John Andretti Autobiography, RACER

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For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Jo Snyder     1.512.507.7867     [email protected]

John Andretti Autobiography, RACER

Austin, Texas ( August 2020. ) Racer is the autobiography of John Andretti, a member of one of motorsport’s most famous families, as told to best-selling author Jade Gurss (Beast, In the Red, Driver #8). John Andretti was the son of Aldo Andretti and nephew of Mario Andretti and the book chronicles his life growing up near Indianapolis as the son of an immigrant, surrounded by a family whose dedication to auto racing has made them world-renowned. Racer features forewords by what could be considered a Mount Rushmore of the American racing greats who made a great impact on him: Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Michael Andretti and Richard Petty. The book is a testament to John’s real gift for story-telling, illustrating not only his passion for racing, but also the continuous thread in his life story; the importance of family, friends and helping others.

John Andretti passed away in January 2020 but was able to share his story with Gurss in his final months.

Not content to race just one kind of car, John Andretti was one of the world’s most versatile drivers and in the pages of Racer he shares the behind-the-scenes tales of his victories in the NASCAR Cup series, IndyCar, IMSA sports car racing and in sprint cars and midgets on dirt oval tracks. He details his experience winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and his colorful venture racing an NHRA Top Fuel dragster. The book contains more than 100 photos from his life. The narrative also embraces John’s substantial charity work, and the story of how, after being diagnosed with colon cancer, he turned his fight with the disease into a public awareness campaign to educate and encourage colonoscopies. For nearly 25 years he dedicated his main charitable efforts to the children at Riley Hospital, recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation and the only comprehensive children’s hospital in Indiana. The Race for Riley was created by Andretti and Dave Wilson in 1997 and has raised more than $4.8 million for the Riley Children’s Foundation.

Racer is now available for pre-order from the publisher, Octane Press. Ten percent of all proceeds from the sale of the book will go directly to John’s chosen charity, the Riley Children’s Foundation, the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis.

A note from Jade Gurss

I first worked with John when he was a relief driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2004, and found he had wonderful storytelling skills. I had been following the news of John’s fight with cancer since 2017, and I thought there was a chance he’d be willing to do a book about his life. When I asked him, his immediate reply was ‘Maybe something good can come of this,’ meaning he could use the opportunity to raise awareness of colon cancer and his children’s charity efforts. We did a number of lengthy interview sessions in the final months of his life. It’s the most rewarding project that I’ve ever been a part of.

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