Motorsports and American Culture

This collection of essays examines the relevancy of motorsports to American culture and history, from the late nineteenth century to the present. Addressing a wide spectrum of motorsports—such as stock car racing, demolition derbies, land speed record pursuits, and even staged train wrecks—the essays highlight the social and cultural implications of contemporary and historical moments in these events. Topics covered include gender roles in motorsports, hot rods and the creation of fan and participant identities, the appeal of demolition derbies, the globalization of motorsports, moonshine’s role in stock car history, the economic relationship between NASCAR and sponsors, and more.

Mark D. Howell is professor of communications at Northwestern Michigan College. He is an internationally-recognized automobile historian and motorsports scholar. His numerous publications include the book From Moonshine to Madison Avenue: A Cultural History of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his "Professor of Speed" columns are regularly posted on Frontstretch.com, an award-winning automobile racing web site. John D. Miller is assistant professor of literature and cultural studies at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. A former freelance motorsports writer, his recent scholarly publications include essays on Southern literature and popular culture.

Introduction, Mark D. Howell and John D. Miller Speed and Spectators: What Motor Sports Means to Fans Chapter 1: "The NASCAR Paradox," James Wright Chapter 2: "Automobile Racing and the American Hot Rod," David N. Lucsko Chapter 3: "Speed and Destruction at the Fair," Emily Godbey The Track and Beyond: Motor Sports and Community Identity Chapter 4: "Creative Destruction: The Demolition Derby," Susan Falls Chapter 5: "'What Is Your Racket, Brother?': Bootleggers, Respectable Atlanta, Bill France, and the Birth of NASCAR," Dan Pierce Chapter 6: "'Running with the Big Dogs': the Rhetoric of Fan Identity in a Postmodern NASCAR," Ehren Pflugfelder Fenders and Genders: Motor Sports, Femininity, and Masculinity Chapter 7: "Just a Good 'Ol Gal: Pioneer Racer Louise Smith," Suzanne Wise, Martha Kreszock, and Margaret Freeman Chapter 8: "'Anything but a Novelty': Women, Girls, and Friday Night Drag Racing," John Mason Chapter 9: "'Way Tight' or 'Wicked Loose'?: Reading NASCAR's Masculinities," Patricia Lee Yongue Stars of the Road: Spectacular Drivers and Spectacular Feats Chapter 10: "The Spectacle of NASCAR: Rationalized and Enchanted by Sponsors," Jaime Noble Gassmann Chapter 11: "Barney Oldfield: Daredevil Demon of Speed and the First Multimedia Superstar," Lisa Napoli Chapter 12: "The Fastest Cars in the World," Ronald Shook Bibliography Index About the Editors