Second To None: The History of the NASCAR Busch Series [Paperback]

Rick Houston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2001

NASCAR's Busch Series has always been about racing hard and having fun doing it. In the two decades since it grew out of the long-running Late Model Sportsman Series, the Busch circuit has become famous as a training ground for future Winston Cup stars like Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

But the Busch Series has also established its own tradition of ultra-competitive racing and colorful drivers. The series has fostered some legendary rivalries, starting with Sam Ard and Jack Ingram in its earliest years and continuing with more recent grudge matches between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth.

And despite the fierce competition on the track, the Busch Series has also earned a reputation as a friendlier, less corporate circuit than the Winston tour, one in which the community of drivers, teams and fans still resembles an extended -- though often fractious -- family. When someone in that community unexpectedly misses a race, competitors will often call their home or shop to see that everything is OK.

Until now, no single source has told the full story of the Busch Series from its origins to the present day. Second to None traces the beginnings of the series in the Sportsman class and reviews every season from 1982-2000.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Houston is the Busch Series editor for NASCAR Winston Cup Scene and has covered NASCAR since 1991. He lives in Hamptonville, N.C. with his wife, Jeannie, a district court judge, and their twin sons, Adam and Jesse. Houston also has a son from a previous marriage, Richard. Houston had his own chance behind the wheel on a race track when he drove the second pace car prior to the Busch Series season finale at Homestead in November 2000.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Pub (August 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893618110
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618114
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second to None, Literally, October 4, 2001

By 

"arm24jeff" (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second To None: The History of the NASCAR Busch Series (Paperback)

This book is fantastic! I work in the motorsports industry, and see far too often how the Busch Series is often forgotten in national coverage. People do not realize how the Busch Series is a very large reason why the Winston Cup Series is so popular. Second to None really shows how the Busch Series developed through the years, from its early stages as the Late Model Sportsman division to today's Busch Series. The detailed stories and incredible pictures give fans insight into the Busch Series that they previously did not have access to.
Guys like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and the late Dale Earnhardt all fine-tuned their driving skills in the Busch Series, and this book offers glimpses into their careers along with many other series legends. Rick Houston is the best man for the job in writing this book, since he offers week-to-week coverage of the Busch Series for Winston Cup Scene. No one is better suited to tell the stories of that series than Houston.
Any true race fan would enjoy reading Second to None. Houston's story-telling is very enjoyable, while the pictures tell stories in themselves. Some are even moving, like the picture of an emotional Darrell Waltrip looking over brother Michael's wrecked car at Bristol. Just an all-around nostalgic book. You certainly get your money's worth in buying this book! Don't miss this one!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'MUST HAVE" for all TRUE race fans., September 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Second To None: The History of the NASCAR Busch Series (Paperback)

If you are a NASCAR fan you MUST have this book. The pictures are superb. The one on page 114 alone is worth the cost of the book. It is well written and gives not only a history of the Busch series but a look into the "personalities" that made this sport famous.

This is no ordinary paper back. The quality is outstanding. When you're finished, don't put it on a shelf. It deserves to be out on the coffee table for all to see and enjoy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be on every race fans bookshelf!!, October 4, 2001

By 

Butch Bellah (Bossier City, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Second To None: The History of the NASCAR Busch Series (Paperback)

Rick Houston takes the readers behind the scenes and back in time in Second To None: The History of The Busch Series. Seldom does this "AAA league" of stock car racing get this kind of attention and exposure. From Sam Ard and Jack Ingram to the newer generation stars, the true characters of the sport emerge in the pages of this fine book. I got the opportunity to visit with Rick Houston recently and the true passion for the Busch Series comes through in every word. Does it have a lot of pictures? Absolutely! Many are from private collections that have never been seen and give us a look back at the sport before every minute of every race was captured by thousands of cameras. If you want to know how far this sport has come in the last 20 years, read this book. You'll never watch those "Saturday" races the same!