Racing to the Finish

Name: Racing to the Finish
SKU: 70598
Availability: InStock

4.8 | 3,488 ratings

Price: 17.32

Last update: 12-15-2024

About this item

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s only authorized audiobook revealing the inside track on his final year of racing and retirement from the driver’s seat.

“Time was running out on my charade…. My secrets were about to be exposed to the world.”

It was a seemingly minor crash at Michigan International Speedway in June 2016 that ended the day early for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. What he didn’t know was that it would also end his driving for the year. He’d dealt with concussions before, but concussions are like snowflakes: No two are the same. Recovery can be brutal and lengthy.

When NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr., retired from professional stock car racing in 2017, he walked away from his career as a healthy man. But for years, he had worried that the worsening effects of multiple racing-related concussions would end not only his time on the track but his ability to live a full and happy life.

Torn between a race-at-all-costs culture and the fear that something was terribly wrong, Earnhardt tried to pretend everything was fine, but the private notes about his escalating symptoms that he kept on his phone reveal a vicious cycle: suffering injuries on Sunday, struggling through the week, then recovering in time to race again the following weekend. For the first time, he shares these notes and fully reveals the physical and emotional struggles he faced as he fought to close out his career on his own terms.

In this candid reflection, Earnhardt opens up about his frustration with the slow recovery, his admiration for the woman who stood by him through it all, and his determination to share his own experience so others don’t have to suffer in silence. Steering his way to the final checkered flag of his storied career proved to be the most challenging race and most rewarding finish of his life.

Brock

A refreshing revelation of both Earnhardt and today's understanding of concussions

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2018

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is one of the most intriguing personalities in professional stock car racing. He's amassed one of the largest fan bases NASCAR has ever known, a "Junior Nation" that rallied around him after the death of his famous father in 2001. Yet, for all he's endured, he's never lost his sense of humility, and for all his popularity, has maintained a rather private, sometimes shy persona. Even those who've interviewed Earnhardt haven't succeeded in truly understanding who he is, what motivates him, and what he's endured. And that's what makes "Racing To The Finish" such a remarkable and refreshing book.

What Earnhardt and ESPN's Ryan McGee have accomplished here is an honest and humble depiction of perhaps NASCAR's biggest name. It would've been easy for Earnhardt to write about his entire career from start to finish, his victories on and off the track, and to put a smiley face on the way his career ended. But, as Earnhardt himself says in the book, that isn't this story.

"Racing To The Finish" focuses almost exclusively on the most difficult chapter of the driver's career from 2012 through 2017, when a series of concussions began to catch up with him. It almost reads as a confession of sorts, an explanation for why things played out the way they did. He expresses regret over not telling those close to him about the effects he was feeling, goes moment by moment through his recovery, and clears up several misconceptions about his recovery and his decision to ultimately step out of the driver's seat. He even provides notes he kept to himself as he tracked his symptoms, described with such detail that it will get the reader to examine his own motor functions.

Contrary to what one would expect from a book by a NASCAR driver, this is less of a story about the sport and more about today's understanding of concussions. What was most surprising was the revelation that there is a whole body of medicine geared toward overcoming concussion symptoms, that they involve exercises and training instead of invasive surgery, and that these methods are becoming more effective as the years pass. This was fascinating in light of the ongoing issue of CTE in the NFL, and the high-profile tragedies of players like Junior Seau. This makes Earnhardt's story even more of an inspiration, not simply to race fans, but to those dealing with similar conditions - there is help, and people should go and seek it.

By the end of this book, you will understand as best any of us can the pressure Earnhardt felt to perform, and why he had to do what he did those final six years in elite competition. I left with an even greater respect for the man, and his bravery in sharing this story with others. Couldn't recommend it more.

pat roznowski

book

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024

this was a good book to read. liked the bio on dale, was interesting. good for dale fans

D. Heath

Not just a guy who made a living making lefts!

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2018

Wow! Talking about a man who puts out his life,both the ups and downs in a very emotional book to help others. Then if you never heard of Earnhardt, or never watched a race. Still this is a great book that addresses the problems of concussions. He gets into details and the causes, the types, and the specific treatment and therapy for each symptoms of the concussions. But most of all he give folks hope of returning back to 100% after not one but several concussions. He really wears his heart on his sleeves, and shares that his battle to return was not an easy task, but required a desire to get healed, and a lot of discipline. That its not a battle to take on without the support of family and friends. I have never read a book where a man get so explicit about his appreciation of his girlfriend/wife. I am a race fan actually live in K.Town, also a retired medical professional. I hope every neurologist reads this book, and has it available for their pts who have dx of concussions and post concussions syndrome. If you are concerned about concussions either yourself or others. Read this book. I love reading books on my tablet but it can't be shared,or passed on. I intend to purchase this book in copy to add to my library just in case I need to share it in the future with any friends or family, or because you never know when it can happen to anyone,anytime even myself. Thank you 88!

Shannon

Honest Biography & Educational easy read

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2019

The book feels good in your hands. It came in nearly perfect condition with only very minor scuffs on the book cover, which were no big deal. The content of the book is entertaining, educational, and an easy read. Dale Jr. did a wonderful job balancing the vulnerability of sharing his darkest times and educating the reader on how he handled it both poorly and well at times. His story is highly relevant with the increased awareness of head injuries such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in sports. I felt this book depicted the struggles of a concussion in a relatable way for people who have experienced or are experiencing a concussion and an enlightening way for people who have never had a concussion to better understand the concussions impact on a person’s mental, physical, and emotional health. I recommend it to all people regardless of their familiarity with NASCAR or concussions. Dale Jr. unintentionally stepped into the role of a spokesperson and educator for concussions within NASCAR and sports to the general public, and his bravery has brought much needed distribution of advancing knowledge about concussion effects and protocol to all. A job well done.

BeSota

Very Interesting Book!

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2018

Let me admit, first of all, that I am a huge NASCAR fan. I watch the truck series, the Xfinity series, and the Cup series every single week as well as all the NASCAR shows, practice, and qualifying. I know the players and have for decades. While not a part of Junior Nation, I have watched Dale through out his career and have watched his personal growth as he became his own identity.
This book is an honest depiction of a man at the apex of his career who is smart enough to realize he is weekly putting his future on the line every time he buckles up. He's trying to hold on to the sport and "job" he loves while trying to balance his own personal safety and that of his fellow competitors, his team, his sponsors, his fans should he admit he should no longer be driving. He clearly keeps a log of how he's feeling, his symptoms. He tries to tell his family and his JRM employees that he needs an exit strategy. He eventually just can no longer keep it all to himself. His road to doing the right thing is painful but necessary. This is a man who is now at peace with himself after years of struggle with what will likely one day be identified as CTE.
Don't think you need to be a member of Junior National to read this! It's scary to think how many others in the NASCAR may have similar issues.

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