The Last Lap: The Life and Times of Nascar's Legendary Heroes

by Golenbock, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780028628257
• ISBN10: 002862825X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-02-01
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (T)

Summary

Stock car racing is not only the most popular sport in the country, but it's also among the most dangerous, as well. Traveling at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, drivers risk their lives every time they take the wheel. To be competitive, drivers must feel invincible. The best of them did, and lived life -- on the racetrack -- to the fullest. Their zest for life and for racing is celebrated in this powerful book. In "The Last Lap, updated edition," best-selling author Peter Golenbock talks to racers past and present, crewmembers, and families of the legendary drivers who have passed on give us behind-the-scenes stories of NASCAR's unique heroes. Among those sharing their stories are racing legends David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Tim Flock, Marvin Panch, thefamilies of the late Curtis Turner, the Myers brothers, Tiny Lund, Bobby Isaac, Alan Kulwicki, and Davey and Clifford Allison.

Author Biography

Peter Golenbock is the bestselling author of American Zoom; Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964; and many other popular sports books, including Balls, Bums, Personal Fouls, Fenway, Wrigleyville, and Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes. He is co-editor of The Stock Car Encyclopedia

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xv
Bob Latford: In the Beginning
Slick Owens: In the Land of Cotton
Tim Flock: The Last of the Wild Bunch
Ralph Moody: Curtis and Lil' Joe
Max Muhlmann: More Curtis and Lil' Joe
Maurice Petty: The Perfectionist
Tim Flock: Carl Kiekhaefer
Danny "Chocolate" Myers: The Death of the Myers Brothers
Tom Pistone: The "Converted Yankee"
Ralph Moody: Fred Lorenzen
Paul "Little Bud" Moore: Rough-Tough Characters
Buddy Baker: Buck's Boy
Marvin Panch: Escape from a Fiery Death
Bob Latford: Crash and Burn
Ralph Moody: Death Wholesale
Max Muhlmann: The Death of Fireball Roberts
Bob Latford: Ned and Junior
David Pearson: The Reluctant Champion
Paul "Little Bud" Moore: The Demise of Dirt
Bob Latford: A Small Band of Gypsies
Maurice Petty: Life with Richard
David Pearson: Moments Great and Not So Good
"Suitcase" Jake Elder: One Great Chassis Man
Slick Owens: Holman and Moody's Demise
Buddy Baker: He Broke the 200 MPH Barrier
Tim Flock: Curtis Turner's Losing Gambit
Curtis Turner: The Day the Music Died
Bunny Turner: "Sweet Thang"
Lou LaRosa: Brooklyn Meets Robert Gee
Buddy Baker: Troubles on the Last Lap
Wanda Lund: They Were All Crazy
Tommy Johnson: The Travails of Harry Hyde
Buddy Baker: Records at Breakneck Speed
Lou LaRosa: The Emergence of Dale Earnhardt
Tommy Johnson: Harry Hyde and Tim Richmond
Lou LaRosa: Cale and More About Dale
Danny "Chocolate" Myers: Memories of Richard Childress
Tommy Johnson: The Death of Harry Hyde
Paul Andrews: The Death of Alan Kulwicki
"Suitcase" Jake Elder: Disturbing Memories
Liz Allison: The Deaths of Clifford and Davey
Lou LaRosa: A Racer's Sad Good-bye
Buddy Baker: He (and the Sport) Survives and Flourishes
Andy Petree: Bigger than Life
Dale Earnhardt: The Man in Black
Dale Earnhardt: Black Sunday
Index
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