From Library Journal
Petty and Yarborough are two of stock car racing's most enduring folk heroes. Both began their careers on the back roads and dusty dirt tracks of the Carolinas, and both made the transition to the pressure cooker world of the superspeedways and corporate racing programs. Gifted writer Neely has put their thoughts on paper in much the same way as he did for A.J. Foyt ( A.J. , LJ 10/15/83). Neither book is just a race-by-race analysis. Petty talks mostly about growing up. His first race was in a wagon on the way to the swimming hole. He lost that race to Dale Inman and immediately looked for a way to go faster. He's been doing it ever since. Petty followed closely in the tire tracks of his father, Lee. Petty's adventures span the whole flamboyant world of big-time stock car racing. His father won the first NASCAR Grand National race, and in 1984 Richard took his 200th checkered at Daytona. Yarborough too began his racing career with a lossin a soap box derby. Both men have a down-home sense of humor, a close family life, and believe winning is the only thing. Neely's long friendship with both makes each book eminently readable and a delightful reflection on stock car racing, its phenomenal growth and its place in the panorama of American sport. Both drivers give the reader a pit pass to share the exploits of a host of stock car racers. Good times and badit's all exciting. Both titles deserve a place on library shelves. Susan Ebershoff-Coles, Indianapolis-Marion Cty. P.L.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Library Journal