Customer Reviews

Wide Open: Days and Nights on the NASCAR Tour

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wide Open offers great insight into the lives of three of Nascar's not-as-big stars. It gives fans a look behind the scenes in the good times and bad, and shows what these guys go through to put on a show for the fans for 34 races a year. The best part in my opinion, is who the stories are about. Anyone can write about the hotshot racers in the series but to show what Dave Marcis and Brett Bodine do on and off the track to make the show in my opinion, is far more interesting.

Amazing! A true page turner! I never imaged what a nascar driver goes through in a typical season. The book truely captures the essence of nascar. I will recommend this book to all my friends.

It's much more fun to follow NASCAR now that I know the stories behind the racers and the events,and the history of the sport. This book is a fast, fun read! I've given this book as gifts with good results.

This book is a race through the 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup season, mainly focusing on drivers Dave Marcis, Brett Bodine and Bobby Hamilton.

Marcis is struggling just to make races, Bodine is dealing with sponsorship and family issues for the team he purchased from Junior Johnson and Hamilton is battling with his image as a guy who just can't get it done.

Assael goes in depth with each of the featured drivers through their struggles on and off the track. Richard Petty, team owner for Hamilton at the time, is also prominently featured in the book as he runs for public office.

Each driver seems to have a run-in with John Andretti during 1996, casting the former IndyCar jockey in a negative light. Robby Gordon and Ernie Irvan are also cast in a negative light.

Unfortunately, Assael was new to NASCAR at the time and it shows through glaring statistical errors throughout the book.

The book also takes a look at the various tracks and track owners on the circuit, including a history of North Wilkesboro which featured its last Cup race in 1996. Billionaire track owner Bruton Smith and his ventures are also an interesting tale, namely how he and New Hampshire International Speedway owner Bob Bahre took Wilkesboro off the schedule.

Overall, it was a good read and learning experience. Whether it be Marcis looking for an extra tenth of a second or Hamilton dropping an F-Bomb, every chapter was enjoying.

This is a must if you are interested in NASCAR. I chose a group of books as research for starting a race team, this is one I chose. You will be in the scene of some of NASCAR Winston Cup teams for the year, the up's and down's the excitement and the heartache of a year behind owning, running and surviving the "Cup". Think you can handle a year in NASCAR? Read this to find out, it will change your perspective.

It's great to have a book written by someone who doesn't have a vested interest in NASCAR.

Mr. Assael has managed to write a truely readable book about a year in Nascar. I have never been a Nascar fan, nor did I know much about the sport, after reading this terrific book I now watch the races, read about the racers and keep a close eye on the championship standings.

'Wide open' gives you an up close and personal look into the lives of three NASCAR drivers. It allows you to feel the emotions felt by some of the drivers. You get a chance to know them personally and as a result you realize that they are real people with a heart. You are given a chance to see the business side of NASCAR, how it came to be and the men that made NASCAR what it is today. As you read, you will become so involved in the lives of our NASCAR ledgends that the thought of putting the book down is impossible. You will laugh and cry as you read. Once you've finished the book, you will have bonded with the heros of NASCAR racing. Enjoy!

A behind the scene look at NASCAR life on the road, the ups and downs of 3 full-time teams on the circuit. A surprising look at the personalities of the drivers that you don't see in front of the camera!

to any true race fan,once you pick this book up you won't want to stop reading!you start to feel like you know the guys on tour as your reading this.you also see what goes on during the week when the cameras arent on.if you love winston cup you'll love this book