The Last Lap : The Life and Times of NASCAR's Legendary Heroes

Stock car racing is not only the most popular sport in the country, it is among the most dangerous as well. Traveling at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, drivers risk their lives every time they take the wheel. In order to make it in this competitive sport, many drivers feel invincible and live their lives that way. The possibility of death looms at every turn, but is rarely discussed. In The Last Lap, bestselling author Peter Golenbock (American Zoom) interviews racers past and present, crew members, and families of drivers that have died both on and off the track before their time to give us an understanding of the unique personalities who race at high speeds for a living. Among those sharing their stories are racing legends David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Tim Flock and Marvin Panch, and the families of the late Curtis Turner, Tiny Lund, and the Allison brothers, Davey and Clifford. Golenbock draws out their fascinating stories and explores the hold the sport has on everyone who has ever participated in it and followed it. As NASCAR celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, The Last Lap tells the stories of those racing legends who helped make the sport great but who aren't around to share in the glory.

In The Last Lap, the author of American Zoom chronicles the lives of NASCAR legends who pushed their racing cars--and sometimes their personal lives--to the limit. With danger lurking at each turn, the drivers form a colorful cast in an ever-traveling sideshow that has become the biggest spectator sport in the world. Golenbock interviews past and present racers, crew members, and families in this celebratory paean to the fast lane in American sports.