Along for the Ride : A Collection of Stories from the Fast and Furious World of Stock Car Racing

by Woody, Larry

• ISBN13: 9781582616964
• ISBN10: 1582616965
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Sports Pub

Summary

The first stock car race he saw, he covered. Nashville Tennessean sports writer Larry Woody was "temporarily" assigned to cover racing for his newspaper in the late 1960s, and now, some 33 years later, he is still on the beat. Woody, like millions of others, became intrigued by the sport, the action, the human drama and the many colorful characters that inhabit its realm. Along for the Ride recounts that journalistic journey, introducing the reader to many of the sport's great -- and some not-so-great -- personalities. The experiences are behind the scenes and personal: getting chewed out by Darrell Waltrip, rescuing Benny Parsons on a California freeway, stumbling onto a tender side of Dale Earnhardt, sitting in awe of Richard Petty. He has laughed with Buddy Baker, mourned with Bobby Allison, celebrated with Sterling Marlin and swapped barbs with Tony Stewart.

Author Biography

Larry Woody is a sports writer for The Tennessean, the morning newspaper in Nashville

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Go Where and do What?	1	(10)
Hiddie, I'm Richard Petty	11	(8)
Ralph Earnhardt's Boy	19	(10)
The Sorrow he's Seen	29	(12)
Coo Coo and Son	41	(10)
Flash Gordon, Wonder Boy	51	(10)
It Ain't Bragging if you do it	61	(15)
Aggravation in Small Doses	76	(9)
The Wrecker Driver	85	(8)
The Taxi Driver	93	(4)
Off to Daytona with Road Hog	97	(11)
Bruising Bristol	108	(8)
Fast Times at Talladega	116	(10)
Dynamite Bob and Other Legends	126	(13)
Bits and Pieces	139	(11)
The Big Wheels	150	(9)
Sons of the Intimidator	159	(5)
Buckshot-Spraying Cheaters	164	(7)
Women, Wendell and Willie	171	(11)
Ink-Stained Wretches	182