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What do you get when you combine NASCAR Cup stock car race recaps, with… poetry? Huh?

Why, you get “Lyrical Laps and Laughs - 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Points Race Recaps, From a Jeff Gordon Fan’s Perspective”.

Photo courtesy of Maria Bennett and www.TheOriginalRoute66.com

What is “Lyrical Laps and Laughs)? It’s the creation of author and singer Maria Bennett, an unabashed Jeff Gordon fan. It’s a points race by points race look back through the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, in poetry. Maria started writing race recaps after writing some poetry, and thinking, “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to re-cap a whole race this way?” The idea grew from there. After being encouraged by Jeff Gordon’s step-dad, John Bickford to turn her re-caps into a book, she did so.

Dan Hughes, host of QVC’s “For Race Fans Only”, wrote the foreword for this book, and in it says that he finds “Maria’s weekly re-caps to be a fresh and entertaining departure from the mundane, and look forward to making her writing part of my weekly prep for the show.”

From Amazon.Com, here’s a reader’s review for your information:

Lyrical Laps and Laughs, 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP Points Race Re-Caps from a Jeff Gordon Fan’s Perspective, is a book unlike any you’ve experienced! You will enjoy this unique and refreshing style of race re-caps as a fresh and entertaining departure from the mundane. In the easy to read, historically accurate, entertaining and humorous format, every race is looked at with an eye to accuracy in terms of events and outcome, and even though the author writes from the perspective of an emotion-filled Jeff Gordon fan, anyone can gain insightful knowledge of the preceding week’s race by reading her words. It will be a great addition to your Jeff Gordon and NASCAR memorabilia collection! So many of the season’s historical and record-breaking events are paid tribute to within the pages of Lyrical Laps and Laughs, some of which are: -Jeff finally winning at Phoenix, one of only 3 tracks that he had not won at yet— and he won from the pole! -An inspirational tribute to the Virginia Tech tragedy victims. -Jeff breaking and exceeding Dale Earnhardt, Sr.’s all time win record! -Jeff’s win at Darlington on Mother’s Day with steam pouring out of his engine for the last several laps! -A special tribute to the late Bill France, Jr. -The birth of Jeff and Ingrids first-born child. …And so much more! You don’t have to be a Jeff Gordon fan to enjoy this book, but being one is an added bonus!

Maria is also a Christian singer, and, along with her husband Marty, have a website, www.TheOriginalRoute66.com, where you can purchase a copy of her CD SINGLE of the beautiful song, Overwhelmed, that was written for NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid, in honor of their first-born child. Maria was kind enough to send me a copy of her book and CD for review. The song “Overwhelmed” will definately tug at the heartstrings of any daddy or mommy who listens to it. I know it did mine.

I confess to not being a Jeff Gordon fan in particular, but I couldn’t help but enjoy Maria’s re-caps of each race. The poetry is easy to read, and is historically accurate, and fun. I’m amazed that she can come up with so much rhyming, and still have the re-cap make sense and be fun. Maria also shares some personal notes in a preface to each race recap that are enjoyable, and give you a good sense of what she’s about and what was going on in her life at the time the re-cap was written.

I would definately encourage all Jeff Gordon fans in particular, and any other racing fan in general to pick up a copy of Maria Bennett’s Lyrical Laps and Laughs - 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Points Race Recaps, From a Jeff Gordon Fan’s Perspective”. You will enjoy it, and like it.

Editor’s note: Just to be clear, I reviewed Maria’s book and CD here as a courtesy to her, after she asked me. My review was unbiased and objective. Separately, Maria DID buy advertising space on the www.MotorSportsNews.net website to promote her book, and I wanted to make sure it was understood that those two events are not directly related. Also, I have Maria’s permission to link the book to Amazon.Com, where MotorSportsNews.Net would make a small commission on any book sales. If you have any questions, please ask.