It's Try-Day Friday! July 23, 2010

Product: NASCAR Then & Now (hardcover book, published 2010)

Website: http://www.motorbooks.com/

[ Note:  Click photos to enlarge ]

There's an episode near the end of the old "Home Improvement" TV series in which, if memory serves, the Taylors are planning to move - leaving behind the family home where the boys grew up and all of their happy memories were made. With boxes packed and furniture gone, mom Jill stops and looks wistfully at a near-empty family room. Suddenly, through a series of TV flashbacks, she recalls all the happy times the family spent there together through the years. She sees the Taylor children as little boys, but, in an instant, they're all grown up.

Take that concept to NASCAR, and imagine yourself looking out on an empty race track. In your mind's eye, you see the race cars and the drivers of yesteryear - Lee Petty, the Flock Brothers, Fred Lorenzen - the old-style cars and the fans dressed in clothing of the era filling the stands. Blink your eyes and it's 2010, with all the brilliant colors and bold pageantry of today's Sprint Cup Series.

That's the concept - and the practical effect - of the hardcover book NASCAR Then & Now by Ben White with photography by Nigel Kinrade and Smyle Media. As the back cover of the book explains, "By placing rich historical photography alongside vivid modern images, NASCAR Then & Now brings to life the story of NASCAR's growth from a humble but ambitious regional sport into a multibillion-dollar American institution. Part nostalgia, part celebration, this is a book every NASCAR fan will want for his or her library."

The book is divided into six chapters, each focusing on a different area of life at the race track: Drivers and Teams, Fans, Horsepower, the Tracks, Setting the Stage, and "Let's Go Racin'". The premise of juxtaposing old pictures with new ones is brilliantly executed throughout the book, starting with the cover itself, which contrasts a black and white photo of old-time race cars heading into a corner at Martinsville with Richard Petty 's No. 43 Plymouth in the lead, and a modern-day color photo depicting a similar turn at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevy out front.

While the side-by-side comparison of old and new photos is intriguing, most of the 200 beautiful photos in the book are equally compelling as stand-alones, whether for their quality, historic value, or simply the candid glimpses they offer into life along the racing circuit. In the  photo below, under the heading "Living Quarters," brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch (note Kyle in stocking feet), talk racing in what the caption describes as Kyle's "bachelor pad on wheels.":

Here, Buddy Baker is mobbed by fans in Victory Lane after winning after winning the 1972 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The photo falls under the heading "Victory Lane":

Another great behind-the-scenes "Post-Race Interview" shot shows teammates Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman talking with reporters on pit road after the 2009 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway:

Below, a pit stop from the late 1960s is contrasted with one from last season. The captions note the lack of any safety equipment in the old photo with gas spilling profusely, while the modern-day gasmen wear fire suits, helmets, and even special aprons to protect them from harm:

The real magic of the book is the pairing of old photos with newer ones, depicting at a glance the history of the sport and the many ways things have changed - yet, in another sense, the ways they've stayed the same.

All in all, NASCAR Then & Now is a success for its artful blending of the nostalgic and the modern through interesting text and breathtaking photography. It's a must-have addition to every fan's NASCAR bookshelf.

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CONTEST:  WriteSides.com is giving away a copy of NASCAR Then & Now to one lucky fan!  To enter, simply leave a comment to this blog post.  Be sure to include an email address if you wish to enter the contest.  Winner will be chosen by a random drawing and will be notified by email next week.  Good luck!