Second To None: The History of the NASCAR Busch Series (Paperback)

by Rick Houston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
True fans of stock-car racing have known for years that the NASCAR Busch Series is every bit as competitive and colorful as the more famous Winston Cup circuit. Many of today's top Winston Cup drivers began their careers in the Busch Series, which has served as a training ground for racing talent since its origins as the Late Model Sportsman Series in the 1960s. And unlike the Winston Cup, where the pressures of money and the media rule, the Busch Series has retained much of the down home, close-knit atmosphere that made stock-car racing great in the first place. In the first comprehensive history of the Busch Series, author Rich Houston shows how its drivers, fans and families have forged a deep tradition of their own. This beautifully illustrated book traces the beginnings of the series in the Sportsman class and reviews every season from 1982-2000. The line from early champions Jack Ingram and Sam Ard to more recent winners such as Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seldom straight and never boring. Second To None goes beyond mere history to tell the inside story of each driver's struggle to win in one of the most competitive venues in motorsports.

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 Publishing (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.com Sales Rank: #1,151,580 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 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 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!

2 of 3 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

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.

1 of 2 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

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!