Wood Perry Allen Wood – författare

Independent stock car racers rarely won, often crashed, and flirted with death constantly, all for less money and fame than the money-backed star drivers of their day. This book includes interviews with 12 independent racers, including Curtis "Crawfish" Crider, "Jackhandle Joe" Frasson, and Gene "The Racing Marine" Hobby, among others. Laying the foundation for stock car racing as we know it, most of these racers plied their trade during the sport''s early years, when racing required little more than a helmet and a great deal of courage. Readers will discover how each of these men managed to survive and stand out in their sport, despite running on second-hand or inferior equipment, receiving little to no outside support, and, in many cases, holding down another job off-track. The book is supplemented with 126 photographs, many from the personal collections of the author and the racers.

Greg Moore is one of three sons of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bud Moore. Bud is a highly decorated World War II veteran who landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. Greg grew up in an auto racer''s world in which his father''s cars and drivers won dozens of races and back to back championships. Those drivers were Greg''s friends, and two died in racing crashes within a year when he was 6 to 7 years old.

Greg chose racing over college and went to work in his father''s business, staying there for the next 25 years. He worked especially with racing engines and became team manager for such winning drivers as Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd and Geoff Bodine until Bud Moore Engineering was sold in 2000. Greg accompanies his father everywhere making personal appearances. His personal recollections of a life that others could only dream of, from childhood to adulthood, give fascinating insight into the world of big-time stock car racing.

NASCAR held its first Strictly Stock race in Charlotte on June 19, 1949, and, in the following decades, dozens of large and small tracks throughout the Carolinas were home to a major NASCAR event. Called Grand National from 1950-1970, NASCAR''s top circuit became the Winston Cup in 1971, and most of the dirt and small tracks were subsequently gutted from the schedule. Although a handful of those speedways tenuously held on through exploding popularity, and an influx of big corporate dollars, the transition to metropolitan markets and super speedways was inevitable. Some of the original tracks, like the North Wilkesboro Motor Speedway, still stand testament to the sport''s not-too-distant past. Others, like the Charlotte Speedway, are long gone, leaving only memories and photographs.

This is the story of every racetrack in North and South Carolina that held at least one big-time race through 1971, but is no longer used for auto racing. Seven are one-race wonders, while others are as much racing legends as the sport''s past champions. Chapters cover each track''s big time history, from early background through its racing years to its current status. Included are the thrilling tales of the personalities and machines that shaped NASCAR''s early days. Statistics chart every track''s past winners, records, and wins by make. The 151 photographs give the reader a virtual tour of speedways that are often inaccessible or nonexistent.