God, Pepsi, and Groovin' on the High Side: Tales from the NASCAR Circuit

I am a sports fan who was always been bored with any kind of `racing' especially NASCAR. But in the middle of the 2003 season, some friends introduced my wife and I to the sport, and we have really found it interesting (and fun).Even though I did notice some typos in the book (how does that happen?), the author did an excellent job of making the book interesting. I really enjoyed the author's analysis of the NASCAR subculture that includes millions of Americans. Some chapters were better than others, and they weren't really intertwined at all. The chapters could stand alone from the rest of the book and still be understood.I agree with some of the author's conclusions at the end of the book; the sport, fans, and racing teams are great. BUT there are some problems that should drive any sports fan nuts. First, the fact that NASCAR is inconsistent with their rules is annoying and unfair to a true concept of sport (what is also annoying is NASCAR's propensity to favor the popular drivers). And second, the commercialization of the sport is out of hand. Sponsorship and marketing DIRECTLY influence the outcome of the sport.I recommend the book to any NASCAR fan, especially new NASCAR fans like me who are clueless to the history and contemporary culture of the sport.

As an individual who does not know a lot about NASCAR, I found this book very interesting because it covers all aspects of the business. Mr Ernsberger has a great command of the English language and is smart enough to mix a little humor in with all of his facts and interviews.After reading the book I have a much greater appreciation for all of the people who participate in this business.He covers individual drivers, pit crews, owners, officials,and the fans who travel thousands of miles to party at the races. I really enjoyed his chapters on the anti Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon and the one on Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler as well as his coverage on the "inside" of this hugh business. You don't have to be a Nascar fan to enjoy this easy read. I highly recommend it to men and women of all ages.

This is a very good book with lots of different stories about NASCAR. I've not yet finished God, Pepsi and Groovin', but I like it because it covers the sport from many different angles, and it's written by a Newsweek journalist who's new to the sport. My husband and I have been sharing the book. He's not as big a NASCAR fan as I am, but liked the chapters on the scene at the Daytona 500, on crew chiefs, why Hendrick Motorsports is so good--and the chapter on drivers who never win races. I'm a HUGE NASCAR fan (isn't everybody in South Carolina) and liked the ones on Earnhardt (father and son) and the crazy rules system. If you like to read, and like NASCAR, you should enjoy this book."

This is a very well written book. Even those of us who are not familiar with NASCAR terms and drivers will enjoy getting the inside "scoop" on what goes on within the racing world. I really enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in this sport.