DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles [Hardcover]

Darrell Waltrip (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2004

In the 1980s, Darrell Waltrip was the reigning king of NASCAR-the sport's brightest and most controversial star. Feared, loathed, and admired in equal measure, early on he drew the wrath of many fans, who literally wore their emotions on their sleeve, donning tee-shirts that read: I hate warm beer, cold women, and Darrell Waltrip. As the decade progressed, he won over their hearts and was voted NASCAR's most popular driver in 1989 and 1990-and his popularity has continued to soar ever since.

Waltrip retired in 2000, tied for third all-time with eighty-four career victories, and immediately began attracting new fans with his folksy style as a color commentator for FOX Sports' NASCAR coverage. Now, with that same inimitable charm, he shares his memories of his life in racing. It's the tale of a man who lived his dream every time he stepped into a race car, and whose dreams got better every time he climbed out in Victory Lane.

But it's also the story of NASCAR, as Waltrip serves as a bridge between its earlier days and its explosion into one of the world's most popular sports. Having raced against immortals like Richard Petty and David Pearson, modern-day legends Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, and rising stars Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Waltrip provides a knowing look at the evolution of the sport and its greatest drivers and personalities.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Describing a life spent in a NASCAR driver's seat, Waltrip steers a straightforward course from his life as a grade-school go-cart champion through a gifted yet crash-prone upstart driver to 84 NASCAR victories. Full of the same bravado and confidence that made him a natural driver and NASCAR's biggest villain, Waltrip tells his story just as he raced: all out. Though his need to prove his worth still leads him to put his foot in his mouth now and again, more often than not he is candid enough to acknowledge when he was good, bad, scared or dumb. NASCAR fans will have flashbacks when he conjures up his memories of his highs (the 1989 Daytona 500) and lows (crashing three times at Daytona). He does take the time to open up the world of NASCAR to nonfans; he gives an informative overview of NASCAR's growth from some good ol' boys in the South to a sporting and cultural phenomenon that has put down roots in the entire nation. Having been through the sport's formative years, Waltrip (who is now a commentator for Fox NASCAR coverage) also shares stories of some of NASCAR's greats from Petty to Gordon. His feelings about the fans embracing him later in his career and his honesty about his lack of success in his last years behind the wheel spotlights the bittersweet retirement of an athlete who continued past his prime. Appropriately, this strong finish is representative of Waltrip, whose book, like his career, has its ups and down and will end up being embraced by racing fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

There's never a slow moment...A nitty-gritty, behind-the-scenes peek at the personalities and peculiarities of racing. (Charlotte Observer) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (February 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399151532
• ISBN-13: 978-0399151538
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read For Any Racing Fan, February 17, 2004

By 

"bgrimpe" (Fairborn, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles (Hardcover)

Darrell Waltrip is known today as the "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" guy on Fox Sports who opens every race with those famous three words. However, back in the 70's and 80's, he was an aggressive driver on the NASCAR circuit who was feared by drivers and hated by fans. Over time, he won over the hearts of many and is now one of the most recognizeable faces in the NASCAR family. This book gives the reader an inside look into his career and life which has been anything but boring. This is a wonderful and exciting book that brings the reader into the great races of old and shows the reader why "DW" is one of NASCAR's most colorful and likeable personalities. A great read for any racing fan.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darrell's THE MAN, February 28, 2004

By 

Chester Ragsdale "Enjoyer of Life" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles (Hardcover)

I have a couple of moments in NASCAR history that stand out to me, as a fan, more than any others...I guess #1 would be that infamous day when Bobby and Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough got into it, then there was Davey Allison's tragic death...well actually I have a lot of memories, but right up at THE TOP with all of them is DW doing the icky shuffle after winning the Daytona 500. These things solidified my love of the sport and Darrell Waltrip. A lot of this is in the book , with some witty outlooks on life and the pursuit of dreams. DW tells about his beginnings, his hometown life, and of course his love of racing. The book is great, and provides a lot of insight into the man, as well as the world of NASCAR. A GREAT book, i rate it right up there with Junior Johnson's bio. If you are a racing fan, more importantly, a NASCAR fan this is required reading, if you just have a passing interest...read this, it may change you.
1/19/2012: Congratulations to DW for making the Nascar Hall of Fame!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ FOR ANY RACING FAN, March 9, 2004

By 

KIMBERLY A DUMBAULD (VANDALIA, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles (Hardcover)

THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT FROM START TO FINISH. I AM A DARRELL WALTRIP FAN AND HAVE BEEN SINCE 1989 WHEN I STARTED WATCHING RACING. I DID NOT GET TO SEE HIM WIN THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS. READING THIS BOOK IS THE NEXT BEST THING. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THOSE YEARS AND SOME THINGS ABOUT THE TIME FROM 1989 ON THAT I DIDN'T KNOW!
EVEN IF DW IS NOT YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. IT IS VERY ENTERTAINING. DW HAS SOME GREAT STORIES TO TELL IN THIS BOOK!