Synopsis
John Andretti's life was driven by family and fueled by a passion for racing. In Racer, Andretti candidly recounts how these powerful forces shaped a diverse professional driving career. The honesty and character that defined Andretti's life offer a behind-the-scenes look at racing at all levels full of lessons in racing and life supplied by this fiery and fiercely competitive driver.
John is a wonderful storyteller, and the book is comprised of a series of John's stories as told to bestselling author Jade Gurss (Beast, In the Red, Driver #8). The book opens with John's memories of growing up as a member of auto racing's famous family. His father, Aldo, is the twin brother of Mario Andretti. The book offers an intimate look at the interplay between these two men, and how their intensity and integrity shaped John's life.
John was one of the worlds most versatile race car drivers, and Racer includes John's remembrances of scoring wins in the NASCAR Cup series, IndyCar, IMSA sports car racing, and in sprint cars and midgets on dirt ovals across the country. He also tells about his experience winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and even his colorful venture racing an NHRA Top Fuel dragster.
The powerful narrative includes John's substantial charity work, and the story of how he contracted colon cancer at age 53 and turned his affliction into a public awareness campaign. Ten percent of the publisher's proceeds from Racer will be donated to Riley Children's Foundation, the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.