Our Picks Reviews - Page 30

NASCAR may have become a high-gloss, mega-dollar multimedia empire, but its roots will forever be coated in dust, danger and disrepute. This illuminating history of the sport reveals its wild and wooly origins in the Southern world of bootlegging—illegal whiskey runs—and its earliest dirt-track “stars,” a foul-mouthed mechanic, a crippled war veteran and a convicted felon.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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As thorough as an encyclopedia but as much pedal-to-the-metal fun as a day at the races, this handsome, vinyl-encased volume examines the history, heroes and heartbeat of America’s most popular motor sport. With hundreds of photos, year-by-year highlights and a well-organized bounty of stats and other info about the men, muscle machines and milestones, it’ll bring even NASCAR novices up to speed fast.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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On the track, drivers are a blur, zipping around at upwards of 160 mph. Here’s what they look like when they “slow down” at home, spending time with their families and nurturing their hobbies. This stately collection of black and white photos offers a rare glimpse inside the private worlds of more than 30 NASCAR stars, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Green, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, as they putter around their houses and yards, play with their kids and pursue various off-the-track interests.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Heat and heartbeats drive this Harlequin romance paperback about a fictional NASCAR family with—surprise!—a few skeletons in the closet. If the roar of the racetrack gets you thinking of romantic trysts instead of spinning tires, this little heavy-breather of a book makes for an indulgent, impassioned pit stop.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Experience the sights and sounds and go behind the scenes with these four DVDs—The Explosion: NASCAR’s Rise; 100 Defining Moments; Greatest Drivers, Biggest Races, Hottest Rivalries; and The Dirt, The Cars, Speed & Danger—from ESPN’s home entertainment division. Interviews with top drivers, never-before-seen race footage and colorful, first-hand accounts of life in the fast lane make each one a memorable, high-octane ride.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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From the mapmaking experts at Rand McNally, this customized atlas is specifically geared for fans headed to NASCAR races with detailed descriptions, diagrams, aerial photos and driving directions to 31 different U.S. raceways. There are also sidebars on interesting pit stops along the way, plus 72 pages of color highway maps of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Don’t head out on any road trip to a NASCAR destination without it.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Now one of rock ’n’ roll’s elder statesmen, the gravel-voiced English belter of “A Little Help From My Friends,” 64, returns with this collection of gospel-ish, soulful cover tunes from the catalogs of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Beatles, Steve Wonder and other artists tapped into timeless messages of peace, love and understanding.
¬—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Do the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, werewolves and other monsters of lore really exist? This enlightening History Channel TV series, now with all 13 episodes of its debut 2007 season compiled in a “steel-trap” box set, sifts through science, history, eyewitness accounts and mythology in a serious attempt to get to the bottom of these and other creatures at the intersection of fact and fiction. Whether you believe or not, Monster Quest is a compelling reminder of the enduring beastie mysteries that lurk in the dark corners of even our modern-day lives.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Bluegrass titan McCoury corralled his musical friends and cherry-picked tunes pointing to the plight of rural America in this “concept” collection that decries the gap between those who have and those who don’t. In songs such as “Mama’s Hungry Eyes,” “Farmers’ Blues,” “If We Make It Through December” and “40 Acres and a Fool,” McCoury and friends Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Bruce Hornsby, Patty Loveless and a host of bluegrass all-stars underscore his point—that times are tough—and also spotlight the role that country and bluegrass music has always played in articulating the troubles of the hard-pressed.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Not that you would ever try any of these deceptions and dupes compiled by nationally syndicated sports columnist Ostler. But you’ll sure have fun—and learn more than enough to get you in trouble—reading about the many ways the pros throw illegal pitches, become unblockable linebackers, modify NASCAR racers, force a basketball foul and sneak by with dozens of other deliciously dirty tricks.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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