Winning in Reverse: Defying the Odds and Achieving Dreams—The Bill Lester Story (Pegasus Books, 2021)

Please join us on Thursday, July 8, at 5 p.m. Eastern, for a 2021 History Book Festival virtual event with Bill Lester, author of Winning in Reverse: Defying the Odds and Achieving Dreams—The Bill Lester Story (Pegasus Books, 2021). Lester will be in conversation with Jonathan Ingram. This event is free but registration is required.

About the book
NASCAR has traditionally been a Southern, white man’s sport, but that changed when Bill Lester entered the field. Lester did not grow up in the sport as many drivers have. He raced as a side hobby while working as an engineer until, at the age of 37, he quit his job to pursue racing full time. Lester had a trifecta of odds against him: he was Black, middle-aged, and not a Southerner, and many fans did not hide their contempt. Winning in Reverse explains how he was able to rise above it all and make history time and again, becoming the first African American to race in NASCAR’s Busch Series, and the first to participate in the Nextel Cup.

About the author
Bill Lester received several awards during his racing career, including the Trailblazer in Motor Sports Award and the Jackie Robinson Award from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and the Sam Lacy Pioneer Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

Jonathan Ingram is known for his definitive books and articles on motor racing. He has awards from the National Motorsports Press Association and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.

How to attend the online event
All registered attendees will receive a follow-up email from “LibCal” with Zoom log-in information. If you don’t receive this email after registering, please check your SPAM folder. If you still can’t locate the email, please contact info@historybookfestival.org.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes. Each copy purchased comes with a signed archival bookplate.

About the Festival
With the help of our presenting sponsors—Delaware Humanities and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices I Gallo Realty—as well as our community partners and volunteers, the 2021 History Book Festival will, once again, be full of great discussions online with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction.

Our 2021 Festival will follow last year’s format: allowing you to bring history home—and stay safe! We are extremely grateful for the virtual venue and assistance in event promotion provided by the Lewes Public Library, in conjunction with the Delaware Division of Libraries and Sussex County Libraries.