story is both interesting and inspiring.
September 10, 2022
Thank you in advance to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing an advanced review copy. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Rarely do I read biographies or autobiographies (A). I have, since starting my blog, read four (including this one) – William Daniels (A), Princess Diana, and Gary Sinise’s (A) book. I have perused Dale Jr’s Racing to the Finish (A) and Jeff Gordon’s book (A).
In order for me to want to read it – I have to REALLY like the person or be interested in what they’ve done.
Naturally, if it is about NASCAR – I’m VERY LIKELY to read the book. If it is a person of interest – I will more than likely read the book.
For those who might not be too familiar with the difference –
Biography – account of a person’s life written by someone else
Autobiography – account of a person’s life written by them
No matter how you view him – Kyle Petty can be a polarizing figure. You either like him or you don’t. He can be contentious, out-spoken, but refreshingly honest. It can’t be denied he is part of a powerful NASCAR family and history. He is after all, a third (3rd) generation racer, with his late son Adam who was one of the first 4th generation athletes.
After hearing about this book (and seeing a “contest”) – I HAD to read it. And, am thankful to the publisher for it. I learned so much that I ended up with PAGES of notes.
Like most – this is written by the “subject” with another author – though it is very hard to tell and easily reads like a conversation one would have with Kyle Petty. It’s so easy to “hear” his voice in this, especially if you’ve heard an interview or seen him on TV. The title of the book is not really explained, so I didn’t see the correlation. It is very catchy though, and I have to admit it drew my attention right away.
This isn’t one of those “long-winded” books and comes in at under 300 pages. Petty says what he wants to and gets it done – perhaps in some cases, he’s too “short”. Even the chapters are short. Petty tells his story in four (4) parts over 30 chapters. This way it is easier to read and pause to come back. Though, I do admit – there were times I didn’t want to put it down.
I’ll admit this up front and right here – I’m more of a Dale Earnhardt fan and think he’s a bit better than Richard Petty in the overall stats. Why? Earnhardt won seven (7) titles with 1/3 of the wins Petty did. In addition, there are other stats to expand on that would take up far more time. To me, it goes –> Dale, Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty. Not to say I don’t recognize what Petty brought to NASCAR’s table, I’m just saying that Dale (in my opinion) is #1.
That out of the way …
I can’t (and won’t) deny the impact the Pettys have had on NASCAR considering the origins of the sport, as well as their legacy from the inception of the sport until now. There’s a lot of politics under that bridge as well as some controversies. Chrysler boycott is one of them.
Naturally, this is a “must-read” or “strongly suggested read” for those who want an insider look at the sport. That’s why I HAD to read it. Obviously this is going to be intended for fans of NASCAR as well as fans of the author.
When it comes to books like this – spoilers are inherent. After all, one only has to research Petty to find out who he is and what he’s been through. A Wikipedia search can easily “spoil” the book.
Petty also won’t shy away from controversy either – from what he feels NASCAR needs, Bubba Wallace’s introduction into NASCAR, and the controversial “Confederate” flag. He doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he tells it like it is, and moves on.
He tackles grief as a parent, and finding love again after loss and divorce.
Petty starts off the introduction because of a message – CALL MIKE HELTON. It is in 2000, and Petty is in England looking at horses with his daughter (there is a cute quip from Jeff Burton about that). Petty’s son Adam is in New Hampshire. As the reader knows (or should) – it would be about Adam’s accident.
From there, Kyle Petty goes into the roles he’s had in his life:
🏁 Racer
🚗 Car Owner
🏍️ Motorcycle Rider
🎤 Country Singer (I had no idea; not sure I want to even go there)
🎸 Songwriter (another “had no idea” here)
🏕️ Camp Counselor
📺 Broadcaster
✝️ Christian
🎙️ Voice Actor
🖼️ Body-Art Proponent
💵 Philanthropist
👨👦 Son
✳️ Brother
👫🏻 Husband
👨🏻🍼 Dad
✳️ Friend
There is absolutely no doubt that he’s “been around” and had some “experiences” with certain aspects of life.
As of note, one subject Kyle Petty does not get into – politics. He only discusses his father’s seat on the Randolph County Commission. Richard Petty was elected in 1978, 1982, 1986, and 1990. He does not mention his father’s other “political” highlights either. Kyle doesn’t wade into other social issues or his political leanings either in this book.
From the introduction, he divides his story into the following parts:
1️⃣ – Dreamer
2️⃣ – Driver
3️ – Dad
4️⃣ – The Road Ahead
Petty introduces the readers to the town of Level Cross. It’s interesting to note that his father still lives there today.
From there, Petty goes into the origins of NASCAR, which he feels can be debated – prohibition or post-war activities. There’s even a hint about his grandfather’s Lee’s beginnings and moonshine running. All Kyle alludes to is that his grandfather was in “beverage transportation”.
He talks about his name’s origin and that his father didn’t want a name that could lead to a nickname. I laughed so hard at the “Dick Petty” remark, and his dad being “double-down po’d”.
Petty winds and turns on his way – peeling back the layers of a multi-faceted life and journey. Being the only boy of the King (Petty has three younger sisters), his Uncle Randy’s accident, and getting married.
He doesn’t spend much time on the personal aspects of his life, only as they pertain to the “NASCAR” and racing bits.
He does mention his first ARCA win in Daytona in February 1979, ironically the same year Dale Earnhardt started in the Winston Cup (later NEXTEL, Sprint, Monster, and NASCAR Cup). In an interesting and related note – Adam Petty qualified and ran his first Winston Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2, 2000 (DirecTV 500), a race that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won. Three days later, Lee Petty (3x champion) died at the age of 86.
Petty includes some off-track events with up-and-coming drivers, crew chiefs, and car owners. This truly highlights what a family sport NASCAR was and still is.
It has to be said that one can’t have a NASCAR story without the movie DAYS OF THUNDER being mentioned (it is one of my favorites and is the reason I have a 1998 Chevy Lumina in my garage – doesn’t run anymore, but someday hoping it will). It is the 1990 movie with Tom Cruise who plays Cole Trickle, a young and cocky up-and-coming NASCAR driver.
Though, to be honest – in Petty’s case, the movie resulted in a real-life sponsorship. While MELLO YELLO was the sponsor of Trickle’s #51 Lumina in the movie, the Coca-Cola brand drink went on to sponsor Petty’s #42 Pontiac Grand Prix from 1991-1994. Same livery and fire suit colors as well. I think I even have a few trading cards from that time. And, that is also mentioned too – the trading card entry into NASCAR – which I have a TON of! To be honest, I haven’t seen them in a while though. So sad, I loved buying them.
Moving on …
Petty also talks about the highs and lows of being a driver, as well as moving on from teams. He talks about ownership and running his father’s team. He’s also candid about his own career not matching that of his father.
There is a somewhat hilarious story about a “post-wreck” incident involving him and an EMT at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I shouldn’t have laughed so hard, but I did. The way Sterling Marlin (who I had the joy of meeting in 2005) told Kyle about it – it was hard to keep a straight face.
One thing Petty also talks about – the motorcycle charity ride and its origins.
And, another movie franchise I like – Cars – is mentioned. It is one movie franchise (Cars & Cars 3 especially) that is geared towards kids and can get them interested in NASCAR as well.
But, as with most books – Petty soon gets back to the beginning – to Adam.
One thing I didn’t know? Adam became the youngest ARCA race winner, beating out his father by a few months. Adam won over future 7x champion Jimmie Johnson.
Petty is honest about losing his son and how it affected him and his family. He’s honest about not wanting the details or asking about it. He’s honest and raw with grief and its effects, even far past the moment of the trauma; how one can function but not recall the events around them. As of note – grief can linger a long time.
He’s also unapologetically honest when it comes to what Adam might have been like in NASCAR. He hears the “what might’ve beens”, “what could’ve beens” – and he’s honest – he’s not sure what Adam would’ve been like. Given Adam’s career stats – Kyle Petty is realistic.
He recalls a remark from Sterling Marlin about Adam being a natural in victory lane – it is from the 1981 Daytona 500 that Richard Petty won and RP carried young Adam there.
Adam isn’t the only loss though. At the end of 2008 (when Jimmie Johnson won his 3rd championship in a row), Kyle’s “position” with Petty Motorsports ends – entirely. As he states, “racing is what he did” NOT “who he is”.
Who he is, is someone who understands that the political climate influences sponsors. He talks about the events of 2021 and how they shaped the NASCAR landscape, as well as environmental changes needed to sustain the sport – to attract new fans without alienating the old ones.
If nothing else, Kyle Petty is just as invested in the sport as his grandfather Lee was from the beginning. He’s never not busy, and never without an opinion.
This is a book I’m going to remember for a while for a lot of reasons.
The tragedy is overwhelming. How the family “buried” Adam is unique, tragic, and yet seemingly appropriate. I found myself crying and putting the book down for a moment.
Yet, I was also entertained, enthralled. I laughed, I cried, learned a lot that is for certain. I felt a bit more connected to the sport than I have in a while. At times Petty is brash, but he is always honest, open, full-throttle, has a sense of humor, and has some reflective tones to his “voice”. It is easy to see and feel the sadness, yet at the same time, you feel the hopefulness of something even better on the horizon.
I loved the historic look at the car numbers within his family –
Lee (later Kyle) – 42
Richard – 43
Maurice – 44
Adam – 45
I also enjoyed learning where the “Petty Blue” color came from. Hint – it really is an original family color thanks to Lee Petty’s idea. It is easy to research. Here’s the skinny – it was created by accident when Lee didn’t have enough blue or white to cover the entire car. I never would’ve guessed that.
That isn’t the only Petty family contribution to NASCAR, Kyle’s Grandmother Petty invented the window net and it is on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
While Petty gave a great look at his time in NASCAR (even up to now) as well as his vision for the future, I do feel as though there was room for expansion; particularly in areas that affected not only his life, but NASCAR as well. There were two (2) topics left out – the death of Dale Earnhardt, the rival of Richard Petty. And of course, the 9/11 (2001) attacks. I would think that both events had significant impact on the teams, the sport, and even the author.
This is definitely a conversational type read from beginning to end. I could, at times, see myself having coffee with Kyle and listening to his tales. Those who like a linear (year by year) telling will not find that, and it could be confusing to some readers. Petty tells the chapters by relaying relevant “stories” and then leads into the topic. He lays off the “jargon” and takes a “layman’s terms” approach. There is little on the technical aspect of this (inspection wise, car builds, engineering, etc).
He also doesn’t go the exposé route, so readers won’t find a juicy “tell-all” story here, nor did I expect this book to be such.
The language is relatively mild (almost vanilla), except for the use of the word “crap” which is in a story referring to his grandfather Lee Petty, as well as an “s”-bomb for the same reason. The author himself keeps the language clean so this book can be enjoyed by anyone 14 and older. The author is also a Christian so there are going to be references to his faith, as well as the faith of his grandparents. Kyle doesn’t “preach” at people, but it is clear where he stands when it comes to faith.
Although the book was completed prior to this summer, in June 2022, Kyle and Morgan welcomed their third son together –> Davant Isley.
About Petty Enterprises:
Lee Petty Engineering/Petty Enterprises (1949-2008)
Petty Motorsports (2009-2021)
Petty GMS Motorsports (2022-current; formed when GMS bought a majority stake)
Rarely do I read biographies or autobiographies (A). I have, since starting my blog, read four (including this one) – William Daniels (A), Princess Diana, and Gary Sinise’s (A) book. I have perused Dale Jr’s Racing to the Finish (A) and Jeff Gordon’s book (A).
In order for me to want to read it – I have to REALLY like the person or be interested in what they’ve done.
Naturally, if it is about NASCAR – I’m VERY LIKELY to read the book. If it is a person of interest – I will more than likely read the book.
For those who might not be too familiar with the difference –
Biography – account of a person’s life written by someone else
Autobiography – account of a person’s life written by them
No matter how you view him – Kyle Petty can be a polarizing figure. You either like him or you don’t. He can be contentious, out-spoken, but refreshingly honest. It can’t be denied he is part of a powerful NASCAR family and history. He is after all, a third (3rd) generation racer, with his late son Adam who was one of the first 4th generation athletes.
After hearing about this book (and seeing a “contest”) – I HAD to read it. And, am thankful to the publisher for it. I learned so much that I ended up with PAGES of notes.
Like most – this is written by the “subject” with another author – though it is very hard to tell and easily reads like a conversation one would have with Kyle Petty. It’s so easy to “hear” his voice in this, especially if you’ve heard an interview or seen him on TV. The title of the book is not really explained, so I didn’t see the correlation. It is very catchy though, and I have to admit it drew my attention right away.
This isn’t one of those “long-winded” books and comes in at under 300 pages. Petty says what he wants to and gets it done – perhaps in some cases, he’s too “short”. Even the chapters are short. Petty tells his story in four (4) parts over 30 chapters. This way it is easier to read and pause to come back. Though, I do admit – there were times I didn’t want to put it down.
I’ll admit this up front and right here – I’m more of a Dale Earnhardt fan and think he’s a bit better than Richard Petty in the overall stats. Why? Earnhardt won seven (7) titles with 1/3 of the wins Petty did. In addition, there are other stats to expand on that would take up far more time. To me, it goes –> Dale, Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty. Not to say I don’t recognize what Petty brought to NASCAR’s table, I’m just saying that Dale (in my opinion) is #1.
That out of the way …
I can’t (and won’t) deny the impact the Pettys have had on NASCAR considering the origins of the sport, as well as their legacy from the inception of the sport until now. There’s a lot of politics under that bridge as well as some controversies. Chrysler boycott is one of them.
Naturally, this is a “must-read” or “strongly suggested read” for those who want an insider look at the sport. That’s why I HAD to read it. Obviously this is going to be intended for fans of NASCAR as well as fans of the author.
When it comes to books like this – spoilers are inherent. After all, one only has to research Petty to find out who he is and what he’s been through. A Wikipedia search can easily “spoil” the book.
Petty also won’t shy away from controversy either – from what he feels NASCAR needs, Bubba Wallace’s introduction into NASCAR, and the controversial “Confederate” flag. He doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he tells it like it is, and moves on.
He tackles grief as a parent, and finding love again after loss and divorce.
Petty starts off the introduction because of a message – CALL MIKE HELTON. It is in 2000, and Petty is in England looking at horses with his daughter (there is a cute quip from Jeff Burton about that). Petty’s son Adam is in New Hampshire. As the reader knows (or should) – it would be about Adam’s accident.
From there, Kyle Petty goes into the roles he’s had in his life:
🏁 Racer
🚗 Car Owner
🏍️ Motorcycle Rider
🎤 Country Singer (I had no idea; not sure I want to even go there)
🎸 Songwriter (another “had no idea” here)
🏕️ Camp Counselor
📺 Broadcaster
✝️ Christian
🎙️ Voice Actor
🖼️ Body-Art Proponent
💵 Philanthropist
👨👦 Son
✳️ Brother
👫🏻 Husband
👨🏻🍼 Dad
✳️ Friend
There is absolutely no doubt that he’s “been around” and had some “experiences” with certain aspects of life.
As of note, one subject Kyle Petty does not get into – politics. He only discusses his father’s seat on the Randolph County Commission. Richard Petty was elected in 1978, 1982, 1986, and 1990. He does not mention his father’s other “political” highlights either. Kyle doesn’t wade into other social issues or his political leanings either in this book.
From the introduction, he divides his story into the following parts:
1️⃣ – Dreamer
2️⃣ – Driver
3️ – Dad
4️⃣ – The Road Ahead
Petty introduces the readers to the town of Level Cross. It’s interesting to note that his father still lives there today.
From there, Petty goes into the origins of NASCAR, which he feels can be debated – prohibition or post-war activities. There’s even a hint about his grandfather’s Lee’s beginnings and moonshine running. All Kyle alludes to is that his grandfather was in “beverage transportation”.
He talks about his name’s origin and that his father didn’t want a name that could lead to a nickname. I laughed so hard at the “Dick Petty” remark, and his dad being “double-down po’d”.
Petty winds and turns on his way – peeling back the layers of a multi-faceted life and journey. Being the only boy of the King (Petty has three younger sisters), his Uncle Randy’s accident, and getting married.
He doesn’t spend much time on the personal aspects of his life, only as they pertain to the “NASCAR” and racing bits.
He does mention his first ARCA win in Daytona in February 1979, ironically the same year Dale Earnhardt started in the Winston Cup (later NEXTEL, Sprint, Monster, and NASCAR Cup). In an interesting and related note – Adam Petty qualified and ran his first Winston Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2, 2000 (DirecTV 500), a race that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won. Three days later, Lee Petty (3x champion) died at the age of 86.
Petty includes some off-track events with up-and-coming drivers, crew chiefs, and car owners. This truly highlights what a family sport NASCAR was and still is.
It has to be said that one can’t have a NASCAR story without the movie DAYS OF THUNDER being mentioned (it is one of my favorites and is the reason I have a 1998 Chevy Lumina in my garage – doesn’t run anymore, but someday hoping it will). It is the 1990 movie with Tom Cruise who plays Cole Trickle, a young and cocky up-and-coming NASCAR driver.
Though, to be honest – in Petty’s case, the movie resulted in a real-life sponsorship. While MELLO YELLO was the sponsor of Trickle’s #51 Lumina in the movie, the Coca-Cola brand drink went on to sponsor Petty’s #42 Pontiac Grand Prix from 1991-1994. Same livery and fire suit colors as well. I think I even have a few trading cards from that time. And, that is also mentioned too – the trading card entry into NASCAR – which I have a TON of! To be honest, I haven’t seen them in a while though. So sad, I loved buying them.
Moving on …
Petty also talks about the highs and lows of being a driver, as well as moving on from teams. He talks about ownership and running his father’s team. He’s also candid about his own career not matching that of his father.
There is a somewhat hilarious story about a “post-wreck” incident involving him and an EMT at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I shouldn’t have laughed so hard, but I did. The way Sterling Marlin (who I had the joy of meeting in 2005) told Kyle about it – it was hard to keep a straight face.
One thing Petty also talks about – the motorcycle charity ride and its origins.
And, another movie franchise I like – Cars – is mentioned. It is one movie franchise (Cars & Cars 3 especially) that is geared towards kids and can get them interested in NASCAR as well.
But, as with most books – Petty soon gets back to the beginning – to Adam.
One thing I didn’t know? Adam became the youngest ARCA race winner, beating out his father by a few months. Adam won over future 7x champion Jimmie Johnson.
Petty is honest about losing his son and how it affected him and his family. He’s honest about not wanting the details or asking about it. He’s honest and raw with grief and its effects, even far past the moment of the trauma; how one can function but not recall the events around them. As of note – grief can linger a long time.
He’s also unapologetically honest when it comes to what Adam might have been like in NASCAR. He hears the “what might’ve beens”, “what could’ve beens” – and he’s honest – he’s not sure what Adam would’ve been like. Given Adam’s career stats – Kyle Petty is realistic.
He recalls a remark from Sterling Marlin about Adam being a natural in victory lane – it is from the 1981 Daytona 500 that Richard Petty won and RP carried young Adam there.
Adam isn’t the only loss though. At the end of 2008 (when Jimmie Johnson won his 3rd championship in a row), Kyle’s “position” with Petty Motorsports ends – entirely. As he states, “racing is what he did” NOT “who he is”.
Who he is, is someone who understands that the political climate influences sponsors. He talks about the events of 2021 and how they shaped the NASCAR landscape, as well as environmental changes needed to sustain the sport – to attract new fans without alienating the old ones.
If nothing else, Kyle Petty is just as invested in the sport as his grandfather Lee was from the beginning. He’s never not busy, and never without an opinion.
This is a book I’m going to remember for a while for a lot of reasons.
The tragedy is overwhelming. How the family “buried” Adam is unique, tragic, and yet seemingly appropriate. I found myself crying and putting the book down for a moment.
Yet, I was also entertained, enthralled. I laughed, I cried, learned a lot that is for certain. I felt a bit more connected to the sport than I have in a while. At times Petty is brash, but he is always honest, open, full-throttle, has a sense of humor, and has some reflective tones to his “voice”. It is easy to see and feel the sadness, yet at the same time, you feel the hopefulness of something even better on the horizon.
I loved the historic look at the car numbers within his family –
Lee (later Kyle) – 42
Richard – 43
Maurice – 44
Adam – 45
I also enjoyed learning where the “Petty Blue” color came from. Hint – it really is an original family color thanks to Lee Petty’s idea. It is easy to research. Here’s the skinny – it was created by accident when Lee didn’t have enough blue or white to cover the entire car. I never would’ve guessed that.
That isn’t the only Petty family contribution to NASCAR, Kyle’s Grandmother Petty invented the window net and it is on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
While Petty gave a great look at his time in NASCAR (even up to now) as well as his vision for the future, I do feel as though there was room for expansion; particularly in areas that affected not only his life, but NASCAR as well. There were two (2) topics left out – the death of Dale Earnhardt, the rival of Richard Petty. And of course, the 9/11 (2001) attacks. I would think that both events had significant impact on the teams, the sport, and even the author.
This is definitely a conversational type read from beginning to end. I could, at times, see myself having coffee with Kyle and listening to his tales. Those who like a linear (year by year) telling will not find that, and it could be confusing to some readers. Petty tells the chapters by relaying relevant “stories” and then leads into the topic. He lays off the “jargon” and takes a “layman’s terms” approach. There is little on the technical aspect of this (inspection wise, car builds, engineering, etc).
He also doesn’t go the exposé route, so readers won’t find a juicy “tell-all” story here, nor did I expect this book to be such.
The language is relatively mild (almost vanilla), except for the use of the word “crap” which is in a story referring to his grandfather Lee Petty, as well as an “s”-bomb for the same reason. The author himself keeps the language clean so this book can be enjoyed by anyone 14 and older. The author is also a Christian so there are going to be references to his faith, as well as the faith of his grandparents. Kyle doesn’t “preach” at people, but it is clear where he stands when it comes to faith.
Although the book was completed prior to this summer, in June 2022, Kyle and Morgan welcomed their third son together –> Davant Isley.
About Petty Enterprises:
Lee Petty Engineering/Petty Enterprises (1949-2008)
Petty Motorsports (2009-2021)
Petty GMS Motorsports (2022-current; formed when GMS bought a majority stake)
October 10, 2022
If Richard Petty is the King of NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) racing, then Kyle Petty is a prince. The book places Kyle in context with his past, so it's not necessary to have any knowledge of Kyle's ancestry whatsoever, we're intimately introduced to his extended family in the course of the events as they're presented. Messers. Petty and Henican have created a most readable work, it's very smooth and flowing.
The book's introduction addresses the elephant in the room, a dire notification with which most fans of NASCAR are quite familiar. It involves a Petty racecar, at a racetrack, during practice, while Kyle was outside the country. He touches upon the subject in more detail later in the narrative, but this was the perfect hook for folks who have some knowledge of Kyle and his personal history. Along with the personalities introduced, the places described such as Randolph County and Level Cross figure prominently, one really gets a sense of place while reading about Kyle's formative years.
Petty is a unique conduit between NASCAR's early days and today, in the list of modern NASCAR drivers, perhaps only Dale Jarrett has a similar link to past and present. We're introduced to the triumphs and tragedies from the series' early days because Kyle's father, grandfather and uncle all drove in NASCAR and made their mark which helped shape the sport that fans enjoy today. Kyle dutifully passes on the stories of the wives and mothers who stood behind their husbands and families, each made their own fascinating contributions to the sport.
The book's second part deals with Kyle as a driver, I was amazed at his professional starting series, track and finish. It was a truly remarkable story and could never have happened today. Life isn't just a bowl of cherries and Kyle's racing tribulations are imparted detailing every disappointment. At the beginning of his career, Kyle is competing against the competitors from the "Golden Era" of NASCAR and he has a lot to learn in many instances and these golden age heroes are not shy about telling Kyle how he's measuring up. Kyle's frame of reference is nonpareil, he's performed every task in the Petty shop and he uses this knowledge along with his crew chief to achieve some interesting results while pushing the rules' envelope.
Due to circumstances beyond their control the Petty operations had to take a hiatus, Kyle luckily was able to snag a ride with another founding team of NASCAR who competed against the Pettys in NASCAR's nascent period. Kyle found victory circle and continued to finish in the single digits often, but later this very special partnership was dissolved amicably.
Kyle was in his high school band and was fascinated when, during his childhood, he was able to watch a famous country musician play guitar during moments when the NASCAR circus wasn't on stage. It wasn't surprising that Kyle participated in making an album (a collection of musical tracks that can be listened to using a record player). It was a country album that featured a number of NASCAR drivers. It turned out that this was an activity that spawned Kyle's musical career that continues even to today.
Kyle had great success at a track named Rockingham with Felix Sabates racing in the Mello-Yellow car. Amazingly, Kyle never signed a contract with this organization, Kyle's salary details were delivered in a most unusual way.
Mr. Petty is the father of a number of children. The one that figures most prominently in this work is named Adam. Adam chose to follow in his fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers' footsteps and Kyle chose to support his son in his choice without force or pressure. Adam was focused, a trait shared by his grandfather and great grandfather, his own father, not so much. As Adam progressed in his driving ability, Kyle's experience with the Sabates organization was becoming stale. The time had come for Kyle to step away and to form a team for himself and for which Adam would eventually drive in the Busch series. A hilarious story about fame and recognition appears at the mid-point of this book. Adam's progress figures prominently in the next portion of the book and the interactions with his family are often touching and sometimes funny.
Two full chapters are dedicated to a much more somber event that was foreshadowed in the book's introduction. They lead into the book's fourth part entitled "The Road Ahead". The Victory Junction Camp's inception and creation are well documented in a couple of chapters. Kyle Petty's Charity Ride is the largest continual donor to the Victory Junction Camp. I had no idea that Kyle is a private pilot but flying enables him to keep a jammed packed schedule of fund raising, appearances, and television work.
A Charity Ride worker eventually became Kyle's second wife. The Charity Ride continued to evolve as the courtship of Morgan progressed. Kyle's happiness was tempered by the loss of a founding member of the Charity Ride and his mother. Kyle's music was an outlet that helped him cope with these losses, but it also was a way to channel happier emotions too. Several lyric paragraphs appear in the book and Kyle's process of writing music is revealed.
The final chapter is a summation of the of the sport's progress of change, in safety, in diversity, in media and equipment.
The book's introduction addresses the elephant in the room, a dire notification with which most fans of NASCAR are quite familiar. It involves a Petty racecar, at a racetrack, during practice, while Kyle was outside the country. He touches upon the subject in more detail later in the narrative, but this was the perfect hook for folks who have some knowledge of Kyle and his personal history. Along with the personalities introduced, the places described such as Randolph County and Level Cross figure prominently, one really gets a sense of place while reading about Kyle's formative years.
Petty is a unique conduit between NASCAR's early days and today, in the list of modern NASCAR drivers, perhaps only Dale Jarrett has a similar link to past and present. We're introduced to the triumphs and tragedies from the series' early days because Kyle's father, grandfather and uncle all drove in NASCAR and made their mark which helped shape the sport that fans enjoy today. Kyle dutifully passes on the stories of the wives and mothers who stood behind their husbands and families, each made their own fascinating contributions to the sport.
The book's second part deals with Kyle as a driver, I was amazed at his professional starting series, track and finish. It was a truly remarkable story and could never have happened today. Life isn't just a bowl of cherries and Kyle's racing tribulations are imparted detailing every disappointment. At the beginning of his career, Kyle is competing against the competitors from the "Golden Era" of NASCAR and he has a lot to learn in many instances and these golden age heroes are not shy about telling Kyle how he's measuring up. Kyle's frame of reference is nonpareil, he's performed every task in the Petty shop and he uses this knowledge along with his crew chief to achieve some interesting results while pushing the rules' envelope.
Due to circumstances beyond their control the Petty operations had to take a hiatus, Kyle luckily was able to snag a ride with another founding team of NASCAR who competed against the Pettys in NASCAR's nascent period. Kyle found victory circle and continued to finish in the single digits often, but later this very special partnership was dissolved amicably.
Kyle was in his high school band and was fascinated when, during his childhood, he was able to watch a famous country musician play guitar during moments when the NASCAR circus wasn't on stage. It wasn't surprising that Kyle participated in making an album (a collection of musical tracks that can be listened to using a record player). It was a country album that featured a number of NASCAR drivers. It turned out that this was an activity that spawned Kyle's musical career that continues even to today.
Kyle had great success at a track named Rockingham with Felix Sabates racing in the Mello-Yellow car. Amazingly, Kyle never signed a contract with this organization, Kyle's salary details were delivered in a most unusual way.
Mr. Petty is the father of a number of children. The one that figures most prominently in this work is named Adam. Adam chose to follow in his fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers' footsteps and Kyle chose to support his son in his choice without force or pressure. Adam was focused, a trait shared by his grandfather and great grandfather, his own father, not so much. As Adam progressed in his driving ability, Kyle's experience with the Sabates organization was becoming stale. The time had come for Kyle to step away and to form a team for himself and for which Adam would eventually drive in the Busch series. A hilarious story about fame and recognition appears at the mid-point of this book. Adam's progress figures prominently in the next portion of the book and the interactions with his family are often touching and sometimes funny.
Two full chapters are dedicated to a much more somber event that was foreshadowed in the book's introduction. They lead into the book's fourth part entitled "The Road Ahead". The Victory Junction Camp's inception and creation are well documented in a couple of chapters. Kyle Petty's Charity Ride is the largest continual donor to the Victory Junction Camp. I had no idea that Kyle is a private pilot but flying enables him to keep a jammed packed schedule of fund raising, appearances, and television work.
A Charity Ride worker eventually became Kyle's second wife. The Charity Ride continued to evolve as the courtship of Morgan progressed. Kyle's happiness was tempered by the loss of a founding member of the Charity Ride and his mother. Kyle's music was an outlet that helped him cope with these losses, but it also was a way to channel happier emotions too. Several lyric paragraphs appear in the book and Kyle's process of writing music is revealed.
The final chapter is a summation of the of the sport's progress of change, in safety, in diversity, in media and equipment.
August 8, 2022
The family of Petty is one of the most famous families in auto racing. Lee Petty won the first sanctioned NASCAR race and his son Richard has the most wins at the highest level of NASCAR competition (Cup races) at 200. Richard’s son Kyle won Cup races as well, and grandson Adam, who won his first ARCA race, was destined for success as well. The stories of this legendary race family – the good, the bad, the funny and the tragic – are told in this excellent memoir by Kyle Petty, written with Ellis Henican.
It’s hard to unpack where to begin when describing this book because while it follows the family story from Kyle’s viewpoint in chronological order, it doesn’t really fit into one nice flow as Kyle goes from topic to topic – from family life to driving on the famous Daytona track as a teenager to passing down the love of racing to his sons. Changing the focus of a particular passage fits the personality of Kyle because while he was born into a racing family, he had many other interests and talents that he has used to his benefit for his life outside racing.
Kyle talks about his musical talents that has had him performing on stage as an opening act for some of the biggest names in country music. He mentions that even though he was disappointed that his driving career ended because the team (not Petty Enterprises, the team that both he and his father not only drove for, but also ran as the CEO – and both eventually stepped down from that spot) determined that he would not drive any longer, not his decision. He credits his interest in music and television broadcasting as his way of staying connected with the sport. Currently, he is an analyst for NBC’s coverage of NASCAR and hosts other talk shows and podcasts on racing.
As one might expect, he expressed his grief over the lost of his son when Adam Petty was killed in a practice run at New Hampshire Speedway in 2000. Adam was only 19, but not only was he focused on his driving career, he wanted to help others. It led to another project that kept Kyle from becoming another athlete who wonders what to do when they no longer are competing. A camp for children with severe medical conditions, Victory Junction, was started in Adam’s memory and is still a very popular camp where these children can just have fun for a week.
Kyle writes from a knowledgeable viewpoint, no matter what the racing topic would be. He worked on cars – he wrote about the detail his father taught him while doing that. He drove in races – he writes about his struggles behind the wheel as well as his victories. He ran a racing organization, as mentioned above. He is a successful broadcaster – he writes about the issues he sees and the people he talks to every week. He also writes about family – from his parents and grandparents to his children and his spouses (been married twice). Just about anything one would want to know about NASCAR and Kyle Petty will be found here. It is a great read for race fans and fans of the Petty family.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It’s hard to unpack where to begin when describing this book because while it follows the family story from Kyle’s viewpoint in chronological order, it doesn’t really fit into one nice flow as Kyle goes from topic to topic – from family life to driving on the famous Daytona track as a teenager to passing down the love of racing to his sons. Changing the focus of a particular passage fits the personality of Kyle because while he was born into a racing family, he had many other interests and talents that he has used to his benefit for his life outside racing.
Kyle talks about his musical talents that has had him performing on stage as an opening act for some of the biggest names in country music. He mentions that even though he was disappointed that his driving career ended because the team (not Petty Enterprises, the team that both he and his father not only drove for, but also ran as the CEO – and both eventually stepped down from that spot) determined that he would not drive any longer, not his decision. He credits his interest in music and television broadcasting as his way of staying connected with the sport. Currently, he is an analyst for NBC’s coverage of NASCAR and hosts other talk shows and podcasts on racing.
As one might expect, he expressed his grief over the lost of his son when Adam Petty was killed in a practice run at New Hampshire Speedway in 2000. Adam was only 19, but not only was he focused on his driving career, he wanted to help others. It led to another project that kept Kyle from becoming another athlete who wonders what to do when they no longer are competing. A camp for children with severe medical conditions, Victory Junction, was started in Adam’s memory and is still a very popular camp where these children can just have fun for a week.
Kyle writes from a knowledgeable viewpoint, no matter what the racing topic would be. He worked on cars – he wrote about the detail his father taught him while doing that. He drove in races – he writes about his struggles behind the wheel as well as his victories. He ran a racing organization, as mentioned above. He is a successful broadcaster – he writes about the issues he sees and the people he talks to every week. He also writes about family – from his parents and grandparents to his children and his spouses (been married twice). Just about anything one would want to know about NASCAR and Kyle Petty will be found here. It is a great read for race fans and fans of the Petty family.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
August 9, 2022
Been a NASCAR fan for a while and picked this up after reading that it would be showing a lot of "off the screen".
There were some things in there that I was aware of, but the things I was unaware of were pretty cool to learn about. I did know a lot about the Petty Enterprise and the legacy of of his granddaddy, Lee Petty, his daddy Richard Petty, himself, and his son Adam. I was watching that on tv that day.
I knew about Victory Junction and the charity ride, it was the little details in there I didn't know about, however I'm sure a die hard fan would have know, but it brought a lot more to me. His time in Nashville, I was totally unaware of, so that was cool to discover, enough that I went digging down the rabbit hole for more about it.
I'm not a very emotional person and definitely not as a reader, but there finally came a point in this book, later in the book, that I reached and a tear came down my cheek. Then a few pages later, I got watery eyed.
You don't have to be a Kyle Petty fan, you don't even have to be a NASCAR fan! This book is more off the track and behind the scene of the life he's been through, btw, a typical teen, lol, what he's accomplished, and still involved in a lot of things today.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins for the opportunity to read an arc for my honest review.
There were some things in there that I was aware of, but the things I was unaware of were pretty cool to learn about. I did know a lot about the Petty Enterprise and the legacy of of his granddaddy, Lee Petty, his daddy Richard Petty, himself, and his son Adam. I was watching that on tv that day.
I knew about Victory Junction and the charity ride, it was the little details in there I didn't know about, however I'm sure a die hard fan would have know, but it brought a lot more to me. His time in Nashville, I was totally unaware of, so that was cool to discover, enough that I went digging down the rabbit hole for more about it.
I'm not a very emotional person and definitely not as a reader, but there finally came a point in this book, later in the book, that I reached and a tear came down my cheek. Then a few pages later, I got watery eyed.
You don't have to be a Kyle Petty fan, you don't even have to be a NASCAR fan! This book is more off the track and behind the scene of the life he's been through, btw, a typical teen, lol, what he's accomplished, and still involved in a lot of things today.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins for the opportunity to read an arc for my honest review.
July 31, 2022
Kyle Petty was the third generation racer in the Petty dynasty.
In a family where weekends are for watching races and a son who is a walking encyclopedia for anything racing from F1 on down the line I don't feel that after reading this I know anymore about Kyle than I did before. I always thought that someone can lead a most fascinating life, which he did, but that doesn't mean he can write a book as compelling. There were times that this book seemed a lot longer than just under 300 pages. All in all though he was very readable and would be a good addition to the library of any race fan.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.
In a family where weekends are for watching races and a son who is a walking encyclopedia for anything racing from F1 on down the line I don't feel that after reading this I know anymore about Kyle than I did before. I always thought that someone can lead a most fascinating life, which he did, but that doesn't mean he can write a book as compelling. There were times that this book seemed a lot longer than just under 300 pages. All in all though he was very readable and would be a good addition to the library of any race fan.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.
June 26, 2022
Excellent look into the first family of NASCAR. Kyle Petty doesn't hold anything back. Engaging and well written that even makes a not a huge racing fan wanting to keep turning the pages.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC.
June 19, 2022
I’ve never watched a stock car race or any other car race and yet I still enjoyed this book. The writing is just ok but the story telling is fun and I liked learning a bit about a sport (and truly a culture) that I knew next to nothing about.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.
May 23, 2022
Great book with a unique perspective on life. I liked getting to know the person behind the name. Well written and interesting.
June 29, 2023
I was interested in Kyle Patty's life and how he dealt with Adam's death. It was a sad book at times, but also hopeful. I did learn quite a few things I didn't know about, like an accident on pit road in the 70s.
April 20, 2022
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
I randomly entered this giveaway, without being a NASCAR fan or a racing fan in general. So I didn't even know who Kyle Petty was, though his father, Richard Petty, sounded vaguely familiar. Generally, I found the book interesting, despite not really knowing anything about car racing. It's an effective autobiography of a man who's a third-generation racer, with some history of NASCAR and his grandfather's and father's involvement in it that felt necessary without feeling overly long. I appreciated the lack of jargon and that the book seems to have been written without an assumption of any prior knowledge of racing. It also goes into some personal stories, as autobiographies should, especially of the heartbreaking loss of his first son (this is in the introduction, so not really a spoiler). It did feel a bit light on the details about his other children and his courtship of his first wife, though; it seemed like he and his wife were married not long after her introduction in the text, without really mentioning all the ups and downs in their courtship, with only a brief mention of the wedding and the race that was part of their honeymoon. I expected more presence of a woman who the author was married to for over three decades and bore three of his children. There's also some really heartwarming stories about the charity ride across the country that Kyle set up and the camp he established in honor of his deceased son, and I could not help but feel warm and fuzzy after reading these parts. The last chapter, though, felt shoehorned in, with some musings about the future of racing crammed into the final pages. It mentions changes in money and sponsorships, as well as questions about diversity and adverse effects on the environment, but it felt like these deserved a lot more space. The money and sponsorship issues are touched on throughout the book naturally by way of describing what went on behind the scenes on his racing team, but the diversity issues are barely mentioned until the end, and the environmental issues aren't even brought up until the very end. In a book that spans multiple decades of a sport, it seemed like there was a missed opportunity to discuss the issues of diversity and environment throughout the book, showing changes and evolution, or lack thereof, as the sport grew up. But the book was more entertaining than I expected, for a sport I barely know anything about.
I randomly entered this giveaway, without being a NASCAR fan or a racing fan in general. So I didn't even know who Kyle Petty was, though his father, Richard Petty, sounded vaguely familiar. Generally, I found the book interesting, despite not really knowing anything about car racing. It's an effective autobiography of a man who's a third-generation racer, with some history of NASCAR and his grandfather's and father's involvement in it that felt necessary without feeling overly long. I appreciated the lack of jargon and that the book seems to have been written without an assumption of any prior knowledge of racing. It also goes into some personal stories, as autobiographies should, especially of the heartbreaking loss of his first son (this is in the introduction, so not really a spoiler). It did feel a bit light on the details about his other children and his courtship of his first wife, though; it seemed like he and his wife were married not long after her introduction in the text, without really mentioning all the ups and downs in their courtship, with only a brief mention of the wedding and the race that was part of their honeymoon. I expected more presence of a woman who the author was married to for over three decades and bore three of his children. There's also some really heartwarming stories about the charity ride across the country that Kyle set up and the camp he established in honor of his deceased son, and I could not help but feel warm and fuzzy after reading these parts. The last chapter, though, felt shoehorned in, with some musings about the future of racing crammed into the final pages. It mentions changes in money and sponsorships, as well as questions about diversity and adverse effects on the environment, but it felt like these deserved a lot more space. The money and sponsorship issues are touched on throughout the book naturally by way of describing what went on behind the scenes on his racing team, but the diversity issues are barely mentioned until the end, and the environmental issues aren't even brought up until the very end. In a book that spans multiple decades of a sport, it seemed like there was a missed opportunity to discuss the issues of diversity and environment throughout the book, showing changes and evolution, or lack thereof, as the sport grew up. But the book was more entertaining than I expected, for a sport I barely know anything about.
April 13, 2025
A weak 3, as Kyle inexplicably does not bother to cover the two best years of his career but goes on at excessive length about his charity ventures and music performances.
- Richard Petty, 200-race winner and arguably the greatest of all time, married young, was a bit of a perfectionist, and made Kyle earn it by having him work in the shop from the time he was able
- Tragedy strikes a lot of racing families, and learning that Richard's crash in a drag car killed an 8-year old boy and that Kyle had to see his young uncle killed right beside him by a pit road accident is a lot to deal with; that Kyle lost his own son Adam on the track was just as tragic
- Kyle did right by Adam with how they buried his ashes
- I didn't care about Kyle's forays into country music, and I wonder if his racing career suffered from it
- Yep, the Kyle Petty motorcycle ride for charity and Victory Junction for sick kids are great causes, but they went on too long
- The last chapter (diversity, carbon, bleh) was total cringe, almost dropped the book to two stars with that much BS to close (the best driver in the sport is half-Japanese. Open your eyes, Kyle)
- Why on earth was there nothing on the '92 and '93 seasons? 5th in the points both years. I would think it would be worth mentioning
- Kyle was fired by the Wood Brothers after several moderately successful seasons, didn't realize he missed part of '89 because he didn't have a ride
- The asshole at Indy who put down defective rumble strips to protect his precious grass, and nearly got Kyle killed in the process, should have been prosecuted
- Kyle seemed a bit surprised he was fired from Petty Enterprises after they were bought by a PE firm. He had a single top 5 finish in his 328 races. Had he had a different name on his back, he would have been fired long before.
- Kyle got a ride because he's Richard Petty's son, and though he did not have the talent or success of other nepo-enabled drivers like Dale Jr and Chase Elliott, he at least outperformed the Brett Bodines and Mike Wallaces of the world, guys who never would have driven at the top level without their last names
- Tough to recommend the book, but the first half, and the writing on the tragedy of Adam's death, had their moments
- Richard Petty, 200-race winner and arguably the greatest of all time, married young, was a bit of a perfectionist, and made Kyle earn it by having him work in the shop from the time he was able
- Tragedy strikes a lot of racing families, and learning that Richard's crash in a drag car killed an 8-year old boy and that Kyle had to see his young uncle killed right beside him by a pit road accident is a lot to deal with; that Kyle lost his own son Adam on the track was just as tragic
- Kyle did right by Adam with how they buried his ashes
- I didn't care about Kyle's forays into country music, and I wonder if his racing career suffered from it
- Yep, the Kyle Petty motorcycle ride for charity and Victory Junction for sick kids are great causes, but they went on too long
- The last chapter (diversity, carbon, bleh) was total cringe, almost dropped the book to two stars with that much BS to close (the best driver in the sport is half-Japanese. Open your eyes, Kyle)
- Why on earth was there nothing on the '92 and '93 seasons? 5th in the points both years. I would think it would be worth mentioning
- Kyle was fired by the Wood Brothers after several moderately successful seasons, didn't realize he missed part of '89 because he didn't have a ride
- The asshole at Indy who put down defective rumble strips to protect his precious grass, and nearly got Kyle killed in the process, should have been prosecuted
- Kyle seemed a bit surprised he was fired from Petty Enterprises after they were bought by a PE firm. He had a single top 5 finish in his 328 races. Had he had a different name on his back, he would have been fired long before.
- Kyle got a ride because he's Richard Petty's son, and though he did not have the talent or success of other nepo-enabled drivers like Dale Jr and Chase Elliott, he at least outperformed the Brett Bodines and Mike Wallaces of the world, guys who never would have driven at the top level without their last names
- Tough to recommend the book, but the first half, and the writing on the tragedy of Adam's death, had their moments
![Profile Image for Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1672255572i%2F4799500._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 2, 2022
In 1994 I lost my father, I was only eight years old at the time, so I don't have a lifetime of memories. What I do know is that my father loved his children, he loved mechanics and he loved NASCAR. In fact, he was buried with our TV remote because my mom said he'd still be able to watch NASCAR in Heaven.
Kyle Petty was born into NASCAR Royalty. His grandfather helped create the sport and the wealth of knowledge Kyle has is rooted in the fact that racing became the family business. First with his grandfather, then his father and uncle, and eventually his son, Adam.
While most teenagers would rather hang out with their friends, Kyle was devoting his time and energy into the family shop. It was there he learned everything from changing tires to sealing the body of a race car. Like most things, it took time for Kyle to hone his skills on the track but his record speaks for itself.
This book will give you a healthy dose of NASCAR knowledge. From the things you may know to stories you'd likely never heard. However, there are also other stories, harder to read stories. Like the death of Kyle's brother-in-law and then his own son. Admittedly, I cried a few times reading this book.
I will never rate a memoir under 5 stars because let's be real, who am I to judge someone's life experience, but Kyle Petty's Swerve or Die would have had 5 stars anyway. It is well written, well paced, and captivating. I grew up a little over an hour south of Daytona so I know a bit about NASCAR, but not a lot and yet I never felt I couldn't understand what I was reading. My favorite section of the book was about the establishment of Victory Junction. Word of advice, don't tell Kyle Petty he can't do something. Not only will he do it, but he'll do it better than you ever expected.
This book is for the NASCAR fan, it's also for anyone who loves cars and racing, who has suffered a tragic loss and want to know they're not alone and about coming out on the other side.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy to review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kyle Petty was born into NASCAR Royalty. His grandfather helped create the sport and the wealth of knowledge Kyle has is rooted in the fact that racing became the family business. First with his grandfather, then his father and uncle, and eventually his son, Adam.
While most teenagers would rather hang out with their friends, Kyle was devoting his time and energy into the family shop. It was there he learned everything from changing tires to sealing the body of a race car. Like most things, it took time for Kyle to hone his skills on the track but his record speaks for itself.
This book will give you a healthy dose of NASCAR knowledge. From the things you may know to stories you'd likely never heard. However, there are also other stories, harder to read stories. Like the death of Kyle's brother-in-law and then his own son. Admittedly, I cried a few times reading this book.
I will never rate a memoir under 5 stars because let's be real, who am I to judge someone's life experience, but Kyle Petty's Swerve or Die would have had 5 stars anyway. It is well written, well paced, and captivating. I grew up a little over an hour south of Daytona so I know a bit about NASCAR, but not a lot and yet I never felt I couldn't understand what I was reading. My favorite section of the book was about the establishment of Victory Junction. Word of advice, don't tell Kyle Petty he can't do something. Not only will he do it, but he'll do it better than you ever expected.
This book is for the NASCAR fan, it's also for anyone who loves cars and racing, who has suffered a tragic loss and want to know they're not alone and about coming out on the other side.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy to review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 15, 2022
You can't think of NASCAR without thinking of the Petty family. If royalty in a sport was a thing, the Petty Family would definitely be NASCAR's royal family.
The Petty family has had their hand in NASCAR history since before it's inception. Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 and three championships. Richard Petty is the most winningest driver in NASCAR history, a feat that is not likely to ever be broken. Kyle Petty is a well liked driver, by fans and drivers alike. His charity ride raises millions of dollars each year. Adam Petty was a rising young star whose flame was extinguished all too soon.
It was so interesting learning new things from this book, both about NASCAR and the Petty family. One thing enjoyed learning about was how the iconic Petty Blue color was created. Another thing that was fascinating was how a crash involving Richard Petty lead to the invention of the window net.
I will say the chapters about Adam's crash and the months after crushed me. I had begun to follow Adam's career when he was 17 or 18, in hopes he could be my generation's Richard or Dale. Every Friday, I would check to see how he qualified for Saturday's race. I remember logging in on May 12, 2000 to see his picture on the homepage. At first I was so excited, because I thought he had gotten the pole position, only to be crushed when I read the article's title. What a devastating loss for the NASCAR community.
This book is fantastic. Kyle has always been the Petty that's stood out for me. While he did share a love of racing with his father and grandfather, it always seemed to me Kyle was destined to do something different while remaining a part of racing. This book shows Kyle kind of feels the same way. He's dabbled in other things he's passionate about, but it's his charity ride that holds his heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Petty family has had their hand in NASCAR history since before it's inception. Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 and three championships. Richard Petty is the most winningest driver in NASCAR history, a feat that is not likely to ever be broken. Kyle Petty is a well liked driver, by fans and drivers alike. His charity ride raises millions of dollars each year. Adam Petty was a rising young star whose flame was extinguished all too soon.
It was so interesting learning new things from this book, both about NASCAR and the Petty family. One thing enjoyed learning about was how the iconic Petty Blue color was created. Another thing that was fascinating was how a crash involving Richard Petty lead to the invention of the window net.
I will say the chapters about Adam's crash and the months after crushed me. I had begun to follow Adam's career when he was 17 or 18, in hopes he could be my generation's Richard or Dale. Every Friday, I would check to see how he qualified for Saturday's race. I remember logging in on May 12, 2000 to see his picture on the homepage. At first I was so excited, because I thought he had gotten the pole position, only to be crushed when I read the article's title. What a devastating loss for the NASCAR community.
This book is fantastic. Kyle has always been the Petty that's stood out for me. While he did share a love of racing with his father and grandfather, it always seemed to me Kyle was destined to do something different while remaining a part of racing. This book shows Kyle kind of feels the same way. He's dabbled in other things he's passionate about, but it's his charity ride that holds his heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 12, 2022
A very insightful look into the world of auto racing and one of NASCAR’S top family Petty. Kyle, the third generation opens up about the family through many different stories from his grandparents on both sides to his parents through the family of the people working with Petty motor works, and of course his own family and his own family loss of his son Adam.
I had always watched NASCAR, and Winston Cup when I was younger and was a big King Petty fan, would get tickets for the Riverside Speedway, and enjoyed walking around and then watching the race on race day. Like everything things change and I did try to keep up and would still follow Kyle just because we were the same age and born in the same year. Reading about the changes to racing and behind the scenes of the business side also put a different light on everything. Him also having to work his way up through the garage and not just given a ride because of the name, working at pushing the broom to everything thing else and seeing later how that would help when telling people what he thought was wrong with the car, those are things I did not know. I could though relate to the loss of a child having lost my daughter she was 36 when passed and as a parent, you are never prepared. This book also looks into the future of racing so he touches on many different topics. Overall a very good book and worth your time to read. I received this book from Netgalley.com
I had always watched NASCAR, and Winston Cup when I was younger and was a big King Petty fan, would get tickets for the Riverside Speedway, and enjoyed walking around and then watching the race on race day. Like everything things change and I did try to keep up and would still follow Kyle just because we were the same age and born in the same year. Reading about the changes to racing and behind the scenes of the business side also put a different light on everything. Him also having to work his way up through the garage and not just given a ride because of the name, working at pushing the broom to everything thing else and seeing later how that would help when telling people what he thought was wrong with the car, those are things I did not know. I could though relate to the loss of a child having lost my daughter she was 36 when passed and as a parent, you are never prepared. This book also looks into the future of racing so he touches on many different topics. Overall a very good book and worth your time to read. I received this book from Netgalley.com
June 28, 2022
As a veteran NASCAR fan, I was thrilled to win an ARC of Kyle Petty’s new book. Four generations of Petty men have played a huge role in the history of the sport and their stories are part of the mystique of this captivating and dangerous, truly American phenomenon. Kyle has been involved in NASCAR from birth as a son, grandson, NASCAR top tier driver, father, CEO and television commentator and has a multifaceted perspective, which is both informative and entertaining. There are anecdotes involving many of the sports personalities and an intimate look at the Petty family. With the tragic loss of Adam, he honestly presents his feelings as he navigates his way through the shock and pain. Kyle’s love of music gives him an outlet for his emotions and several passages are included in the book. Ultimately, he finds a way to move forward, discovering a life after driving, commentating for NBC Sports and having several interview series as well as continuing his music and finding love again. This story could only be told by a true insider and as the son of the “King,” Kyle Petty takes us on his unique personal NASCAR journey. I laughed and I cried, and I wouldn’t have missed it.
August 15, 2022
I absolutely adored this book. Can't recommend it enough!
I laughed, I cried . . . a LOT of crying.'
I haven't watched NASCAR since they went behind a paywall with ESPN, and my driver (Mark Martin) retired.
But before that I was a fan. Watched every race every Sunday. I've been to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600 twice. I've been to Earnhardt Enterprises and Dale Earnhardt's shop. I've been to Dale Senior's monument and I've been to Petty Motorsports shop. Been to a few other's just hanging around with my enthusiastic buddies.
So, I've watched Kyle race, I've watched Kyle host the races with Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. So I KNEW Kyle could talk and turn an anecdote. But I wasn't aware he'd be so darn compelling and open writing about the sport he loves and lives, that's given him so much, but also taken so much from him. It was fascinating seeing things that i've experienced and watched on TV from his viewpoint behind the wheel, the pits and the safer barriers.
This book is like going to a really good cookout and then, after the tables are cleared and everyone's gone home, just sitting around shooting the breeze with an old buddy you've known your entire life. It's personal, it's intimate, and it's a really, Really, REALLY good book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I laughed, I cried . . . a LOT of crying.'
I haven't watched NASCAR since they went behind a paywall with ESPN, and my driver (Mark Martin) retired.
But before that I was a fan. Watched every race every Sunday. I've been to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600 twice. I've been to Earnhardt Enterprises and Dale Earnhardt's shop. I've been to Dale Senior's monument and I've been to Petty Motorsports shop. Been to a few other's just hanging around with my enthusiastic buddies.
So, I've watched Kyle race, I've watched Kyle host the races with Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. So I KNEW Kyle could talk and turn an anecdote. But I wasn't aware he'd be so darn compelling and open writing about the sport he loves and lives, that's given him so much, but also taken so much from him. It was fascinating seeing things that i've experienced and watched on TV from his viewpoint behind the wheel, the pits and the safer barriers.
This book is like going to a really good cookout and then, after the tables are cleared and everyone's gone home, just sitting around shooting the breeze with an old buddy you've known your entire life. It's personal, it's intimate, and it's a really, Really, REALLY good book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2022
I believe the first date I went on with my future husband was to an auto racing event in Southern California. I have been following or attending some form or auto racing since the 1970s. When Swerve or Die became available through the St. Martin's Press influencer program, I jumped at the chance to read about not only NASCAR Racing history, but my own history as well.
I was amazed to see how much I remembered of the times, the racers, the families, the tragedies that Kyle Petty shares within the pages of his memoir. My husband and I reminisced over some of the stories that were shared about the racing legends and the tracks they raced upon, including the ones that are no longer there.
Swerve or Die is for any auto race fan. There is car info as well as the skinny on the drivers and families themselves. In this case, and foremost, it's about the first family of racing, The Petty's. And beyond racing you learn about the non-blood relationships between the teams, racers and owners when tragedy strikes.
Written in a homey style that rings true, Swerve or Die is a great addition to anyone looking to learn what life is like on/off the track and beyond.
I received both a digital and physical ARC from St. Martin's Press. Thank you. All opinions are mine.
I was amazed to see how much I remembered of the times, the racers, the families, the tragedies that Kyle Petty shares within the pages of his memoir. My husband and I reminisced over some of the stories that were shared about the racing legends and the tracks they raced upon, including the ones that are no longer there.
Swerve or Die is for any auto race fan. There is car info as well as the skinny on the drivers and families themselves. In this case, and foremost, it's about the first family of racing, The Petty's. And beyond racing you learn about the non-blood relationships between the teams, racers and owners when tragedy strikes.
Written in a homey style that rings true, Swerve or Die is a great addition to anyone looking to learn what life is like on/off the track and beyond.
I received both a digital and physical ARC from St. Martin's Press. Thank you. All opinions are mine.
August 7, 2022
If you grew up watching NASCAR, you will definitely enjoy reading this book from the perspective one of of NASCAR’s reigning families, the Petty family. Even though I live in Pennsylvania, NASCAR is something that my family has always watched. When I was younger we went to a Daytona 500 party at my uncle’s house every year. It’s what we did. And there were a LOT of people there!
I like that this book isn’t just about racing. It is about family and life. You not only get to learn about Kyle Petty’s life, but you learn about his parents and his kids. You can tell how much family means to him. And more importantly, you can tell how much his son’s death impacted his life, his career and his family. It is heartbreaking to read the parts about his son’s death. The death is absolutely tragic, but it adds depth and emotion to this book so that it isn’t just a recounting of events.
Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book that comes out on August 9th, 2022!
I like that this book isn’t just about racing. It is about family and life. You not only get to learn about Kyle Petty’s life, but you learn about his parents and his kids. You can tell how much family means to him. And more importantly, you can tell how much his son’s death impacted his life, his career and his family. It is heartbreaking to read the parts about his son’s death. The death is absolutely tragic, but it adds depth and emotion to this book so that it isn’t just a recounting of events.
Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book that comes out on August 9th, 2022!
May 18, 2023
I grew up watching NASCAR with my father, cheering on Kyle Petty; and I was shocked to find out he was also a singer. I ended up looking up his music and was surprised at how great his voice sounds. My immediate thought went to the TikTokers that are "also musicians". Also, I never realized he was a voice actor in Cars 3 - I will definitely have to rewatch that movie with my son.
Loved the stories, anitotes, and lessons he shares throughout his book about his time in NASCAR and his family. My heart broke when reading about the loss of his son, Adam. I remember reading about his accident when it happened. It was such an awesome experience learning more about his experiences in NASCAR, about some other big names in racing, and his family.
I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book!
Loved the stories, anitotes, and lessons he shares throughout his book about his time in NASCAR and his family. My heart broke when reading about the loss of his son, Adam. I remember reading about his accident when it happened. It was such an awesome experience learning more about his experiences in NASCAR, about some other big names in racing, and his family.
I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book!
September 17, 2022
Who knew about Kyle Petty as a guitar-playing country singer? Not me. I knew about his racing—how could the son of the King, Richard Petty, NOT be a racer? I knew about the Ride, but not about his adventures with motorcycles as a kid. I knew about the Victory Junction camp, but not Paul Newman’s involvement and support. It’s always interesting to learn about how people who are successful grew up, their influences, their failures, and the things that led to their success with the people who supported him or her. Of course, there’s incredible sorrow in Kyle’s life with the death of his son Adam in NASCAR practice. But Adam’s death, along with other drivers (like Dale Earnhardt) with similar injuries that lead to the development and mandatory use of the HANS device, which has saved countless lives in all types of racing. Kyle’s story is worth reading and I recommend it.
September 6, 2025
This book started out really fast (pun intended!). References to his father, 'King" Richard Petty, the winningest driver in NASCAR history and grandfather, Lee Petty, made for some funny and revealing stories. Kyle Petty had an interesting upbringing and as previously mentioned had some interesting and exciting experiences both on and off the track. As the book moved along he spoke about losing his son and honoring him, which was a great part of his story. He mentioned early that he was a Christian, but during the lowest parts of his life he made very few mentions of God or the church, and more of how he made it through a tough time by just moving in with life. I never will say I understand what losing a child is like, but I hope that I would lean firmly on God to help me and guide me through those low times in my life. I feel Kyle petty let a good opportunity go by.
July 10, 2023
I loved this book about Kyle's life growing up as Richard Petty’s son and lots of interesting history about NASCAR! Just like racing, it goes really fast and is very enjoyable! He goes through his family story, his racing career, the different controversies that NASCAR has navigated and how he started his very successful charity, Victory Junction. Instead of winning 200 races like his Dad, he has won big in life with being a driver, a singer/songwriter, a TV Commentator and running the charity that benefits so many kids! I think even if you are not a car enthusiast or a race fan, this is still a great book and worthy of your reading time! Maybe get a Kindle sample first if you aren’t into the sport. It is written by Kyle and Ellis Henican.
November 7, 2023
This was thoroughly enjoyable!
I'm not a diehard NASCAR fan nor a particular fan of the Petty family, but have enjoyed car racing and followed various aspects of racing most of my life. I also lived about 15 miles from the Talladega SuperSpeedway so I couldn't help but feel immersed in NASCAR fandom from the time of its inception.
There's a lot of good history in this book and there's a lot dealing with the hopes and emotions of the drivers that most people don't think about. Yes, they're real people with families and dreams and tragedies. I think Kyle and his writer, Ellis Henican, did an excellent job of giving real heart to the sport and also to the people who live the sport.
Highly recommended.
I'm not a diehard NASCAR fan nor a particular fan of the Petty family, but have enjoyed car racing and followed various aspects of racing most of my life. I also lived about 15 miles from the Talladega SuperSpeedway so I couldn't help but feel immersed in NASCAR fandom from the time of its inception.
There's a lot of good history in this book and there's a lot dealing with the hopes and emotions of the drivers that most people don't think about. Yes, they're real people with families and dreams and tragedies. I think Kyle and his writer, Ellis Henican, did an excellent job of giving real heart to the sport and also to the people who live the sport.
Highly recommended.
August 20, 2022
I zoomed through this autobiography of Kyle Petty. What a fascinating story and he goes all in. I also loved the deep look into one of NASCAR’s first families of racing, including the story of his grandmother sewing the first window net, which is now standard.
.
I was also truly inspired reading about @victoryjunction . This camp was created in memory of his beloved son who died racing and is inspired from #PaulNewman and his @holewallcamp
If you don’t know anything about these camps I challenge you to check it out!
.
This would be a fun gift for the nascar race car lover in your life!
.
Thank you @stmartinspress for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
I was also truly inspired reading about @victoryjunction . This camp was created in memory of his beloved son who died racing and is inspired from #PaulNewman and his @holewallcamp
If you don’t know anything about these camps I challenge you to check it out!
.
This would be a fun gift for the nascar race car lover in your life!
.
Thank you @stmartinspress for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2022
I want to start off by thanking; Kyle Petty, Ellis Henican, St. Martin's Press, and NetGallery for the ARC.
I grew up an IndyCar fan in Indiana. I started watching NASCAR after the release of Days of Thunder and of course Kyle Petty drove the Mellow Yellow car. So it only made sense for him to become my favorite driver.
I thought this was almost a perfect book. It starts with probably the saddest day in Kyle's life and then reverts back to the beginning. If you are a NASCAR fan or a fan of the Petty family I'd highly recommend this book. After reading the book it made me want to visit North Carolina to visit the town he grew up in.
I grew up an IndyCar fan in Indiana. I started watching NASCAR after the release of Days of Thunder and of course Kyle Petty drove the Mellow Yellow car. So it only made sense for him to become my favorite driver.
I thought this was almost a perfect book. It starts with probably the saddest day in Kyle's life and then reverts back to the beginning. If you are a NASCAR fan or a fan of the Petty family I'd highly recommend this book. After reading the book it made me want to visit North Carolina to visit the town he grew up in.
October 5, 2022
I enjoyed this book and I am not even a NASCAR fan so I can't imagine how much a true follower of the sport will love this story. I have somewhat followed NASCAR over the years and know the names Earnhardt, Petty, Gordon, etc. so I picked up this book with a little knowledge of what I was about to read. Living In Indianapolis I have always followed the Indy 500 cars and drivers more than the NASCAR field. I have to say that this is a great story told by Kyle Petty about his family and his sport and you will enjoy it even if you have no interest in racing at all. It will tear at your heart strings so be prepared.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews