A longtime Petty fan, I loved reading this and later listening (Kyle reads it and he's the best) to the story of Kyle Petty. Really entertaining and moving, especially when thinking about Adam and how much he meant to my whole family.

I grew up watching NASCAR with my father, cheering on Kyle Petty; and I was shocked to find out he was also a singer. I ended up looking up his music and was surprised at how great his voice sounds. My immediate thought went to the TikTokers that are "also musicians". Also, I never realized he was a voice actor in Cars 3 - I will definitely have to rewatch that movie with my son.

Loved the stories, anitotes, and lessons he shares throughout his book about his time in NASCAR and his family. My heart broke when reading about the loss of his son, Adam. I remember reading about his accident when it happened. It was such an awesome experience learning more about his experiences in NASCAR, about some other big names in racing, and his family.

I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book!

I highly recommend this book. If you enjoy biography, read the book, if you watched the Petty's race, read the book. Overall, this is just a really good life story. My husband's favorite racer was Richard, our daughter grew up watching Kyle, so I knew I wanted to read his story. I read an electronic version courtesy of Net Galley. I will be purchasing a hard copy of the book.

I fell in love with NASCAR about 4-5 years ago and absolutely became obsessed. I knew of Kyle Petty as a broadcaster but did not know too much about his past including his racing career. It was great to see his experiences especially when NASCAR felt totally different and relied more on the driver than the car. It was also cool hearing about his experiences with some historic drivers that I’ve only heard of any never seen race.

I think if you are a nascar fan you will truly enjoy the insights and stories that Kyle Petty has to share as the son of one of Nascars most iconic drivers.

Kyle Petty is from a famous racing family and has written a fantastic book on the NASCAR story. The personal stories from his father and grandfather along with his own make for some great reading. The book shows the changes in the sport over the years and adapted acceptable behavior. The sport has new headlines every season and even an older fan will finds lots of new information. Lots of funny stories but several that will bring tears. Good for many age groups and a perfect gift for the racing fan.

I want to start off by thanking; Kyle Petty, Ellis Henican, St. Martin's Press, and NetGallery for the ARC.

I grew up an IndyCar fan in Indiana. I started watching NASCAR after the release of Days of Thunder and of course Kyle Petty drove the Mellow Yellow car. So it only made sense for him to become my favorite driver.

I thought this was almost a perfect book. It starts with probably the saddest day in Kyle's life and then reverts back to the beginning. If you are a NASCAR fan or a fan of the Petty family I'd highly recommend this book. After reading the book it made me want to visit North Carolina to visit the town he grew up in.

I zoomed through this autobiography of Kyle Petty. What a fascinating story and he goes all in. I also loved the deep look into one of NASCAR’s first families of racing, including the story of his grandmother sewing the first window net, which is now standard.
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I was also truly inspired reading about @victoryjunction . This camp was created in memory of his beloved son who died racing and is inspired from #PaulNewman and his @holewallcamp
If you don’t know anything about these camps I challenge you to check it out!
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This would be a fun gift for the nascar race car lover in your life!
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Thank you @stmartinspress for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. Can't recommend it enough!

I laughed, I cried . . . a LOT of crying.'

I haven't watched NASCAR since they went behind a paywall with ESPN, and my driver (Mark Martin) retired.
But before that I was a fan. Watched every race every Sunday. I've been to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600 twice. I've been to Earnhardt Enterprises and Dale Earnhardt's shop. I've been to Dale Senior's monument and I've been to Petty Motorsports shop. Been to a few other's just hanging around with my enthusiastic buddies.

So, I've watched Kyle race, I've watched Kyle host the races with Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. So I KNEW Kyle could talk and turn an anecdote. But I wasn't aware he'd be so darn compelling and open writing about the sport he loves and lives, that's given him so much, but also taken so much from him. It was fascinating seeing things that i've experienced and watched on TV from his viewpoint behind the wheel, the pits and the safer barriers.

This book is like going to a really good cookout and then, after the tables are cleared and everyone's gone home, just sitting around shooting the breeze with an old buddy you've known your entire life. It's personal, it's intimate, and it's a really, Really, REALLY good book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

You can't think of NASCAR without thinking of the Petty family. If royalty in a sport was a thing, the Petty Family would definitely be NASCAR's royal family.

The Petty family has had their hand in NASCAR history since before it's inception. Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 and three championships. Richard Petty is the most winningest driver in NASCAR history, a feat that is not likely to ever be broken. Kyle Petty is a well liked driver, by fans and drivers alike. His charity ride raises millions of dollars each year. Adam Petty was a rising young star whose flame was extinguished all too soon.

It was so interesting learning new things from this book, both about NASCAR and the Petty family. One thing enjoyed learning about was how the iconic Petty Blue color was created. Another thing that was fascinating was how a crash involving Richard Petty lead to the invention of the window net.

I will say the chapters about Adam's crash and the months after crushed me. I had begun to follow Adam's career when he was 17 or 18, in hopes he could be my generation's Richard or Dale. Every Friday, I would check to see how he qualified for Saturday's race. I remember logging in on May 12, 2000 to see his picture on the homepage. At first I was so excited, because I thought he had gotten the pole position, only to be crushed when I read the article's title. What a devastating loss for the NASCAR community.

This book is fantastic. Kyle has always been the Petty that's stood out for me. While he did share a love of racing with his father and grandfather, it always seemed to me Kyle was destined to do something different while remaining a part of racing. This book shows Kyle kind of feels the same way. He's dabbled in other things he's passionate about, but it's his charity ride that holds his heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A very insightful look into the world of auto racing and one of NASCAR’S top family Petty. Kyle, the third generation opens up about the family through many different stories from his grandparents on both sides to his parents through the family of the people working with Petty motor works, and of course his own family and his own family loss of his son Adam.
I had always watched NASCAR, and Winston Cup when I was younger and was a big King Petty fan, would get tickets for the Riverside Speedway, and enjoyed walking around and then watching the race on race day. Like everything things change and I did try to keep up and would still follow Kyle just because we were the same age and born in the same year. Reading about the changes to racing and behind the scenes of the business side also put a different light on everything. Him also having to work his way up through the garage and not just given a ride because of the name, working at pushing the broom to everything thing else and seeing later how that would help when telling people what he thought was wrong with the car, those are things I did not know. I could though relate to the loss of a child having lost my daughter she was 36 when passed and as a parent, you are never prepared. This book also looks into the future of racing so he touches on many different topics. Overall a very good book and worth your time to read.

Been a NASCAR fan for a while and picked this up after reading that it would be showing a lot of "off the screen".

There were some things in there that I was aware of, but the things I was unaware of were pretty cool to learn about. I did know a lot about the Petty Enterprise and the legacy of of his granddaddy, Lee Petty, his daddy Richard Petty, himself, and his son Adam. I was watching that on tv that day.

I knew about Victory Junction and the charity ride, it was the little details in there I didn't know about, however I'm sure a die hard fan would have know, but it brought a lot more to me. His time in Nashville, I was totally unaware of, so that was cool to discover, enough that I went digging down the rabbit hole for more about it.

I'm not a very emotional person and definitely not as a reader, but there finally came a point in this book, later in the book, that I reached and a tear came down my cheek. Then a few pages later, I got watery eyed.

You don't have to be a Kyle Petty fan, you don't even have to be a NASCAR fan! This book is more off the track and behind the scene of the life he's been through, btw, a typical teen, lol, what he's accomplished, and still involved in a lot of things today.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins for the opportunity to read an arc for my honest review.

The family of Petty is one of the most famous families in auto racing. Lee Petty won the first sanctioned NASCAR race and his son Richard has the most wins at the highest level of NASCAR competition (Cup races) at 200. Richard’s son Kyle won Cup races as well, and grandson Adam, who won his first ARCA race, was destined for success as well. The stories of this legendary race family – the good, the bad, the funny and the tragic – are told in this excellent memoir by Kyle Petty, written with Ellis Henican.
It’s hard to unpack where to begin when describing this book because while it follows the family story from Kyle’s viewpoint in chronological order, it doesn’t really fit into one nice flow as Kyle goes from topic to topic – from family life to driving on the famous Daytona track as a teenager to passing down the love of racing to his sons. Changing the focus of a particular passage fits the personality of Kyle because while he was born into a racing family, he had many other interests and talents that he has used to his benefit for his life outside racing.
Kyle talks about his musical talents that has had him performing on stage as an opening act for some of the biggest names in country music. He mentions that even though he was disappointed that his driving career ended because the team (not Petty Enterprises, the team that both he and his father not only drove for, but also ran as the CEO – and both eventually stepped down from that spot) determined that he would not drive any longer, not his decision. He credits his interest in music and television broadcasting as his way of staying connected with the sport. Currently, he is an analyst for NBC’s coverage of NASCAR and hosts other talk shows and podcasts on racing.
As one might expect, he expressed his grief over the lost of his son when Adam Petty was killed in a practice run at New Hampshire Speedway in 2000. Adam was only 19, but not only was he focused on his driving career, he wanted to help others. It led to another project that kept Kyle from becoming another athlete who wonders what to do when they no longer are competing. A camp for children with severe medical conditions, Victory Junction, was started in Adam’s memory and is still a very popular camp where these children can just have fun for a week.
Kyle writes from a knowledgeable viewpoint, no matter what the racing topic would be. He worked on cars – he wrote about the detail his father taught him while doing that. He drove in races – he writes about his struggles behind the wheel as well as his victories. He ran a racing organization, as mentioned above. He is a successful broadcaster – he writes about the issues he sees and the people he talks to every week. He also writes about family – from his parents and grandparents to his children and his spouses (been married twice). Just about anything one would want to know about NASCAR and Kyle Petty will be found here. It is a great read for race fans and fans of the Petty family.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I believe the first date I went on with my future husband was to an auto racing event in Southern California. I have been following or attending some form or auto racing since the 1970s. When Swerve or Die became available through the St. Martin's Press influencer program, I jumped at the chance to read about not only NASCAR Racing history, but my own history as well.
I was amazed to see how much I remembered of the times, the racers, the families, the tragedies that Kyle Petty shares within the pages of his memoir. My husband and I reminisced over some of the stories that were shared about the racing legends and the tracks they raced upon, including the ones that are no longer there.
Swerve or Die is for any auto race fan. There is car info as well as the skinny on the drivers and families themselves. In this case, and foremost, it's about the first family of racing, The Petty's. And beyond racing you learn about the non-blood relationships between the teams, racers and owners when tragedy strikes.
Written in a homey style that rings true, Swerve or Die is a great addition to anyone looking to learn what life is like on/off the track and beyond.

I received both a digital and physical ARC from St. Martin's Press. Thank you. All opinions are mine.

This book offers great behind-the-scenes information about NASCAR from one of the best drivers out there. The Petty family is widely known, even outside of racing, and anyone who wants to know more about NASCAR should read this book.

This book is written exactly as if Kyle Petty were talking to me - some people will love this style. I didn't love it, but it was still very readable.

I am a NASCAR fan so this book was interesting to me for that reason alone. However, I think fans of autobiographies and memoirs will enjoy the story of Kyle Petty and his family. In addition, you might just learn a thing or two about auto racing and the families that built the sport.

Swerve or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing, by NASCAR’s Kyle Petty and Ellis Henican is an autobiography featuring one of American stock car racing’s most interesting characters. Presented in a casual and welcoming stylization, Petty invites the reader into an intimate retelling of his decades in and around NASCAR, most notoriously as the 3rd generation driver in stock car’s most famous family. It would seem that Kyle Petty has been EVERYWHERE through his life in and around the sport, and nearly no stone is left unturned in this book.

Students of NASCAR history often come up short with Kyle Petty, focusing on the last name and what that carries in the grand scheme of the sport. Certainly, being the son of a 200 race winner and most recognizable character in stock car history comes with that caveat, but Kyle’s life is full of interesting moments that might otherwise slip through the cracks beyond his own 8 Cup Series victories. Be it singing country music on live national television unexpectedly, part owning a minor league hockey team, appearing on a Barbie Doll package, or crashing his race car the first time driving at Charlotte because no one ever told him to let off the throttle in the turns (seriously, this happened), there’s a mountain of unique things that could and should stand out more from Kyle’s story.

To read Swerve or Die is like taking part in an intimate 30 chapter conversation with Kyle Petty, as the writing comes off a lot like the way he speaks. It wouldn’t sound like Kyle Petty without folksy mannerisms, and there’s more than enough of that sprinkled in to make this feel like an in-person meet n’ greet written out on paper. The emotions contained amongst the highs and lows, of which there have been several of each in Petty’s life, are translated beautifully and faithfully to the reader, and his brutal honesty via text magnifies the Kyle Petty charisma.

To tell the story of the Petty family: from pioneer Lee, to King Richard, to our storyteller Kyle, and through 4th generation Adam and beyond is to tell the story of NASCAR itself. In many ways this is a biography of American Stock Car Racing intertwined with Kyle Petty’s memoirs. Just about every significant moment in NASCAR history had a Petty either taking part or watching close by, and this perspective is shared wonderfully by the authors. What spoke to me the most was the story of Kyle’s son Adam, who was killed in a practice accident for a race at New Hampshire in 2000 at age 19. While the crux of Kyle’s journey through NASCAR is built around the lens of this tragedy, there’s an honest and wonderfully shared expanse on what came before and after that accident. The later stages of the book give us a chance to see who Adam Petty was and what his legacy should be beyond a tragedy that took a young driver from us far too soon. Perhaps more importantly, we also see how this shaped Kyle’s life through his profession and his charitable works that continue to this day.

Verdict: Swerve or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing by Kyle Petty and Ellis Henican is the brilliantly told journey of a NASCAR lifer that’s equal parts engaging and hilarious, while pulling no punches on the triumphs or tragedies in the sport’s famous royal family. There’s simply too much to summarize in this personal story that spans from the roots of NASCAR itself in the 1940s through the present day, but that’s the scope of what Kyle Petty shares with the reader. Told in such a way that is understandable and digestible no matter the level of NASCAR fandom held, Swerve or Die can be enjoyed at any reading pace, and a good time will be had by all. I personally guarantee you will learn at least one new thing about Kyle Petty or his family in each and every chapter, and for that reason alone should be required reading for any stock car racing enthusiast. Just as the title suggests, this is the life of NASCAR’s Kyle Petty, told at his speed, and we better strap in and hold on for the ride.

Thanks to St. Martins Press for the advanced copy of Swerve or Die. All thoughts and opinions are that of TehBen.com.

Kyle Petty was the third generation racer in the Petty dynasty.

In a family where weekends are for watching races and a son who is a walking encyclopedia for anything racing from F1 on down the line I don't feel that after reading this I know anymore about Kyle than I did before. I always thought that someone can lead a most fascinating life, which he did, but that doesn't mean he can write a book as compelling. There were times that this book seemed a lot longer than just under 300 pages. All in all though he was very readable and would be a good addition to the library of any race fan.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

If you are a NASCAR fan, this is a book you will most definitely want to read. If you are a fan of the Petty family, you will most definitely want to read this book. If you are a Kyle Petty fan, you probably have already ordered this book! If you are not a fan at all, it's still a great book to read to understand what it is about cars only making left turns that attracts so many otherwise normal people to become fanatics for a particular car on the weekends.

The stories are great. The book reads a lot like Kyle Petty talks. It is a great reflection on a life lived in the middle of one of the hottest sports in the last 50 years. The growth of stock car racing has been phenomenal and the Petty family has been in the middle of it since the first flag dropped.

Kyle is honest, vulnerable, and direct in recalling how growing up in the first family of racing affected his life and career choices. It's a great read for anyone who loves sports for sure. But it is also a great read for anyone who might wonder what it's like to grow up in the shadow of one of the greatest of all time at anything. I think you will enjoy the view from Kyle's perspective.

Kyle Petty, a third-generation NASCAR driver, is part of what could arguably be called NASCAR royalty. His father and grandfather both raced to fame and Kyle wanted nothing more than to follow in their footsteps. But the journey wasn’t easy, professionally or personally, and this book tells his story in a way no one else can.

My father was a huge fan of Richard Petty, so I’ve been exposed to the Petty family for decades. I read this book partially to learn what it was like growing up with “King Richard” for a dad, and partially because I’ve grown to appreciate and admire Kyle for himself. He doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind, even if those ideas make people unhappy or uncomfortable.

I enjoyed the look at NASCAR in days gone by and more than once thought “Oh yeah, I remember watching him race!” when he mentioned drivers from years ago. Some of the stories relayed here were fun and made me laugh, while others, especially from NASCAR’s early days, simply made me shake my head. The way the Petty family dealt with the death of Kyle’s son made me realize how strong the bond is, not only with this particular family, but with the entire racing community. It was heartbreaking, but at the same time, encouraging.

Kyle’s thoughts about how NASCAR can grow and adapt to our changing world, without alienating long-time fans, are thoughtful and worth consideration, although in my mind, some of them would change the sport too much. It will be interesting to see if any of his ideas are implemented in the future, and I would certainly read another of his books.

Interesting book. Not sure how I missed it, but I didn't know that he divorced, so it was a shock when he was dating. Overall great look at a big NASCAR family..
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.