December 29th, 2010 
T.C. It’s the last Ask The Insiders Wednesday until next year! Don’t worry though, next year is only a few short days away. We hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year! If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us. On to the questions…
1. From Chris:
Will Danica Patrick race in any Sprint Cup Series races in 2011? Or will her Sprint Cup Series Debut be in 2012?
Currently there are no plans for Danica to run in the Cup Series in 2011. The 2012 decision I suppose will be determined by the progress she makes next season, and the powers that be. – Journo
2. From Colorado Big Sage:
Alright guys…Whats a “Hero Card”?
A hero card is what you often see the drivers signing for fans. They’re usually 8 1/2 x 11 inch cards that are produced by the teams and sponsors for fans to collect and get autographed. Check out this link to see a big collection of older hero cards. – T.C.
3. From Riterchick:
What do you think are the best Nascar books?
The best NASCAR books? You really can’t go too wrong. Some I’ve enjoyed are:
Miracle: Bobby Allison and the Saga of the Alabama Gang by Peter Golenbock
Full Throttle: The Life and Fast Times of NASCAR Legend Curtis Turner by Robert Edelstein
Some others to check out are The Physics of NASCAR by Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Barney Hall’s Tales from Trackside by Barney Hall, Tim Richmond: The Fast Life and Remarkable Times of NASCAR’s Top Gun by David Poole, Fireball by Godwin Kelly.
Hope that gives you a start! – Journo
And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!
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How the hell can you claim to be an insider, yet not list AMERICAN ZOOM as one of the best nascar books ?
I’m looking forward to Michael Waltrip’s book about the day Dale Earnhart died. I think it is being released in February.
Cheating: An Inside Look At The Bad Things Good Nascar Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit Of Speed by Tom Jensen. It’s out of print but it’s worth finding a copy. Look for the updated and expanded edition which was the paperback version.
http://www.amazon.com/Cheating-Inside-Things-Nascar-Pursuit/dp/1893618447/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293634472&sr=8-2
Hey DJ, it looks like you just did it for us… If you want, throw up a link for folks to find the book.
Another good one is Gotta Race! by Ken Schrader. It should be pretty easy to understand why this one is entertaining.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Book-Gotta-Race-By-Ken-Schrader,5616.html
The Physics of NASCAR book is an absolute must-have for any fan. Especially new fans.
Thanks for the book recommendations. Going to start on Amazon right now.
Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR
by Neal Thompson
This is a great book about what was going on in Stock Car racing before NASCAR and covers the first season or two of NASCAR sanctioned events. Very interesting, to me at least.
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Best Damn Garage in Town: The World According to Smokey
by Smokey Yunick
There are two editions, a very nice 3 volume box set and a one volume paperback edition with fewer pictures… but all of the stories. It covers his whole life, as he remembers it. Hilarious stuff, really…
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-W
Hard Driving by Brian Donovan. It’s a fascinating book about Wendell Scott with extensive interviews of Scott, his sons and his contemporaries. It tells of another side to the early days of NASCAR in the segregated South that I’d not seen or heard elsewhere. It’s a must read.
I’d also recommend Rick Houston’s Second to None, which is a history of the Busch Series through 2000. It’s a great summary of the first 19 years of the series.