New York Times Speed Show: How NASCAR Won the Heart of America

by Dave Caldwell

Daytona Beach, Florida, 2001. Sportswriter Dave Caldwell watches from the stands as a black Chevrolet pulls ahead in the final laps of the Daytona 500. In an instant, it's over. The car smashes into a wall at 175 miles an hour, killing one of stock car racing's most loved drivers. The death of Dale Earnhardt inspired an outpouring of grief, drawing new fans to the sport and driving NASCAR to the top of the sporting industry. From its roots during Prohibition to today's die-hard fans, Dave Caldwell weaves together his firsthand observations as a NASCAR reporter with excerpts from The New York Times archives to give readers an inside look at the spectacle that is America's new favorite pastime.

126 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2006

About the author

Dave Caldwell has worked as a correspondent for The New York Times since 2000, covering a variety of sports, including stock car racing, hockey, baseball, football, and basketball. He lives in New Jersey and has two sons.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

I admit that I'm a very unique type of NASCAR fan. I love the drivers, love reading about them, checking out the standings, and perusing all the gossip about their personal lives. I don't actually like watching the races. See, how odd is that? Sure, occasionally I'll stumble into a room where the race is on television (thanks to my mom and stepfather, who are NASCAR fanatics), but other than that I won't waste hours sitting down to watch cars drive in endless circles. But, okay, yes, the crashes are kind of cool!

I was always a Dale Earnhardt fan. The number three car got my vote every time. When he died in a crash at the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, I was devasted--as were thousands upon thousands of NASCAR enthusiasts around the globe. The thing about NASCAR is that its devout fans come from every walk of life, from every part of the world, and they are a dedicated, loud-mouth bunch of people. They're also a family. When one of their "own" dies, as on that day when the racing world lost Dale Earnhardt, everyone mourned. Even fans who didn't like Earnhardt (and by that I mean they dared to cheer for another driver, like Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart), sadly and publicly grieved the loss of a legend.

Although I now root for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the number eight car, I still remember his father with pride. I still look for memorabilia with that number three. I still read books like SPEED SHOW, which discuss NASCAR, its history, and the mark it's made on the racing world. Filled with numerous facts, figures, and full-color photos, SPEED SHOW is sure to delight any and all NASCAR fans, regardless of age. The legacy of "The Intimidator" lives on today, as well it should.

For an easy-to-read, fact-filled history of NASCAR, its drivers, and its fans, SPEED SHOW is the book you need.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book introduces readers to the world of NASCAR. Long-time NASCAR fans might not learn much from it, though. Written in 2006, the book is dated now. Very few (perhaps none) of the drivers mentioned in the book are still racing.

The author makes a convincing case that the NASCAR organization has tried, through the years, to produce an exciting and competitive show for the fans. The book takes readers from NASCAR’s humble beginnings in the bootlegging days of the South to the modern-day, nationwide sports phenomenon it’s become.

Moreover, the author shows how the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona in 2001 led to a blossoming of the sport’s popularity. The author introduces the terminology of NASCAR and explains how the cars changed over the years, becoming both faster and safer. He explains how the NASCAR organization strives to enforce its rules while racing teams try to wring every possible advantage by bending or breaking those rules.

If you’re unfamiliar with NASCAR and looking for a brief, informative introduction, this book will serve you well.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly dated but very good overview of NASCAR history and how the sport became hugely popular.

[Mohamad]

This book is about racing in a 500 mile track and having to go to a pit stop and they have to fix it fast!