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Title details for In the Blink of an Eye by Michael Waltrip - Available

In the Blink of an Eye

Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything

by Michael Waltrip
Ellis Henican
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
There was one lap to go in the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR's most celebrated event. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were running one-two. Junior's legendary dad, the driver race fans called "The Intimidator," was close behind in third, blocking anyone who might try to pass. Waltrip couldn't stop thinking about all the times he'd struggled to stay ahead — and the 462 NASCAR Cup races he'd lost without a single win. He'd been a race-car driver all his adult life, following in the footsteps of his brother Darrell, a three-time NASCAR champion. And his losing streak was getting more painful every race.
But this day, he knew, could be different. He was driving for Dale Earnhardt now, racing as a team with his close friend and mentor. Yet as his car roared toward the finish line, ending that losing streak once and for all, Waltrip had no clue that the greatest triumph of his life could get mired in terrible tragedy.
This is the story of that fateful afternoon in Daytona, a day whose echoes are still heard today. But the story begins years earlier in a small town in Kentucky, with a boy who dreamed of racing cars, a boy who was determined to go from go-karts to the highest levels of NASCAR. For the first time ever, Michael Waltrip tells the full, revealing story of how he got to Daytona, what happened there, and the huge impact it had on so many in the racing world. He reveals for the first time how his own life changed as he dealt with guilt, faced his grief, and searched for the fortitude to climb into a race car again. It's an inspiring and powerful story, told with Michael's trademark humor, honesty, and irreverence. It's a story of family, fulfillment, and redemption — and well-earned victory in the end.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 1, 2011

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781401396534

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781401396534
      • File size: 20243 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      February 15, 2011

      The 2001 Daytona 500 race is remembered for NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. The winner, Michael Waltrip, had not won in 462 attempts and should have been ecstatic. But Earnhardt had been Waltrip's employer, close friend, and mentor. Waltrip's devastation was so intense that he avoided talking about that fateful day for years. Now he brings to light those suppressed issues and shines a spotlight on the Dale Earnhardt he knew and revered. Waltrip's narrative spans a lifetime's involvement with auto racing as a fan, driver, car owner, and younger sibling to one of NASCAR's most successful drivers, Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip reveals much about the motivations and values that fueled and sustained his life and career, offering a number of life lessons he learned from mentors, both friends and family. The subtext of the book, though, is Earnhardt and his significant impact on Waltrip's career and life. VERDICT There are many stories here that Earnhardt fans will appreciate and that will no doubt add to Earnhardt's legacy. Written in the breezy, conversational style expected from Waltrip, this is an entertaining and rewarding read. Solidly recommended for popular racing collections.--David Van de Streek, Penn State Univ. Libs., York

      Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from March 1, 2011
      February 18, 2001, is the day that changed everything, at least for auto-racing fans. The race was the Daytona 500, crown jewel of the NASCAR season. It was the day Michael Waltrip won his first race as a member of the Dale Earnhardt team. It was Waltrips first NASCAR win ever, after 462 starts without a checkered flag. It should have been a day of great celebration for Waltrip, but it wasnt. Eleven seconds before he crossed the finish for his first win, Dale Sr., Waltrips mentor and the face of NASCAR, hit the wall and died from the injuries sustained. Triumph turned to tragedy in the blink of an eye. Ten years later, Waltrip explores that painful day and its effects on his life and on the sport. This is a genuinely heartfelt memoir that is equal parts autobiography and tribute to Earnhardt. Waltrip recounts his racing career, his relationship with brother Darrell, a three-time NASCAR champion, and the career boost he got from the confidence shown in him by Earnhardt. Though sadness and loss are a big part of Waltrips story, he balances them with humor and joy. A really wonderful read for NASCAR fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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