Earnhardt Nation

A colorful, fearless portrait of the larger-than-life first family of NASCAR, the Earnhardts, and the rise of the world's fastest stock car racing organization.

More than sixty years ago, Ralph Earnhardt toiled in a cotton mill in his native North Carolina to support his growing family. Weekends he could be found going pedal to the metal at the dirt tracks, taking on the competition in the early days of box car racing and becoming one of the best short-track drivers in the state. His son, Dale Earnhardt Sr., would become one of the greatest drivers of all time, and his grandson Dale Jr, would become NASCAR's most popular driver of the 2000s. From a simple backyard garage, the Earnhardts reached the highest echelons of professional stock car racing and became the stuff of myth for fans.

Earnhardt Nation is the story of this car racing dynasty and the business that would make them rich and famous-and nearly tear them apart. Covering all the white-knuckle races, including the final lap at the Daytona 500 that claimed the life of the Intimidator, Earnhardt Nation goes deep into the fast-paced world of NASCAR, its royal family's obsession with speed, and their struggle with celebrity. Jay Busbee takes us deep inside the lives of these men and women who shaped NASCAR. He delves into their personal and professional lives, from failed marriages to rivalries large and small to complex and competitive father-son relationships that have reverberated through generations, and explores the legacy the Earnhardts struggle to uphold.

This definitive sports biography explores every side of the Earnhardt myth:

• Three Generations of Racing: From Ralph Earnhardt's dirt track dominance in the early days of stock cars to Dale Sr.'s legendary career and Dale Jr.'s rise to stardom.
• A Legendary Family Dynasty: Explore the complex and competitive father-son relationships that drove the family to fame but also threatened to tear them apart.
• The Rise of NASCAR: Go behind the scenes of the world's fastest stock car racing organization, from its humble beginnings to becoming a global phenomenon.
• The Intimidator's Final Lap: A detailed, white-knuckle account of the Daytona 500 that claimed the life of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and forever changed the sport.