Book Corner

Winning in Reverse: Defying the Odds and Achieving Dreams— The Bill Lester Story

Reviewed by Gary McCoy

Ihad the privilege of meeting Bill Lester in 2004 when he came to speak at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago, an event I used to help produce. His story of being one of a select group of minorities to compete on the NASCAR circuit was inspiring then, and is now the subject of a new book called “Winning in Reverse.” The book is written by Lester with assistance from motor racing author Jonathan Ingram.

As a news release from Lester’s publisher, Pegasus Books says: “NASCAR has traditionally been a southern, white man’s sport, but it was knocked off its axis when Lester entered the playing field. Bill did not grow up in the sport as so many other drivers had. He enjoyed racing as a side hobby while he worked as an engineer at HewlettPackard until, at the age of 40, and while standing on the brink of peril or promise, he quit his job to pursue racing full time.”

As Lester says in the introduction to the book, “All of my experiences have helped me develop character and cultivate what I refer to as my ‘Winning Circle.’ Specifically, there are eight key attributes that I have identified and applied to every step of my path to success: Getting out of your comfort zone, passion, sacrifice, persistence, discipline, enthusiasm, networking and gratitude. Each of these key attributes helped me grow as a person and propel my career forward. Because I embraced and implemented these qualities from an early age, I was able to achieve a level of happiness, both personally and professionally, that I never could’ve dreamed possible.” At the end of each chapter, Lester reflects upon specific values from this Winning Circle that helped him along the way. He calls these reflections “Racing to the Front.”

I love the second chapter of the book, where he talks about how he fell in love with racing. His father took him to a CanAm (Canadian-American Challenge) event in 1968 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Lester said the hook was set.

“I knew then and there that I wanted to be a racecar driver. But I had no idea if I could actually be one. Almost nobody at the track looked like my father, his friend or myself. Unbeknownst to me, this was a theme that would follow me all through the course of my life, from childhood to school to corporate America to NASCAR.” For those who know very little about racing, the book has a helpful 11-page glossary of racing terms. Like most industries, motor racing has a list of jargons and acronyms that mean little to outsiders.

There are parts of the book that are difficult to read when you recognize the harsh treatment that Lester received as an African-American driver. He handled it with grace and dignity that must have been challenging. He talks about Wendell Scott, who was one of the first African-American drivers in NASCAR, and how he learned from his experience.

“I learned the same lesson that Wendell Scott learned over the course of his entire career: not everyone in NASCAR was going to welcome a black man, especially if they felt he would win. Black men dominated in sports like football, baseball and basketball, but racing was still a white man’s sport, and they weren’t relinquishing their grasp on it without contention. Anyone who looked different was treated differently. Diversity was a battle that was clearly being fought off of the track.”

I love sports books, and Bill Lester’s story is inspiring. But this book has value for the business world, as well.

I wholeheartedly agree with a statement about the book from the publisher’s news release. Lester’s book “…provides inspiration to those who may be thinking about a career change or struggling against prejudice or bigotry. The message of ‘Winning in Reverse’ is the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.” n

Have a favorite business book you would like to tell us about or review? Send your suggestions to Springs managing editor Gary McCoy at gmccoy@ fairwaycommunications.com.

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