Author(s): Tom Higgins & Steve Waid
Copyright Date: 1999
The Good: First off, this is more of a “coffee table” book—that is, it’s larger than most paperbacks, and goes heavy on pictures. But that’s not a bad thing! Junior seemed to be about 99% on-board with the authors, providing a detailed look back at his life in (and out) of racing, warts and all. Junior delves deep into things such as his bootlegging/moonshining past, his business partners, and various drivers—and you can tell he wasn’t holding back in his interviews.
The Not-so-good: That 1% Junior held back on? His messy divorce from his wife Flossie, which had a massive impact on the future of his race team. The book also seems to have a bit of a rushed finish to it—after Darrell Waltrip leaves the team, there’s a few pages on subsequent drivers, but then it just kind of ends.
What I’d Change: Back in 1999 I would have maybe prodded Junior to explain more about his reasons for leaving the sport, or more pictures of what the race shop looked like at the time after its abandonment (only one is shown).
Read It?: Yes, it’s a great look back at the history of NASCAR from the start to the mid-90’s from the inside-out.
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