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What: “NASCAR for Dummies”

Author: Mark Martin, Winston Cup driver

Publisher: IDG Books Worldwide

Price: $19.99

Mark Martin, usually one of the more taciturn drivers in NASCAR’s Winston Cup, displays a clever side--or a clever ghost writer--to produce an entertaining and instructional book on the ins and outs of motor racing’s most successful series.

As an example, here are Martin’s feelings about California Speedway, where NASCAR will hold one of its 34 races Sunday and where Martin won in 1998: “The track was built by the legendary Roger Penske and is one of the snazziest tracks around. Drivers love it because we think it’s laid out the way a track should be. It’s a regular, simple oval, not shaped like a dog’s hind leg. Also, the racing surface is nice and smooth, making it a dream to drive on. In fact, the entire facility is a dream too.

“The track workers smile and wave, even when they have to get up at 4 a.m. and direct traffic all day.”

Ever wonder what a blue flag with a diagonal yellow stripe means? It means a slower car must move over. Ever wonder how early to get to the track on race day? “Leave early. I’m talking about the crack of dawn if the race is at noon [Sunday’s race is at 11]. If you do this, you’ll avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic that clogs up roadways for two hours or so before the race.”

There is information for both the novice fan and NASCAR old-timers.

Nice to have during those long yellow flag caution periods.