Synopsis
Dale Jarrett: Winning, a Family Tradition by Bob Kelley, co-authored with Dale Jarrett and published in 1999 by Umi Pub, is a biographical account that chronicles the life and career of NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett, set against the backdrop of his family’s deep-rooted legacy in stock car racing. The book, spanning 199 pages, captures Jarrett’s rise to prominence, culminating in his 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship, while emphasizing the influence of his family, particularly his father, Ned Jarrett, a two-time Grand National Champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer. Written at the peak of Jarrett’s career, the narrative blends personal anecdotes, racing milestones, and insights into the Jarrett family’s multi-generational commitment to motorsports, offering readers a detailed look at the interplay between personal life, professional triumphs, and the enduring family tradition of racing excellence.
The book begins by situating Dale Jarrett within the context of his family’s racing heritage. Born on November 26, 1956, in Conover, North Carolina, Dale grew up immersed in NASCAR, the son of Ned Jarrett, whose 50 career wins and championships in 1961 and 1965 set a high bar. Kelley details how Dale, the middle child of Ned and Martha Jarrett, was exposed to the racing world from an early age, traveling to his father’s races and working at Hickory Motor Speedway, managed by Ned. Despite excelling in multiple sports during high school, including golf, football, basketball, and baseball, Dale declined a golf scholarship to pursue racing, a decision shaped by his father’s legacy and his own passion. The narrative highlights early moments, such as Dale’s first professional race in 1977 at Hickory in a 1968 Chevrolet Nova, where he finished ninth, solidifying his commitment to a racing career.
Kelley traces Dale Jarrett’s progression through the ranks of NASCAR, focusing on his perseverance through early struggles and pivotal career moments. The book covers his entry into the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series (later Xfinity Series) in 1982, where he achieved consistent top-10 finishes, and his first Winston Cup Series race in 1984 at Martinsville Speedway. Jarrett’s breakthrough came with his first Cup win in 1991 at Michigan, driving for the Wood Brothers, followed by his iconic 1993 Daytona 500 victory for Joe Gibbs Racing, where he outran Dale Earnhardt on the final lap—a moment made memorable by Ned Jarrett’s emotional commentary from the broadcast booth. The book delves into Jarrett’s move to Robert Yates Racing in 1995, which marked a turning point, leading to multiple victories, including two Brickyard 400 wins and additional Daytona 500 triumphs in 1996 and 2000. Kelley emphasizes Jarrett’s 1999 season, where he clinched the Winston Cup championship with four wins, 24 top-5 finishes, and 29 top-10 finishes, showcasing his consistency and skill.
A central theme of the book is the Jarrett family’s influence on Dale’s career and the broader NASCAR landscape. Kelley explores the dynamics between Dale, his father Ned, his brother Glenn, who also raced, and his son Jason, an emerging driver at the time. The narrative underscores Ned’s role as a mentor, offering strategic advice while allowing Dale to forge his own path. It also touches on the emotional weight of carrying the Jarrett name, with Dale striving to honor his father’s legacy while establishing his own identity. The book highlights personal moments, such as Dale’s marriage to Kelley Jarrett in 1984 and their family life with children Jason, Zach, Natalee, and Karsyn, illustrating how family support underpinned his professional success. Kelley also notes Dale’s off-track endeavors, such as his involvement in charitable activities and business ventures like the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure.
While praised for its engaging storytelling and detailed recounting of Jarrett’s career up to 1999, the book has been critiqued for its timing, as it was published before Dale’s later achievements, such as his 2000 Daytona 500 win and his eventual transition to a broadcasting career with ESPN and NBC. Some readers, as noted in reviews, wished it had covered his later move from Yates Racing to Michael Waltrip’s Toyota team in 2007. Nevertheless, Dale Jarrett: Winning, a Family Tradition stands as a tribute to Dale Jarrett’s accomplishments and the enduring legacy of a racing dynasty, offering fans a rich narrative of grit, family bonds, and triumph in NASCAR’s competitive world.