Customer Reviews

NASCAR For Dummies

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NASCAR for Dummies is definitely a "must read" for any NASCAR fan. It is the perfect book for those who are new to NASCAR... and is packed with information which even a veteran fan will appreciate.

You'll find in-depth information about a variety of topics, from car tech to how qualifying works... from how points are awarded to what some of the rules and regulations are. You'll find information about all of the different NASCAR Series, how sponsorship works, how to contact your favorite driver - or even get an autograph. There's even advice and tips for attending races in person.

The book is also loaded with NASCAR stats on different drivers, tracks and some of the sports history.

The best part about this book is that it is not written by a bystander, rather, it is written by one of the top drivers in the sport. Mark Martin is able to provide you with a view of NASCAR which I have not seen in any other book thus far.

Mark is an awesome driver and now he's written an awesome book! I've been a NASCAR fan for several years and this book helps answer some of the questions I've had about the sport. Mark gives info on tracks, drivers, rules and how a stock car runs. I recommend this book to all NASCAR fans, male or female, those new to the sport or those who have been following it for years. GO MARK!

My boss once jokingly told that's what NASCAR is about: turn left and hit the gas.

Then I went to the Alllstate 400 at the Brickyard and now I've read Mark Martin's NASCAR FOR DUMMIES. It's looking a little more complicated than fast left turns.

The author's enthusiasm for the sport of NASCAR racing is contagious. As the driver of the Viagra-sponsored car #6 in the Nextel Cup series, he ought to know what he's talking about from the inside out and about 188 mph.

Chapter 1 ('NASCAR Racing-the best sport around', pp. 9-24) tells you how men (well, mostly men) driving cars that look vaguely like your father's Taurus ended up racing them around oval tracks in front of millions of spectators and television viewers and why you couldn't possibly not be excited about this. Like most professional sports, NASCAR has acquired corporate sponsors. It is arguably the most logo-plastered sport in the world, a fact that Martin explores in 'The Big Business of NASCAR' (ch. 2, pp. 25-34). Martin convinces you that that's a good thing, and before you know it, you know the primary car sponsors as well as the drivers and their car numbers.

The rest of the book takes you from zero to sixty in a fairly easy stretch of reading. If, like me, you started this book after attending a race or two and just getting at toe-hold on the sport, you won't end up an expert. But you'll be in good shape to understand the basics of every major area of the sport and to learn more as your exposure grows.

Mark Martin is not a great writer, but you don't buy the Dummies series for great writing. You buy Tolstoy if you want great writing. What Martin effectively does is lets you know that there's a whole lot more to NASCAR racing than you thought when you got yourself into this, but that you can learn a fair chunk of it pretty quickly. It's also organized as a handy reference book for when you need to go back to look up a topic you breezed over a little quickly on the first go-around.

I bought this book because there's a strong NASCAR culture in the company I joined. My boss sponsors the 18, driven by Bobby Labonte. See, I knew how to say that right. You can too. Buy the book.

I bought this book in 2004 when I first started getting into Nascar, and even back then it was a little outdated. Now, with all the changes in rules and even teams, its more than "a little outdated". One of the chapters includes a list of drivers to watch for in the future, including Champion Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Junior along with some drivers who barely race now. Even the information on tracks is past tense by now. For instance, we went to Lowe's Motor Speedway and followed his information on where race shops were located, only to discover that 90% of those had moved to different cities/locations. There are some basics in here that the newbie might appreciate, but be warned that it isn't up to date.

As a die-hard NASCAR fan since 1984 I hate to admit all the things that I learned from this book.

This book is great at explaining the NASCAR scoring system and how the purse is divided not to mention all these bonuses that are available even if you have the best finish using a brand of motor oil.

This is a must buy book for old and new NASCAR fans.

I wanted to learn about NASCAR and knew nothing about it... and this book did a good job of introducing it to me. My one complaint is it doesn't talk enough about what's going on in the actual races, and I still feel a little lost about what exactly is happening on the track, how exactly the race works, and what specific strategies the drivers are using. A little more on the actual racing and this book would've been perfect. But it's still an excellent intro if you're looking to learn about the sport.

Have you every wondered what really goes into putting together a winning stock car team? Mark Martin does a superb job of including everything from what a restrictor plate looks like to driving and pitting techninques. And, he adds his own insight to the sport with interesting anecdotes and war stories. A must for anyone even remotely interested in motorsports!

I am a new fan to NASCAR and I already know more than most longtime fans thanks to this book. It is written by Mark Martin, so you know it has lots of "insider" info. Even though Martin has been in the business for a long time, he wrote in a way that made it easy for me to understand, even with my limited knowledge. I enjoy watching NASCAR races every weekend even more because I actually know what's going on! I now know what a track bar is and what happens when you put a "rubber" in the right rear. Before reading this book, I would have been pretty sure that was obscene! You will enjoy reading this book but you also be able to keep it around for reference when you want to learn more about a particular track or adjustments being made on pit road. I highly recommend this book to a new fan or the most diehard fan out there.

I had been trying to write a similar book just for some of my friends and was delighted when I found out one of my favorite drivers, Mark Martin, had written one. Even though I am a Nascar fan, a lot of my friends aren't and I wanted to help them understand racing--that it's more than just driving around in circles. I read the book cover to cover just this morning; I couldn't put it down. Thanks Mark!

I was doing research for a NASCAR Web site that I was creatingwhen I came across this title. Talk about a wealth of information!Ever wonder who won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race, or what makes astock car different from a regular passenger car? Mark has the answer! From track layouts to famous families, sponsorship to qualifying, Mark covers NASCAR with a thoroughness and humor that is a rarity, and much appreciated. I recommend that everyone, from new fans to old buffs, buy and read this book. I guarantee you that you won't be disappointed!