A colorful, fearless portrait of the larger-than-life first family of
NASCAR, the Earnhardts, and the rise of the world's fastest stock car
racing organization.
More than sixty years ago, Ralph Earnhardt toiled in a cotton mill in
his native North Carolina to support his growing family. Weekends he
could be found going pedal to the metal at the dirt tracks, taking on
the competition in the early days of box car racing and becoming one of
the best short-track drivers in the state. His son, Dale Earnhardt Sr.,
would become one of the greatest drivers of all time, and his grandson
Dale Jr, would become NASCAR's most popular driver of the 2000s. From a
simple backyard garage, the Earnhardts reached the highest echelons of
professional stock car racing and became the stuff of myth for fans.
Earnhardt Nation is the story of this car racing dynasty and the
business that would make them rich and famous--and nearly tear them
apart. Covering all the white-knuckle races, including the final lap at
the Daytona 500 that claimed the life of the Intimidator, Earnhardt
Nation goes deep into the fast-paced world of NASCAR, its royal
family's obsession with speed, and their struggle with celebrity. Jay
Busbee takes us deep inside the lives of these men and women who shaped
NASCAR. He delves into their personal and professional lives, from
failed marriages to rivalries large and small to complex and competitive
father-son relationships that have reverberated through generations, and
explores the legacy the Earnhardts struggle to uphold.
