Racing to the Finish

By: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Narrated by: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Gabe Wicks

Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2018 DEJ Management, LLC (P)2018 Thomas Nelson

Awesome!!!!

My Daughter was a high school Soccer player and has suffered 3-4 concussions, during her High School years. She is a true Hammer Head. She still suffers a lot from major headaches. Dale, Thank You for helping me understand more about Concussions

Awesome

Very interesting, informative, and helpful to all. Easy to read. Easy to listen to. Anyone who plays any sports and the parents of young ones should read this book.

Incredible read!

Absolutely loved it! Actually sad there isn't more! I only wish that Gabe Wicks knew how to pronounce "Labonte" and "Bodine." I don't know, I'd like to think the guy reading it was at least a race fan.

But Dale is great! The stories are great! the insight into what was actually going on is heartbreaking. I learned so much about the brain.

Class Act

I have always been a fan of Dale Jr. But was devastated when he retired. After reading/listening to Racing to the Finish , I have so much more respect for the man, the husband, the daddy... the driver. This was a wonderful book that shows how much thought and effort was put into him recovering and ultimately retiring. I wish you all the best life has to offer! Dale Yeah!!
Angie Crowley

Enlightening, honest and straight-forward.

John Force touted this book when he was a guest on Dale Jr's Podcast program. I bought it on that recommendation, without any idea of what it was about. I see now why it struck a cord with John. As a NASCAR fan, I will never think of crashes as "routine" again. Fans know that Jr. suffered from the effects of concussions but even those closest to him apparently did not know all that he was going through and how long it had been going on. John Force has survived horrific crashes an likely has experienced much of what is described in this book. Through this book, Jr. has potentially done a great service to all athletes.

I Couldn't Stop Listening!

I'm so glad I chose this book as my first audio book experience. I chose it because I'm a fan of Dale Jr's. What I didn't realize is the symptoms he had from his concussions, are eerily similar to what I'm experiencing myself. What a relief to realize I'm not crazy and I don't have to suffer in silence.
Thank you Dale Jr. i thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Great story

I live this book and I love that Jr. had the courage to write it. I enjoyed listening to it but would have preferred if Dale read it himself. The gentleman doing the reading does a good job, but I'm not sure how all the mispronounced names made it through editing. These people are giants in the sport and deserve to have their names pronounced properly. That was my only disappointment.

Good Memior

Jr's iphone notes are fascinating and an invaluable source of information. This book gives insight into his good character as well.

great book

it was a great book, glad I got it. great for nascar fans. Buy it.

My Favorite Driver & Always Will Be <3

Loved this!! It ended way too soon for me, but it could never be long enough for me. I love Dale Jr. & have since his very first race. I always admired how he refused to crumble under the weight of his dad's driving, when racing with Dale Sr. He always refused to do it his dad's way. That was hard! So I pulled for him whole heartedly from race 1 to his "Race to the Finish"! Loved this book!!!!