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Racing While Black: How an African-American Stock Car Team Made Its Mark on NASCAR
Starting a NASCAR team is hard work. Starting a NASCAR team as an African American is even harder. These are just a few of the lessons learned by Leonard T. Miller during his decade and a half of running an auto racing program. Fueled by more than the desire to win, Miller made it his goal to create opportunities for black drivers in the vastly white, Southern world of NASCAR. Racing While Black chronicles the travails of selling marketing plans to skeptics and scraping by on the thinnest of budgets, as well as the triumphs of speeding to victory and changing the way racing fans view skin color. With his father—former drag racer and longtime team owner Leonard W. Miller—along for the ride, Miller journeys from the short tracks of the Carolinas to the boardrooms of the "Big Three" automakers to find out that his toughest race may be winning over the human race.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 3, 2021
The experience of a Black racing team
Very good book on the struggles of a Black racing team to succeed in stock car racing. Miller Racing's biggest issue, which makes up the bulk of the book, was trying to obtain sponsors, a must for any racing team. But there is so much more to the book and Miller's struggles than just sponsors and their money. Anyone interested in learning more about the hustle for sponsors, drivers and crew members will like this book. While it does focus on the experience facing Black's in racing, it still is a good exposure to the entire business aspect of racing.
Very good book on the struggles of a Black racing team to succeed in stock car racing. Miller Racing's biggest issue, which makes up the bulk of the book, was trying to obtain sponsors, a must for any racing team. But there is so much more to the book and Miller's struggles than just sponsors and their money. Anyone interested in learning more about the hustle for sponsors, drivers and crew members will like this book. While it does focus on the experience facing Black's in racing, it still is a good exposure to the entire business aspect of racing.
January 28, 2024
Great and informative read on the history of racing. Really appreciated how the author named names and used exact dollar values.
The financial struggle of racing is not unique to being black, and 1 win in 307 pages (20+ years) is unlikely to earn any high-level sponsorships regardless of skin color. The argument could be made that Miller Racing had the advantage of the authors' deep pockets, unlike many other teams.
The financial struggle of racing is not unique to being black, and 1 win in 307 pages (20+ years) is unlikely to earn any high-level sponsorships regardless of skin color. The argument could be made that Miller Racing had the advantage of the authors' deep pockets, unlike many other teams.
September 23, 2021
If "Silent Thunder" left you wanting more...
...then, Lenny T's "Racing While Black" is the perfect finishing touch to his father's groundbreaking memoir about the Miller's pioneering motorsport journey.
...then, Lenny T's "Racing While Black" is the perfect finishing touch to his father's groundbreaking memoir about the Miller's pioneering motorsport journey.
September 5, 2025
Even though NASCAR really isn’t my thing, this was SUCH a good read!! Their perseverance throughout and ability to name drop literally every person they ever spoke to who turned them down were equally impressive
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews