What do you think?
Rate this book
NASCAR For Dummies
NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and it’s the governing body for one of the most popular sports in the United States. The speed and power of NASCAR stock cars – and the people who drive those cars – have enticed millions of fans to the sport in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. If you’re a NASCAR novice, NASCAR For Dummies can help you with the basics of the sport – the differences between the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division – so you can build upon your NASCAR knowledge from there. If you’re more advanced, you'll discover the subtleties of the sport so you can sound like an old pro. No matter what level of NASCAR knowledge you have, you can find something new in the pages of this book: NASCAR racing is a total body experience. When you sit in the grandstands, you can hear the cars roar by. You can feel the tremendous power of the engines when the stands shake and your guts rumble. Then you can smell the distinct odor of burned rubber. With NASCAR For Dummies, you'll gain an insider’s view of the sport, and enrich your experience. Author Mark Martin, known as one of the most focused and successful drivers in NASCAR racing, started racing cars when he was 15 years old.
- GenresNonfictionSportsRacing
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
8 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Mark Martin
3 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Mark Anthony Martin is a retired American stock car racing driver.
Mark Anthony Martin is a retired American stock car racing driver.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 18, 2009
Mark Martin is one of my favorite NASCAR drivers. And he is the author of this book, "NASCAR for Dummies." First, let's put it on the record: NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Racing, founded way back in 1947 by Bill France.
This volume, structured as all "For Dummies" works, features a discussion of the many features of NASCAR that the neophyte would want to know. "For Dummies," if the reader is not familiar with it, ". . .are written for those frustrated and hard-working souls who know they aren't dumb, but find that the myriad. . .of issues. . .make them feel helpless." Some examples of what is covered:
Chapter 2 examines the business of NASCAR, focusing in the critical financial support of sponsors. It costs a lot of money to build cars, hire and train crews, pay for drivers, and so on. Sponsors pay, for example, to have their decals prominently displayed on the car. Souvenirs, too, are big business (shirts, caps, and so on).
Chapter 6 looks at the nature of the race team. The owner "is the boss." Owners include Joe Gibbs (Hall of Fame football coach of the Washington Redskins), Richard Childers, Jack (The Cat in the Hat) Roush, and so on. The Crew Chief is a critical actor, making race day decisions as to when a car should pit, hoe many new tires should be added, how the set up the car even before the race. Then, the rest of the team--pit crew (tire changers, tire carriers, gas man, jack man, catch can man--See Chapter 10 for a lot more detail); engine specialist; tire specialist; engineers; fabricators; engine builders; etc. In short, there are a lot of employees here, getting back to Chapter 2, showing why lots of money is needed. Chapter 7 looks at another key person on the team--the driver.
There are a lot of chapters in this book; the above stands as a mere sampling. In passing, a few other key chapters if one wants to understand more about NASCAR: Chapter 9--race day strategy (pit stop gambles, tough calls such as 2 or 4 new tires [fewer tires lead to a quicker pit stop:]); Chapter 16--greatest CASCAR drivers (e.g., Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty); Chapter 13--the tracks (from short tracks like Martinsville to the superspeedways at Talladega and Daytona Beach).
So, want to know more about NASCAR? Here's a good starting point.
This volume, structured as all "For Dummies" works, features a discussion of the many features of NASCAR that the neophyte would want to know. "For Dummies," if the reader is not familiar with it, ". . .are written for those frustrated and hard-working souls who know they aren't dumb, but find that the myriad. . .of issues. . .make them feel helpless." Some examples of what is covered:
Chapter 2 examines the business of NASCAR, focusing in the critical financial support of sponsors. It costs a lot of money to build cars, hire and train crews, pay for drivers, and so on. Sponsors pay, for example, to have their decals prominently displayed on the car. Souvenirs, too, are big business (shirts, caps, and so on).
Chapter 6 looks at the nature of the race team. The owner "is the boss." Owners include Joe Gibbs (Hall of Fame football coach of the Washington Redskins), Richard Childers, Jack (The Cat in the Hat) Roush, and so on. The Crew Chief is a critical actor, making race day decisions as to when a car should pit, hoe many new tires should be added, how the set up the car even before the race. Then, the rest of the team--pit crew (tire changers, tire carriers, gas man, jack man, catch can man--See Chapter 10 for a lot more detail); engine specialist; tire specialist; engineers; fabricators; engine builders; etc. In short, there are a lot of employees here, getting back to Chapter 2, showing why lots of money is needed. Chapter 7 looks at another key person on the team--the driver.
There are a lot of chapters in this book; the above stands as a mere sampling. In passing, a few other key chapters if one wants to understand more about NASCAR: Chapter 9--race day strategy (pit stop gambles, tough calls such as 2 or 4 new tires [fewer tires lead to a quicker pit stop:]); Chapter 16--greatest CASCAR drivers (e.g., Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty); Chapter 13--the tracks (from short tracks like Martinsville to the superspeedways at Talladega and Daytona Beach).
So, want to know more about NASCAR? Here's a good starting point.
May 27, 2013
"Explains the sport well to a non-fan"
'NASCAR For Dummies' - jokes about the sport's fanbase based on the title kind of write themselves. That's what initially caught my attention.
I've never looked into NASCAR much, so I figured I'd actually read the book for an explanation.
The author is a veteran driver who does well trying to convey his enthusiasm for the sport and its fans. I'm still not convinced, but I feel I understood it better.
He explains the parity of making all cars as similar as possible; I don't see the point of that and them being stock in name only. Maybe I'd prefer non-NASCAR racing if I'm one for motorsports at all, but at least I have a better idea about various aspects of the sport after reading this book.
The book is several years old; referring to the series as Winston instead of Sprint emphasizes that. Many of his future-stars picks proved accurate, names recognizable to even the NASCAR neophyte in me.
'NASCAR For Dummies' - jokes about the sport's fanbase based on the title kind of write themselves. That's what initially caught my attention.
I've never looked into NASCAR much, so I figured I'd actually read the book for an explanation.
The author is a veteran driver who does well trying to convey his enthusiasm for the sport and its fans. I'm still not convinced, but I feel I understood it better.
He explains the parity of making all cars as similar as possible; I don't see the point of that and them being stock in name only. Maybe I'd prefer non-NASCAR racing if I'm one for motorsports at all, but at least I have a better idea about various aspects of the sport after reading this book.
The book is several years old; referring to the series as Winston instead of Sprint emphasizes that. Many of his future-stars picks proved accurate, names recognizable to even the NASCAR neophyte in me.
February 17, 2009
I originally got this book years ago when I had started watching races. It was even dated then re the rules due to NASCAR's love of constantly changing them.
But even now, reading it is interesting and Mark's anecdotes and insights are fun. I particularly liked his perceptions of the best racers.
But even now, reading it is interesting and Mark's anecdotes and insights are fun. I particularly liked his perceptions of the best racers.
July 12, 2009
This is a highly readable and informative reference for any beginning NASCAR fan or NASCAR widow/widower. It's due for updating, though.
September 22, 2009
Fantastic, great information for anyone who needs to know something about the sport (like me).
February 27, 2020
"Most drivers have their own Web sites, so if you hop on a search engine such as Yahoo! or Excite and type in the driver's name, the driver's Web site will pop up if he has one."
March 1, 2019
One of the best books, even though i now what NASCAR is.
January 11, 2022
It was a good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2022
A little outdated but still a good resource for both new and old fans.
March 28, 2024
I learned a lot from Mark Martin's "NASCAR for Dummies". I'm still not an expert but I know a lot more than I did before I started the book. My only knock against the book is that it's a little bit dated now. It's not the book's fault. It's my fault for waiting 24 years to read it. Still, I enjoyed "NASCAR for Dummies". I now have a much greater appreciation for what it takes to be a part of a NASCAR team.
April 1, 2013
Most "for dummies" books have flat, lame jokes, and are very condescending. I once thought the "for dummies" name was supposed to be sarcastic, but apparently not. Apparently most of these are really aimed at people who are too dumb to realize they are being treated like children.
That being said, many of these books are still quite informative below the asinine veneer.
NASCAR for Dummies is a little lighter on the dumbness than most dummies books, and thus that bit better.
That being said, many of these books are still quite informative below the asinine veneer.
NASCAR for Dummies is a little lighter on the dumbness than most dummies books, and thus that bit better.
July 27, 2016
Mark Martin is one of Nascar's 50 best drivers. He became the fourth driver to win a Cup race in NASCAR after turning 50. I've always enjoyed the maturity he brings to the sport and event.
February 1, 2016
This book is written by mark Martin my favorite Nascar driver now retired. He explains Nascar for any one not familiar with it.
August 3, 2019
excellent book if you are Nascar newbie or solid veteran. Mark Martin did a fine job.
November 30, 2016
Great introduction to NASCAR. A must for any new fan
Read
September 9, 2009J796.7Mar
June 15, 2012
Good Read, but some of the rules and a lot of the stats are out of date.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews