If you have the watched the TNT broadcasts this season no doubt you have seen the Pride of NASCAR Series. I spoke a little about this in my earlier post NASCAR History. Learn It., but I want to take a moment and commend TNT on their commitment to providing the fans of today with features about some of the great figures in the sport’s history.

So far this season, they have profiled Bobby Allison, Ernie Ervin and Raymond Parks. These gentleman, each in their own ways, have built the sport we now see today. As I discussed in that earlier post many within the sport and those on the outside do not understand where the sport has come from. TNT is giving fans a few minute history lesson every week and a good base of knowledge.

In addition to this there are also a ton of other videos and books that provide more indepth knowledge of the sport. I recently finished “Miracle”, about Bobby and Judy Allison and the rest of the Alabama Gang. It provides an inside view of their careers and the heartbreak they suffered after the deaths of Davey and Clifford Allison and Neil Bonnett. While there are some errors in the book, it really provides information that I had never heard before.

Another video resource is ESPN’s Ultimate NASCAR Series, which they did last season. Over four volumes there are over 400 minutes of lessons on the sport’s history. They are all very well done and feature the insight of some of the sports most prominent people. 

Throughout the last 60 years of the sport’s history, some of the most colorful people have emerged as the greatest drivers, car owners and figures that shaped the sport into what it is today. The best fan, in my opinion, is one who knows who some of these people are and understand their importance. So I encourage everyone to go out watch a movie, read a book and become a better informed NASCAR fan.

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