Spade Racing: December 2025

AUTO-Biographies: No Fear: Ernie Irvan: The Nascar Driver's Story of Tragedy and Triumph

Editor’s note: my thoughts are with Greg Biffle’a family, friends, and fans at this time

Author(s): Ernie Irvan and Peter Golenbock

The Good: This book was definitely not what I had expected—Ernie’s life was both fascinating and heartbreaking, and I’m not talking about his crashes, either. His early days are covered in detail, as is his stormy personal life. The book also has a unique narrative style which starts with his first Michigan crash, then flashes back to his childhood, hooking the reader right away.

The Not-so-good: There’s plenty here not to like—Ernie has multiple axes to grind, particularly towards most of his former team owners. But the worst thing? The typos. They’re GLARING—apparently he used to be sponsored by “Havalina” motor oil. It distracted me throughout the book.

What I’d Change: More proofreading was obviously necessary. I also might have asked Ernie to tone down the bitterness a notch.

Read It?: No, too many issues to make it an enjoyable read.

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing Opens Two Blaster Boxes of 2025 Select Cards—Pack 3 of 12

Rather than a “hobby box”, I decided to go with the more economical choice of two “Blaster Boxes” for the 2025 Select cards. With six packs of five cards each in each box, that’s twelve packs to open!

Pack 3: Yellow & Black, Austin on Attack, and is Conor Back?

First Look: Here we have it—proof-positive that we have too many cars with yellow and black paint schemes.

To the Back: Funny how with Austin, his reflexes and daring always lead to plowing through the competition.

Say What: “Wait, I ran Nascar in 2024? Well, I guess if you have proof…”

Final Rating: 2 caution laps out of 10

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman splits the 88 car with Jeff Gordon (2016)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Alex Bowman takling to Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
Courtesy NBC Sports

Why? Perhaps no one in modern NASCAR has had a stranger journey to a top-level Cup team than Alex Bowman. He ran full seasons for BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing, then took on a test-driver role with Chevy before getting the call to share the 88 ride with Jeff Gordon, replacing an injured Dale Earnhardt Jr.

How successful were they? Bowman acquitted himself admirably, posting three top-tens in his first ten Cup starts with a truly top-flight operation.

What was the aftermath? Bowman missed the 2017 season before replacing Dale Jr. full-time in 2018. Since then he has posted eight Cup wins through the end of the 2024 season.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 7 weird paint schemes out of 10—just goes to show you that sometimes the guy running 30th really DOES have talent, he just needs an opportunity.

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A MOXOC Media production

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AUTO-Biographies: In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything

Author(s): Michael Waltrip & Ellis Henican

The Good: The pre-NASCAR chapters are very interesting—remember, he grew up with his brother Darrell already on the Cup circuit. While the book focuses a LOT on the 2001 Daytona 500, I rather enjoyed hearing about it from the inside. Mikey also isn’t above poking fun at himself on occasion.

The Not-so-good: Apparently nothing is Michael Waltrip’s fault—his lengthy losing streak, his team’s (first) cheating scandal, anything. He also seems to be a bit too “go with the flow” when looking back on his career, as though having the last name “Waltrip” wasn’t at least a bit of an advantage. Also, there’s a few oddball tonal shifts in the book—like mentioning his first daughter randomly midway though, then only mentioning her one other time, or randomly insulting Steve Park and Johnny Benson.

What I’d Change: This book definitely needed either a different co-author or a massive re-do. At the end of the day, we’re talking about someone with a handful of Cup Series wins talking about his career like it’s one of the all-time best.

Read It?: No, unless you enjoy revisionist history.

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing Opens Two Blaster Boxes of 2025 Select Cards—Pack 2 of 12

Pack 2: Driver X, a Bit of a Flex, and Faux Tex-Mex

First Look: I’m sure Corey has a bright future in the sport, but with HendrickCars sponsoring so many drivers, they all kind of blend together. Well, besides Rajah Caruth.

To the Back: JoLo basically saying he’s great but could be better is the Nascar equivalent of the A-list celebrity saying they were unpopular in high school.

Say What: “Um, excuse me, but is the Chimichanga spicy, or as you would say, ‘En Fuego’?”

Final Rating: 5 starts mistakenly called restarts out of 10

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Mark Martin (part 2)

Mark’s final year with three teams (2013)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Courtesy USA Today

Why? Mark Martin moved to a part-time schedule for a second time in 2012, this time with Michael Waltrip Racing. However, downtime allowed him to be a “super-sub” of sorts in 2013, as he made a single start for Joe Gibbs Racing and twelve late-season starts for Stewart-Haas Racing.

How successful were they? Martin’s third-place finish in the 2013 Daytona 500 for MWR would be his lone top-five, but he still acquitted himself well for all three teams he ran for. As an injury sub for Denny Hamlin Martin came home tenth, and as an injury sub for Tony Stewart he posted seven top-twenty finishes, with a best of ninth at Richmond.

What was the aftermath? Martin would step back from racing after the conclusion of the 2013 racing, and is effectively retired.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 1 annoying Aaron’s commercial out of 10—Mark seemed to be doing what he wanted to do his final year, and that was running the best equipment he could find.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

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A MOXOC Media production

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AUTO-Biographies: DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles

Author(s): Darrell Waltrip with Jade Gurss

The Good: This book is very well-balanced—DW & Jade don’t skip over anything, nor do they dwell on anything. So we get a relatively fast read that doesn’t feel shallow. Darrell Waltrip had an interesting career, and this book covers all of it, from the highs (his time with Junior Johnson, his Daytona 500 win) to the lows (his disappointing on-track performance at the end of his career). Plus we get a nice little bonus in end-of-chapter blurbs from competitors and friends.

The Not-so-good: For a controversial driver, Darrell sure presents himself as a hero in this book. A lot of his trash-talking and mind games are fobbed off, as are some of his questionable business dealings (like getting out of his contract with Junior Johnson). Also, despite being published in 2004, the book ends with the 2000 awards banquet.

What I’d Change: I’d have encouraged a bit more humility from Waltrip here, as well as perhaps an epilogue about his early broadcasting career.

Read It?: Yes, but keep in mind it’s very one-sided.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing Opens Two Blaster Boxes of 2025 Select Cards—Pack 1 of 12

Pack 1: The Queen, the Dream, and an Awkward Scream

First Look: Here we see what the basic Select card design is. A great look, but as with most super-premium cards, the gloss is intense, leading to plenty of pictures with my phone shadow in reflection.

To the Back: “The harder you work at it, the better you get at it”, good advice from a guy who won his second-ever Cup start.

Say What: “Say, who was the celebrity Subway sent to celebrate with me—AHHH!!!”

Final Rating: 3 pre-race interviews out of 10

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Mark Martin (part 1)

Mark Martin runs the Morgan-McClure #4 (1983)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Mark Martin racing one of James Hylton's cars,
Courtesy NASCAR Legends on Twitter

Why? After a promising start to the 1983 season with the controversial JD Stacy, Mark Martin soon found himself out of a ride. Meanwhile, Morgan-McClure Motorsports had just entered Cup. After a single race with Connie Saylor, MMM signed Martin to drive their 4 car on a part-time basis.

How successful were they? In just six races (plus a DNQ) Martin posted a single top-ten finish for MMM.

What was the aftermath? Martin would largely retreat to the ASA Series before making a triumphant comeback to Cup racing with another new team, Roush Racing. Morgan-McClure, meanwhile, would continue to be a middling organization until hitting pay dirt by hiring Ernie Irvan, and later Sterling Marlin.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 2 WD-brand steaks out of 10—Mark had a strange start to his career, so having him hook up with a fledging MMM team isn’t all that odd.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

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