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Quote by Brock Yates

“Racing is bulging at the seams with pure nutball characters, men who can drink more, screw more, fight more, laugh more, joke more, than practically any collection of people in the world.”

Quote by Brock Yates

Book:NASCAR Off the Record
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NASCAR Off the Record

This book offers an unvarnished look into the lives and experiences of NASCAR's most prominent figures, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes perspective on the sport. more

Author

Brock Yates
Brock Yates

Brock Yates was an American journalist renowned for his profound insights into the car culture and his contributions to automotive magazine editing. His career began at 'Car and Driver' magazine, where he served in various roles for nearly four decades. Yates was beloved by readers for his unique style and passion for automotive performance. more

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“To be sure, [NASCAR] stars were initially ex-bootleggers for the most part drawn from that talent pool in the Carolinas hills: "good ol' boys" as they referred to themselves. That's exactly how they would be described in the press that slowly became enamored with their raucous life style. That has all changed, with the drivers of today polished and clean-cut athletes who are expected to behave like commercial puppets in public.”

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“Some critics of racing witlessly claim that spectators only attend to see someone die. This is utter and complete nonsense. I have been at numerous races where death is present. When a driver dies, the crowd symbolically dies, too. They come to see action at the brink: ultimate risk taking and the display of skill and bravery embodied in the sport's immortals like Nuvolari, Foyt, and thousands of others who operate at the ragged edge.”

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