Junior Johnson: Brave in Life [Paperback]

Tom Higgins (Author), Steve Waid (Author), Tom Morgan (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

Courage, determination, and willingness to take risks have made Junior Johnson a legend on and off the race track for over four decades. Celebrated as "The Last American Hero" by novelist Tom Wolfe, portrayed on the big screen by actor Jeff Bridges, Junior was named the greatest NASCAR driver of all time by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1998.

The Johnson family business was making and hauling moonshine whiskey, and Junior quickly developed a talent for driving fast, taking chances, and never getting caught. This background shaped the fearless win-or-crash-trying attitude that defined Junior's NASCAR career. He won the Daytona 500 in 1960, took a run at Indy racing in 1963, helped establish Winston's sponsorship of NASCAR in 1971, and as a team owner won six Winston Cup Championships in ten years.

Junior Johnson: Brave in Life reveals the dedication, intelligence, and humor of one of racing's most colorful figures, and uncovers a history of NASCAR and American culture rarely told.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Publishing; First Edition edition (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893618005
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618008
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read story of a legend written by two legends!, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Junior Johnson: Brave in Life (Paperback)

Tom Higgins of the Charlotte Observer and ESPN and Steve Waid of WC Illus. can tell a story like no one else can. Mix Tom, Steve and Junior together and you get lots of NASCAR history AND sore ribs.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what a book, what a racer!, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Junior Johnson: Brave in Life (Paperback)

To all outward appearances Jr Johnson was a country bumpkin, yet this book shows beneath that "good ole boy" veneer was a sophisticated mind and drive on which crowds cheered and engineers with PhDs came for advice, the latter not covered by Tom Wolfe's book. A quality presentation.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the roots of nascar, January 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Junior Johnson: Brave in Life (Paperback)

being a relatively new fan of nascar, and having family members that work closely with it gave me the incentive to read this book. after the untimely death of nascar great dale earnhardt, i found it difficult to watch the weekly races.they seemed to be missing an important member of nascar and my reason for tuning in every weekend. after reading this book,i have changed my mind.nascar is truly the junior johnsons,the kale yarboroughs, and the ricard pettys. they made nascar what it is today. they paved the road for the newcomers. i still miss dale,but now i find i really do have another reason to tune in. i enjoy watching. i no longer have a favorite driver. i just cheer on the front runner. the book was a good read. i reccomend it highly.