Veteran motorsports media member and retired NASCAR race day spotter John Close today announced the publishing of his third book – On The Spot – Life In The Fast Lane As A NASCAR Spotter.
The volume – which is Close’s first electronic book – is now available as a FREE download at www.closefinishes.com.
“On The Spot will allow race fans to get an inside look at what happens up on the spotters stand during a professional motorsports event,” stated Close, who spotted more than 150 NASCAR Cup, Nationwide and Truck events as well as dozens of short-track races from 1995-2008. “Spotting is one of the least publicized and most misunderstood aspects of auto racing. Considering the importance of spotters in today’s high-pressure world of stock car racing, I think fans will find it an enlightening and interesting read.”
In On The Spot, Close takes you up on the spotter’s stand where he relates some of his most memorable race events and personal experiences. Additional chapters in the book cover the history of NASCAR race spotting and how the practice and equipment have evolved over the years since first implemented in the early 1950s.
On The Spot also includes an introduction by NASCAR Sprint Cup star and Wisconsin native Matt Kenseth. A host of current NASCAR spotters – and others such as NASCAR driving legend Buddy Baker – contributed to the book which also features more than 100 photos taken by Close and top motorsports photographers such as Nigel Kinrade, Brian Czobat and Russ Lake.
“This book was really a pleasure to write,” Close stated. “So many great friends and racers were kind enough to lend their time and experiences to On The Spot. Without their assistance, this book would never have become a reality.”
In addition to On The Spot, Close has authored two other books – Tony Stewart – From Indy Phenom To NASCAR Superstar, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – From Desert Dust To Superspeedways.
About John Close
John Close began his motorsports journalism career in the early 1980’s as free-lance writer. The Wisconsin native covered his first NASCAR race in 1986 at Bristol and since then has written countless articles/stories for numerous motorsports trade publications and Internet sites.
His ‘Close Calls’ column appears on www.CloseFinishes.com, www.
Close is currently the general manager of Gresham Motorsports Park, a state-of-the-art quarter- and half-mile oval motorsports and event facility located in Jefferson, GA. Close, along with his wife Gail and son Sam, call Charlotte, NC home.
You can follow John Close on Facebook at John Close.