The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia [Paperback]

Richard Sowers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

Author Richard Sowers gives fans a single tool, the Performance Index, to help settle their endless debates. Was Fireball Roberts a better superspeedway driver than Dale Earnhardt? How does Jeff Gordon rate against Junior Johnson on short tracks? The Performance Index uncovers the surprising answers.

Organized in three sections -- a comprehensive year-by-year review, a statistical biography of more than 400 of the sport's greatest drivers; and a complete listing of NASCAR statistics and records -- The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing also contains answers to questions like these:
-- Who are the oldest and youngest race winners?
-- Why does NASCAR credit Bobby Allison with 84 wins while this book counts 85?
-- Who has the most consecutive poles on a superspeedway?
-- Who were NASCAR's most successful racing families?

No other book offers this information. And with some of its controversial findings, it may provoke as many arguments as it settles. If you buy only one book on NASCAR racing, this is the one to have.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Author's Letter to Auto Racing Fans

The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia was intended to be the best reference book about stock-car racing ^ the one source that no fan of the sport can live without.

I think it succeeds and, in fact, it may be the best reference book about any sport. The book contains essays about history's greatest drivers and a host of other subjects, including the oldest and youngest drivers to accomplish numerous feats, car owners who've held the keys to success, minority drivers and significant speed milestones. Also helping make this book indispensable are each season's most memorable race, most significant wreck, and most important off-track development; statistical biographies of more than 400 of the greatest drivers in history, and a wealth of other statistical data, including an all-time ranking of the 1,968 drivers who have logged a top-20 finish in NASCAR Winston Cup racing. Every record imaginable is in the book, from most career victories on dirt to most consecutive seasons with multiple 500-mile victories.

The genesis of The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia was a longtime curiosity about a sport I have loved for more than three decades and have been involved with as a sportswriter or publicist since 1973. Unlike most of the other sports I've been passionate about, I barely had been able to scratch the surface for the depth of information I craved about the world's premier stock-car racing circuit.

Although there is a host of statistical information in the book, don't let the title fool you. There is much, much more, and it's presented in a manner that fans will enjoy reading. And, like any good reference book, you'll refer to The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia often. This book is stock-car racing's ultimate argument settler ^ and the ultimate argument starter.

Enjoy.

And to all who choose to add this book to your personal library, I offer a heartfelt thanks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 425 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Pub (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893618064
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618060
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,627,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be a bible for everybody, December 21, 2000

By 

Richard Petty, seven time NASCAR Winston Cup ... (Level Cross, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia (Paperback)

"The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing:  Records, Streaks,  Oddities and Trivia  should be the bible for everybody in the sport-media business, P.R. people, marketing people, and fans.  I bought copies for my marketing people to give to prospective clients because this book does the best job of telling the story of the sport we're selling-stock-car racing-than any I've ever seen."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most comprehensive fact guide available, February 16, 2001

By 

Nic Jarrett (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia (Paperback)

Richard Sowers brings a unique and knowledgable voice to the world of NASCAR; a welcome breath of fresh air amidst overly cynical journalists and sugar-coated sentiments. His is an honest look behind the scenes of America's Sport.
"The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities and Trivia" is an absolutely invaluable resource. Sowers provides readers with an index that measures the racers of yesteryear against those of the modern era, thus giving followers a chance to debate more accurately about which driver should be called "the greatest of all time." His stance on the true count of the number of races that Bobby Allison won is also not to be missed.
As a writer, I must say that Sowers' book is my Bible, if you'll excuse the cliche. I use it to research and verify facts, and it inspires many articles for my Web site. This book is never far from my reach. I would not recommend this book to someone without prior knowledge of the basics of NASCAR racing, though. They'd be better off going with a book like Mark Martin's "NASCAR for Dummies." But for fans and writers searching for the ultimate statistical guide - look no further!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, December 1, 2000

By 

Johnny Phelps (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing: Records, Streaks, Oddities, and Trivia (Paperback)

Finally! A book to answer all questions and end all arguments about Stock Car Racing. Richard Sowers has given us an incredible collection of facts, figures, and anecdotes that every racing fan must have. As an anchor at CNN Sports Illustrated, I expect to make extensive use of this book as part of our NASCAR/Winston Cup coverage. It's racing's equivalent of the American Express Card--don't go to the track or get into a racing argument without it. Bravo, Richard, and thanks!