Taking the Lead

Winning Business Principles That Fuel Joe Gibbs Racing

By: Dave Alpern, David Thomas - contributor, Joe Gibbs - foreword

Narrated by: Dave Alpern

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The president of Joe Gibbs Racing - the winningest team in NASCAR history - shares the secrets of succeeding in business and in life.

In NASCAR, as in life, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to being in the right place at the right time and making the most of every opportunity.

Nobody understands that better than Dave Alpern. Dave started his career as an unpaid intern selling T-shirts for the newly formed Joe Gibbs Racing team. Nearly three decades later, he’s now the president of JGR, a multimillion-dollar elite, record-setting racing team with more than 500 employees. In Taking the Lead, Dave shares the wisdom he’s learned along the way: key principles that will equip you with what you need to rise to the top and succeed with integrity and purpose - whatever team you’re on.

©2021 Dave Alpern, David Thomas, Joe Gibbs (P)2021 Tyndale House Publishers

Practical and Applicable

Great book. The Alpern captures the essence of Joe Gibbs Racing success on both macro and micro levels. Great book study for any leadership team in any organization.

Leadership/Business/Life Book Under One Cover

I enjoyed this book in so many different ways. I am a huge sports fan, so the setting of the book was already a win for me. It was fantastic to spend several hours in the world of running a NASCAR team. The business lessons in the book are phenomenal. I plan to integrate your lessons moving forward. I just kept telling myself during the book, "Dave really got it right - great wife, family, friends - and for all the right reasons." The most impactful part of the book for me was the last chapter. Dave's testimony was inspiring, and provided a very personal view into what makes him the man he is. I bounced between the audiobook and the paperback, but I will 100% be playing the final chapter for my teenage sons. They need to hear that - and I pray that it has the impact on them that it did on me. Thanks for writing the book, Dave. It is a homerun on so many levels.

Review by Miller Gibbs

As JD’s second son and a lifelong friend of Mr. Dave’s, many of the hilarious stories and upstanding life principles shared in Taking the Lead I had heard. But whether I had heard them already or not, the effect of the leadership and Christlike values that Mr. Dave and my dad had on my life is something I am eternally grateful for.

This book is incredibly well written and packed with practical leadership tips, Biblical morals and interesting stories on the wild ride of Dave’s journey from working in a broom closet to presidency.

Thank you Mr. Dave for honoring my dad with 100% of the proceeds going to the JD Gibbs Legacy Fund. And thank you for reminding us all of the man of God that he was.

wonderful story!

a great story. if you want to learn about business and life, this is a book for you. entertaining riveting and just plain good!

Wow wow wow

Powerful lessons shared on business and family life and developing a healthy balance. Touching points and takeaways throughout.