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He Crashed Me So I Crashed Him Back: The True Story of the Year the King, Jaws, Earnhardt, and the Rest of NASCAR's Feudin', Fightin' Good Ol' Boys Put Stock Car Racing on the Map
On a cold February day in 1979, when most of the Northeast was snowed in by a blizzard, NASCAR entered the American consciousness with a dramatic telecast of the Daytona 500. It was the first 500-mile race to be broadcast live on national television and featured the heroes and legends of the sport racing on a hallowed track. With one of the wildest finishes in sports history--a finish that was just the start of the drama--everything changed for what is now America's second most popular sport.
HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the story of an emerging sport trying to find its feet. It's the story of how Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, A.J. Foyt, and Kyle Petty came together in an unforgettable season that featured the first nationally televised NASCAR races. There were rivalries--even the sibling kind--and plenty of fistfights, feuds, and frenzied finishes. Rollicking and full of larger-than-life characters, HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the remarkable tale of the birth of modern stock-car racing.
HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the story of an emerging sport trying to find its feet. It's the story of how Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, A.J. Foyt, and Kyle Petty came together in an unforgettable season that featured the first nationally televised NASCAR races. There were rivalries--even the sibling kind--and plenty of fistfights, feuds, and frenzied finishes. Rollicking and full of larger-than-life characters, HE CRASHED ME SO I CRASHED HIM BACK is the remarkable tale of the birth of modern stock-car racing.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2010
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258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 17, 2024
Finished just in time for this year’s Daytona 500!
This book was really interesting and turned out to be more than just a recount of the 1979 Daytona 500/season. It’s about the growth of NASCAR, the changing of American culture in the late 1970’s, and the careers of Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, and more.
It was very well written, included a nice blend of history & fun, and provided me with a lot of new information! Now, let’s go racing at Daytona!
This book was really interesting and turned out to be more than just a recount of the 1979 Daytona 500/season. It’s about the growth of NASCAR, the changing of American culture in the late 1970’s, and the careers of Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, and more.
It was very well written, included a nice blend of history & fun, and provided me with a lot of new information! Now, let’s go racing at Daytona!
November 8, 2020
One of the most famous scenes from the Daytona 500, “The Great American Race”, came in 1979 when Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough were fighting when they were involved in a wreck on the last lap of the race. While that type of scene was not that uncommon for stock car racing at the time, what made it memorable was that a then-record television audience saw this drama play out. Because of a massive blizzard that affected most of the eastern and Midwestern part of the country, many snowbound viewers tuned into the CBS broadcast of the race. This moment is considered by many to be the introduction of NASCAR to most of the country and is the backbone of this book on the 1979 NASCAR season by Mark Bechtel.
As Bechtel notes throughout the book, calling this moment a turning point for the sport doesn’t fully explain the how NASCAR became a bigger part of the American sports conscious that year. Yes, the Daytona 500 may have had that fight, but it was far from the only exciting race that year and the best of them are captured by Bechtel in a manner that one doesn’t think that he or she is just reading rehashed newspaper accounts of the races.
This is mainly because of the excellent portrayal of the sport’s biggest names at the time. The first chapter in the book on the Pettys – Richard, who was the king of the sport then and his son Kyle, who was a rookie that year- sets the tone for how the stars of NASCAR will be portrayed in the book. No matter which star driver from that era one wishes to read about, chances are the reader will find information on that driver in this book. This is also the case for many others in the sport, including owners, crew chiefs,
crew members and even the founding father of NASCAR, Bill France. The story of how he supposedly made the rain stop in time for the Daytona 500 is very good and even will make one chuckle at the comparison to France controlling weather as much as God.
Like other sports books about a particular year, the politics and social movements of the time are covered and contrasted with racing as well. For NASCAR, this is particularly notable for 1979 as the country faced a gasoline shortage. The sport did well to protect its public image despite this problem. The other big news that affected the sport greatly was the introduction of a 24 hour sports cable station called ESPN in 1979. Trying to continue to expand its exposure, NASCAR began building a relationship with the fledgling network that continued for many years.
NASCAR fans will enjoy reading about this watershed season for the sport, whether they saw these drivers and races from that era or only know about them through grainy highlights and stories passed down over the generations. It’s a great look into the sport and how 1979 planted the seeds to see NASCAR grow into what it is today.
As Bechtel notes throughout the book, calling this moment a turning point for the sport doesn’t fully explain the how NASCAR became a bigger part of the American sports conscious that year. Yes, the Daytona 500 may have had that fight, but it was far from the only exciting race that year and the best of them are captured by Bechtel in a manner that one doesn’t think that he or she is just reading rehashed newspaper accounts of the races.
This is mainly because of the excellent portrayal of the sport’s biggest names at the time. The first chapter in the book on the Pettys – Richard, who was the king of the sport then and his son Kyle, who was a rookie that year- sets the tone for how the stars of NASCAR will be portrayed in the book. No matter which star driver from that era one wishes to read about, chances are the reader will find information on that driver in this book. This is also the case for many others in the sport, including owners, crew chiefs,
crew members and even the founding father of NASCAR, Bill France. The story of how he supposedly made the rain stop in time for the Daytona 500 is very good and even will make one chuckle at the comparison to France controlling weather as much as God.
Like other sports books about a particular year, the politics and social movements of the time are covered and contrasted with racing as well. For NASCAR, this is particularly notable for 1979 as the country faced a gasoline shortage. The sport did well to protect its public image despite this problem. The other big news that affected the sport greatly was the introduction of a 24 hour sports cable station called ESPN in 1979. Trying to continue to expand its exposure, NASCAR began building a relationship with the fledgling network that continued for many years.
NASCAR fans will enjoy reading about this watershed season for the sport, whether they saw these drivers and races from that era or only know about them through grainy highlights and stories passed down over the generations. It’s a great look into the sport and how 1979 planted the seeds to see NASCAR grow into what it is today.
July 26, 2010
This is the story of the 1979 NASCAR season. When the giants were fighting and the sport began to grow. The Allison,s Petty, Walltip, Parsons, Pearson, Yarborough, Earnhardt. A period I would love to have seen...
January 1, 2021
As avid of a NASCAR fan that I've been for over twenty years now this is the first book on the sport that I've read so far. Fortunately it was very well written and engaging.
In a narrative that covers everything from the early days of American land speed records at Daytona beach to modern times, this book places specific focus on the 1979 Daytona 500 and why it put NASCAR on the map as a viable property. It then goes on to cover the rest of the season and the close championship battle that shaped up between Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.
In all, I found it fascinating to read about how much things have changed over the years, from the personalities of the drivers to the cars themselves, to NASCAR in general.
In a narrative that covers everything from the early days of American land speed records at Daytona beach to modern times, this book places specific focus on the 1979 Daytona 500 and why it put NASCAR on the map as a viable property. It then goes on to cover the rest of the season and the close championship battle that shaped up between Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.
In all, I found it fascinating to read about how much things have changed over the years, from the personalities of the drivers to the cars themselves, to NASCAR in general.
August 30, 2017
A solid book that examines the growth of the sport through the lens of the 1979 season, the year the Daytona 500 was aired live on television in its entirety for the first time, and had an infamous last-lap crash and fight between the wrecked drivers. NASCAR fan or not, these early days accounts of the sport are interesting for any fan of sports or American cultural history, and this is no different.
April 26, 2018
I imagine this book would be tough to follow without some requisite knowledge of NASCAR, but for those with some familiarity of the sport and drivers in the 1970s and 80s it provides an insider look at the growth of NASCAR. The book interweaves other events in US history that, at first glance, don't appear to be related, but provide useful context for the subject.
August 1, 2022
Author gives some really good backstory to many of the iconic drivers in NASCAR history and certainly significant drivers in the 1970s and 80s. He puts the ‘79 season in interesting context with the state of the sports as well as the state of the country and world. Anyone interested in NASCAR history should definitely read this.
September 20, 2022
Really fun history of the 1979 NASCAR season and the socio-economic forces that shaped NASCAR into what it is today. Too many names in the book but you figure out which are the important ones by the end. Cool to have an in depth history of a sport that also features interviews with the guys the history is about. I don't really even care about NASCAR and I thought the book was gripping.
January 3, 2023
Sports fan but not a NASCAR fan. Had me hooked throughout out (except for one blip on the 1980 election which got confusing from a timeline perspective). Great overview of races without going race-by-race and drowning in detail. Kept up suspense for a season that was 40+ years ago (30+ at the time of the book).
February 17, 2023
This book reminded me of the good old days of sitting on the couch next to my dad watching NASCAR every Sunday.
The book is an entertaining history of the glory days of NASCAR and a background into the lives of some of its most exciting characters. I’d highly recommend the book to learn about the rowdy racers and the unique sport you can’t help but love.
The book is an entertaining history of the glory days of NASCAR and a background into the lives of some of its most exciting characters. I’d highly recommend the book to learn about the rowdy racers and the unique sport you can’t help but love.
October 27, 2024
Prime time NASCAR back in the 70s when some of the biggest rivalries were driving side-by-side every week. Who’s crashing next? When’s the Big One? Awesome stories on the legendary careers of Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, and Cale Yarborough
January 11, 2021
You have to be a NASCAR fan to like this book.
June 2, 2021
Great stories
I wasn't a NASCAR fan and probably still won't watch much but the stories in this book are so damn good. I enjoyed evil age of this.
I wasn't a NASCAR fan and probably still won't watch much but the stories in this book are so damn good. I enjoyed evil age of this.
November 7, 2021
RMG12345
RMG12345
RMG12345
May 31, 2022
Must read for motorsports fan
June 23, 2022
I don't care about NASCAR, but this book rules.
December 2, 2023
Found this super engaging as a life-long fan of the sport. Tells the story of a season I wasn't alive to experience, but whose legacy is evident throughout racing even today.
April 20, 2020
I had been reading this book off and on, mostly because I had a hard time reading this one. There were so many footnotes and having to stop mid paragraph to determine what the footnote was slowed me down. It's interesting to hear some of the back story of the 1979 season and see how different things were in the 10+ years before I counted myself as a NASCAR fan.
January 24, 2010
It is 1979 and NASCAR is not a sport that most of the country is watching on TV. On a very snowy Sunday in February, the country is pounded by winter weather and a lot of the major sports (football, hockey, basketball) are not having games because of that. CBS decides that it will broadcast the Daytona 500 and keep sports fans happy.
The fans are treated to the whole race, where in the past they are treated to highlights only. The end of this particular race was exciting, as a fight ensued between three of the good ol' boys, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison & Cale Yarborough.
This started a little trend to cover more racing, because the end was such a fanfare. Who knew that auto racing was such a physical sport? Reporters were flocking to every race now wondering who would beat on who next time.
This book is definitely for the veteran NASCAR fan. The names that are written about in this book are mostly retired and no longer involved in the sport.
Mark Bechtel writes about the season and generously throws in the tidbits about the competitiveness of this sport and the personalities involved. Only a hint of today's NASCAR is exposed, as this was before it became so big.
Well written and pretty interesting. Again, definitely aimed at the older NASCAR fan, but fun to read nevertheless.
The fans are treated to the whole race, where in the past they are treated to highlights only. The end of this particular race was exciting, as a fight ensued between three of the good ol' boys, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison & Cale Yarborough.
This started a little trend to cover more racing, because the end was such a fanfare. Who knew that auto racing was such a physical sport? Reporters were flocking to every race now wondering who would beat on who next time.
This book is definitely for the veteran NASCAR fan. The names that are written about in this book are mostly retired and no longer involved in the sport.
Mark Bechtel writes about the season and generously throws in the tidbits about the competitiveness of this sport and the personalities involved. Only a hint of today's NASCAR is exposed, as this was before it became so big.
Well written and pretty interesting. Again, definitely aimed at the older NASCAR fan, but fun to read nevertheless.
April 10, 2010
I have to start off this review by explaining two things... 1. I won this book through a giveaway and 2. I don't know the first thing about NASCAR. I have never watched a race, I don't have any knowledge of what the sport entails beyond the basic stereotypical nonsense that everyone knows.
Based on this information one might assume that I wouldn't enjoy this book. Well, I did. I enjoyed it a lot. I figured the title alone was worth giving the book a chance.
He Crashed Me... documents the early years of NASCAR and focuses mainly on the racers who brought it life. You don't need fictional characters with people like these guys. You don't have to care a lick about racing to enjoy learning about these "good ol' boys" and their antics.
It's always a mark of a good non-fiction writer when they can impress a person who doesn't start out interested in the topic. I would guess that if you do love NASCAR, this book will be just that much more enjoyable.
June 22, 2010
This is a very good book about the 1979 NASCAR season. 1979 was an interesting year because it was right before the sport started its rapid expansion and many of the legendary drivers (Petty, Pearson, Yarborough, Bobby Allison) were still racing. Younger drivers which would take the sport to new heights (Earnhardt, Waltrip, Elliott, Rudd, Labonte) were just starting to emerge. It's your standard sports book that follows one season. As the season goes on he picks out personalities and does a short biography to show where they fit in the NASCAR world and moves on with the season. It's surprisingly funny (stock car racing is full of great storytellers) and full of original interviews the author did with the book's subjects and plenty of interesting contemporary newspaper and television reporting that he resarched. Recommended.
January 9, 2011
This isn't my usual type of book and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. The author has a wonderful and humorous style of writing (some of the footnotes made me laugh out loud). The 1979 season is stretched out throughout the book and paced very well with backstories to help you better understand what was going on or how they got there. A few times I felt it got bogged down too much in historical/sociological conclusions that dragged on a little longer than I wanted to read. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, learned a lot, and had a few laughs.
March 8, 2010
I'm not a NASCAR fan. In fact, I don't know if I ever have watched a race. However, I still enjoyed this book. When you put some fast cars in the hands of good ole boys, add in competition, some prize money, pride, pistols, a shark with a dead chicken in its mouth, and you've got the sport that is now so popular. I loved some of the stories in this book about the things some of the drivers did!
*I received the copy I read for this review from the Goodreads Book Giveaway*
*I received the copy I read for this review from the Goodreads Book Giveaway*
March 6, 2010
NASCAR has always fascinated me. I would love to have the confidence to get out there and race. The thrill of the drive would be such an adrenaline rush. He Crashed Me is a thrilling read about NASCAR drivers. These people risk their lives in these races, all for the joy of the sport. There are fights, enemies and crazy fans. The true stories was one of my favorite things about this book. If you like NASCAR and drama, this is the book for you.
February 28, 2010
A good book about the early years of Nascar startin in the late 70's. All about the top names like Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Earnhardt and many more. The turnaround for Nascar was probably the fight between Cale Yarbrough and Bobby Allison at the end of their race when it came to blows and this started the trend that is with us today. More fights, more fans enjoy!
April 24, 2010
A race-by-race account of the 1979 NASCAR season, the year that events (snowstorms, spectacular wrecks, and one famous fistfight) combined to awaken American's interest in the heretofore Southern-fried sport.
Bechtel gets up close and personal with the drivers and pit crews and their recollections flesh out this very entertaining book; it's definitely not just for NASCAR fans.
Bechtel gets up close and personal with the drivers and pit crews and their recollections flesh out this very entertaining book; it's definitely not just for NASCAR fans.
June 19, 2013
I don't think I've ever watched a complete NASCAR race or even especially wanted to, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I picked it up on some undefined whim, but got drawn into the stories about the early days of NASCAR as well as the race-by-race format for reselling the 1979 season. Highly recommended for NASCAR fans and recommended for all readers just looking for a good read.
July 21, 2010
The history of NASCAR -- something I know little about despite being an avid racing fan -- is even more fascinating than I'd thought. Such amazing real life characters. Plus I crack up every time I see the title.
November 14, 2011
Enjoyable and very readable re-telling of the 1979 NASCAR season. Great insight into the golden age of 70s racing with portraits of Petty, Yarborough, Pearson, Darrell Waltrip, Earnhardt et al. Very much worth reading if you're a fan at all. Really, really needs some photos though!
July 27, 2012
Good read if you are a NASCAR fan. Mostly about 1979 Daytona 500 race when the country had a big snowstorm and we had nothing else much to do but watch the race. That is what put NASCAR on the map and made fans of us. Has just continued to grow in popularity since then. The epilogue is sad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews