Start Your Engines: Famous Firsts in the History of NASCAR

Start Your Engines contains thirty-four chapters describing different inaugural accomplishments that have taken place throughout NASCAR history. This book answers the following questions:

- When was NASCAR officially founded?
- Where was the first Strictly Stock race held?
- What was the first flag-to-flag race ever broadcast on TV?
- When was the first night race?
- When and where was the first international NASCAR race held?
- Who was the first woman to win the Daytona 500 pole position?
- And many more!

In Start Your Engines, seasoned writer Jay W. Pennell outlines some of the most iconic and unknown firsts in NASCAR history. From Red Byron to Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt to Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson to Danica Patrick, Pennell also covers some of the biggest names of the sport and their landmark contributions. Providing in-depth explanations of each milestone, Pennell takes readers through the peaks and valleys of NASCAR history and details the impact each first had on the legacy of the sport. From the earliest days of NASCAR’s foundation, to the high banks of Daytona and famed Brickyard at Indianapolis, Pennell looks at monumental dates and races that changed the sport and helped it grow from a small gathering of race car drivers and promoters into the multibillion-dollar sports industry it is today. This book is a unique look at racing for new and experienced NASCAR fans alike.

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Jay W. Pennell has been a part of the NASCAR industry for over fifteen years. His career path has taken him from independent journalist, to social and digital marketing, to team public relations, to NASCAR gaming. Pennell has written for outlets such as FOX Sports, NASCAR.com, Playboy, and Athlon Sports, and was one of NASCAR’s first citizen journalists. He also worked with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), handling public relations, content creation, and partnership management for four seasons.

While with RCR, he celebrated many wins, including the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, helped curate the organization’s 50th anniversary content strategy, and worked with drivers such as Austin and Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Daniel Hemric, Ben Kennedy, Brandon Jones, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, and Tyler Reddick.

He also served as the General Manager of the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, later moving to Brand Manager, NASCAR and INDYCAR with Motorsport Games. Pennell currently contributes to outlets such as Racing America and helps young up-and-coming drivers with marketing and partnership guidance.