CURE FOR THE OFF SEASON- Driver #8 By-Charlotte Morse Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! The book comes out on Tuesday. People may think that I swim in money, but Tuesday comes and I have about 50 cents to my poor name. This does not stop me from calling every bookstore in town Tuesday morning looking for Dale Earnhardt Jr's book, Driver #8. I'll figure out a way to pay for it. The biggest bookstores in town have no idea what I'm asking for. One place tells me that its in their computer, but they wont be selling it a t the store. I can order it and get it in 2 weeks. I want this book. NOW. I finally find a place who says that they should have it in within a few days, and to check back. I call the poor bookstore everyday, to the point where they don't even ask me for the name of the book, they know who's calling. "Look, just give us your phone number and we'll call you when it comes in." OK, now I'm getting somewhere. Friday rolls around and I finally get a message. "Charlotte, your book is in." I call the bookstore immediately and beg for them to hold it. It will be sitting there until 9pm. I've got until 9pm to scrape up 26 bux and buy the little bugger. This better be good, all the hell I'm going through to get it. So I make a b-line for the bookstore after work. I run inside and give them my name. "One second, I've got to go check in back." Check in back????? Does this mean they gave my book away??? FINALLY, the girl comes out with my book in hand. Just look at that glorious red cover. The last week of my life flashes before my eyes. I had been begging all my online buddies for info. God I hope this is good. I've always been a fan of junior's columns for NASCAR.com, but can he write an entire book? Did I mention that I got the last copy in the entire city?? Every bookstore got it eventually, and the sales woman tells me that ton's of people have been coming in looking for the book. The customers are telling her that they are sold out all over town. Even the store I got it at was sold out. I was lucky enough to have been bugging them for days. So, I spend the next 3 days avoiding society. The dishes pile up, I refuse to do laundry. And then today, poof! I'm done. What am I going to do now? This book has consumed my life for 2 ½ days. I know, I'll review it for INSIDE THE PIT BOX. Everybody wants my opinion. Or at least that's what I would like to believe. I can't let the dream die. First impressions: WOW. There has only been 1 other book in my entire life that I read from cover to cover. DRIVER #8 flows right from the first paragraph, and leaves you 298 pages later yearning for more. People on a hunt to get into Junior's head need look no further. People on a hunt to get inside of ANY driver's head need look no further, for that matter. You're right there in the bud car, zooming around, winning, crashing, and all the highs and lows in between. It's almost as if there is no off season. This is the cure for the off season blues. You're hanging out with Dale Jr while he deals with his rookie season. The dramatic highs, the disappointing lows, the fun publicity events, and even the ones he'd care to forget. The thing about this book is that you truly feel like he's sharing these experiences with you and you alone. I almost feel like I know the guy now. It's a good feeling. However, if you're looking for his life story, or words about his dad, you will be disappointed. While he does talk of the advise his father has given him, this is not a memorial to Dale Earnhardt's existence, for his father had not yet passed away. This book is great. I don't quite know how else to describe it. If you're still suffering from off season withdrawal, read DRIVER #8. I went through an entire season in my head, and I didn't have to even turn on the TV. I saw every second in my head, straight from the source. READ THIS BOOK. Contact charlotte@insidethepitbox.com for comments! Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! (Editors Note:The views and opinions of our writers are just that, theirs. If you have comments, write to them. We take no responsibility for their articles... Do you blame us?) Article archives Return to the Main Page