Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Inside the Rise of a Nascar Superstar - Hardcover

Ron Lemasters Jr., an Indiana native, has been writing about NASCAR and other forms of motorsports since 1988, when he joined the staff of National Speed Sport News. Since then, the Ball State University graduate has been part of the NASCAR landscape as a writer, editor, and public relations specialist. His work has appeared in Stock Car Racing and Circle Track magazines, several International Speedway Corporation programs, and a variety of other motorsports publications.

He and his wife, Chris, live in Concord, North Carolina, with their daughters Jordan and Devon.

Al Pearce writes the weekly race updates for Autoweek and was a beat writer in Newport News, VA for many years. He’s covered NASCAR for more than 20 years, and has written several books for MBI Publishing.

Nigel Kinrade’s work appears regularly in Racer, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN magazines and dozens of books by MBI Publishing.

Official Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Anheuser-Busch race photographer Harold Hinson’s work has been in every significant NASCAR racing magazine published.

He was serious and absolutely dedicated to racing. He worked on race cars day and night.

Gary Hargett, Junior s car owner at Myrtle Beach in the early 1990s

We felt he d be the perfect representative . . . because he drinks beer, likes music, and he s really good in the race car.

Kathy Casso, Director, Budweiser s domestic sport-related marketing

All of a sudden, you put him in a piece of equipment that can run, damn, he s got some talent. Then, when he started tasting it, hell yeah, that s what he wanted to do.

Marty Smith, writer, NASCAR.com

If this was the 1950s, Jeff Gordon would be Pat Boone and Dale Jr. would be Elvis.

Monte Dutton, writer, Gaston Gazette

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is arguably the face of NASCAR today. Admired for his rock star persona, hometown roots, and raw driving talent, he has become the driver of choice for everyone from Wrangler Jeans (who designed a pair of pants just to sign him as their spokesperson) to Sheryl Crow (who invited Junior to appear in a music video).

Long-time NASCAR reporters Al Pearce and Ron Lemasters talk to those close to Junior to reveal how and why he has become an icon in NASCAR. These interviews reveal insightful details about how Earnhart s childhood and early racing years led to his current success in NASCAR. If you are interested in Dale s personal life, his personality, and what made him into the man we know today, this is the book for you.

The book includes outstanding photographs from two of the finest race photographers in the business: Nigel Kinrade, whose work appears regularly in Racer, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN magazines, and official Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Anheuser-Busch race photographer Harold Hinson, whose work has been in every significant NASCAR racing magazine published.