Lone Star J.R.: The Autobiography of Racing Legend Johnny Rutherford

2000 inscribed and signed first edition, Triumph Books (Chicago, Illinois), 6 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches tall hardbound in publisher's unclipped dust jacket, beige and gray paper-covered boards, gilt lettering to spine, copiously illustrated with black-and-white photographs, xiii, 305 pp. Very slight soiling and rubbing to covers, with mild bumping to lower tips and lower edge of rear cover. Nicely inscribed and signed by Johnny Rutherford on the half title page. Otherwise, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - in a dust jacket with very slight edgewear and minor mark on its reverse where a price label was removed, but which is nicely preserved and displayed in a clear archival Brodart sleeve. ~C~ John Sherman Rutherford III (b. 1938), better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as 'Lone Star JR,' is a former U.S. automobile racer known for being one of ten drivers to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500 mile race at least three times. Rutherford won that race in 1974, 1976 and 1980. Rutherford began racing modified stock cars in 1959 and he also dabbled in stock car racing, making 35 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts from 1963 to 1988. Rutherford won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win in NASCAR history, in a full points-paying NASCAR race. With his signature Texas flag painted on his helmet, Rutherford captured the hearts of racing fans for three decades. Now he takes readers on an exciting drive through his life and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the racing world. 60 photos.